Hey, Tahlia! How's the model?"
I had just taken a bite of my hot dog __26_ I heard a familiar voice yelling at me from across the crowded school yard. I saw a group of popular girls who were all __27__.
"What kind of __28__ are you going to do? An ad for a Frankenstein movie?" More laughter. My stomach twisted into a tight knot. How could they humiliate (羞辱) me like this, __29__ the entire school? As I walked into the cafeteria, I _30_ the dark scars on my right hand.
At 9 months old, I knocked over a tea pot and dumped boiling water all over my hands and stomach. My parents __31__ me to the hospital, but I had to have skin graft (移植) operation. I was in so much pain! But what __32__ me most were the cruel things people said about how I looked, __33__ that day at lunch.
The girls were being supermean to me because they'd heard I was considering doing some modeling. A close friend had suggested that I shouldn't let my scars limit me and that I might __34__ a good model.
But after that __35__ at school, I was sure I'd made a huge mistake. Upon arriving home, I covered the mirror with a blanket, fell on my bed and sobbed.
The next day, I __36__ myself to go to school. At lunch my best friend Jesse tried to encourage me: "You can't _37__ forever, Tahlia. So what if you have a few scars? Just go outside and show them that you're just as good as they are." Although I knew he was right, I couldn’t _38__ standing up for myself like that.
However, that night as I sat on the bed, my friend's words replayed in my mind. I'm _39_ hiding from myself, I thought. How stupid! Slowly, I stood up, walked over to the __40__, and tossed the blanket aside. There, in the mirror I saw a slim, dark-haired, blue-eyed girl, looking just fine, _41__ with a few scars.
The next day I wore a comfortable T-shirt to school. What's more, I had lunch outside the cafeteria, _42__ beside those mean girls. They were shocked that I should dare to walk into their territory. I felt _43__ too—free and happy.
Sometimes people still look at me strangely. They _44__ and stare, but I don't let it get to me. I have applied to several modeling companies, and at least one company is considering me for jobs. Maybe I'll never __45__ posing on the runway, but I do know one thing: I'm done.

A．as B．when C．while D．before

A．applauding B．cheering C．laughing D．quarreling

A．modeling B．writing C．drilling D．acting

A．in spite of B．in view of C．in terms of D．in front of

A．looked into B．searched for C．wondered about D．glanced at

A．presented B．sent C．rushed D．handed

A．hurt B．beat C．disappointed D．puzzled

A．for B．like C．on D．after

A．impress B．make C．consult D．defeat

A．effect B．phenomenon C．challenge D．scene

A．forced B．expected C．reminded D．preferred

A．apologize B．beg C．hide D．complain

A．consider B．imagine C．appreciate D．resist

A．hardly B．ever C．even D．gradually

A．blanket B．bed C．chair D．mirror

A．while B．though C．but D．because

A．right B．still C．therefore D．anyhow

A．sensitive B．uncomfortable C．different D．tense

A．compare B．associate C．wave D．whisper

A．give up B．end up C．put up D．set up