It was the summer before my third grade．Our girls' softball team was facing real

pitchers（投球手） （1）　　the first time．Before that，we could just hit the ball on the tee（球座）．When the coach started pitching，hitting

became （2）　　for me．I missed every single pitch．From the side，I heard my teammate Emily laughing at （3）　　．My face got hot and my throat

felt like it had a softball stuck in．At that moment，I was starting to（4）　　playing softball．

The next afternoon，when Mum said it was time to play the game，I told her I was（5）　　．She allowed me to lie down for a while．So I went to my room and （6）　　myself in bed．This was difficult for me because I was fine and just（7）　　to avoid softball．

Soon Mum came in and said，"Time to go! "She didn't even ask if I felt（8）　　．I imagined Emily laughing from the sideline，and （9）　　I really did feel sick to my stomach．I began crying loudly．Still，Mum pulled my team T﹣shirt over my head．She said，"You have to （10）　　for the rest of the season，and only after that we can talk about （11）　　you'll continue next year．"She added that practice was what I needed，not （12）　　．She promised to practice with me．

I got two hits that afternoon，and Emily didn't make a（13）　　．Every week after that，I practiced at home（14）　　I got to be one of the best hitters on the team．

That （15）　　taught me being afraid is part of life，and I can do whatever is expected of me if I keep working and practicing．

1．A．for	B．by	C．from	D．about
2．A．noisy	B．natural	C．hard	D．possible
3．A．him	B．them	C．me	D．us
4．A．remember	B．hate	C．enjoy	D．practice
5．A．bored	B．sick	C．shy	D．sad
6．A．helped	B．dressed	C．threw	D．taught
7．A．failed	B．wanted	C．refused	D．offered
8．A．safer	B．better	C．warmer	D．happier
9．A．usually	B．probably	C．carefully	D．suddenly
10．A．play	B．break	C．share	D．relax
11．A．what	B．where	C．which	D．whether
12．A．waking up	B．hurrying up	C．giving up	D．speaking up
13．A．plan	B．sound	C．choice	D．decision
14．A．until	B．unless	C．after	D．though
15．A．accident	B．business	C．relationship	D．experience．