【推荐1】I couldn’t walk or speak until the age of 6. I was different and slow. My brother found it odd that I couldn’t remember what the tutor had taught me and would say how________I was.

Mum tried to get me enrolled in various schools. Every time, she would explain to my classmates about my________, so that I wouldn’t be bullied. Despite the best________of my teachers, I________to cope with the pace of the lessons and transferred (转学) from one school to another. I remembered________schools at least four times.

My life________when I was 10. Mum and I chanced upon a group of________with disabilities training in the open field of the nearby university. Mum________them and found out they were Special Olympics athletes.

At the time, I was physically________. I had problems walking and had to hold someone’s hand for________. When Mum asked if I could become a Special Olympics athlete, we were________surprised that the answer was “yes”. I started simple training every Saturday. Mum had to work on weekends and Grandma helped to ensure I never missed a single session of training.

After a few months, with the________guidance of my coaches, I got stronger. At my regular Special Olympics 25- metre run practice, my grandma________me to let go of her hand. When I crossed the finish line, the team went wild. I was so________that I gave my grandma a bear hug. I________my progress to my coaches, families and friends.

【推荐1】When asked to address a high school graduation, I couldn’t believe it. After they   ______ me they did, I felt honored. Just think of it! A guy never coming to high school was to speak on such an important ______.

But what ______ words can I convey? I thought and rethought, but ______ nothing. It was not until the night before the address that it suddenly ______ me. Don’t tell them what I did but what I learned.

I grew up — ______, was dragged up in dozens of institutions. Through those years, I ______ my way through seven different schools. By fourteen, I was finished with school. I was told I couldn’t be educated or given a job. At first this was very ______ as there was no one to turn to. It was hard. I had to become street ______ in a hurry. I got tough quickly. I learned to show no fear and to keep my mouth ______. I chose my roads by trial and error. I was determined not to quit and not to be ______. I did alright. I got through.

About a dozen years ago, a friend told me it was ______ for people to know what it’s like to grow up the way I did. So I wrote my autobiography, They Cage the Animals at Night, which ______ those in charge of the graduation to invite me.

It was a warm June morning when I stood at the platform. All eyes were fixed upon me. I began to speak.

“This is a street kid’s ______ about how to get from here to there. It might help you get through a ______ time. ”

【推荐3】Looking back, the memory of doctors, nurses and the conclusion of appendicitis (阑尾炎) was still clear. ______, nothing hurt more than three days with appendicitis. After a series of emergencies, I could merely lie ______ and beg my body to stop hurting.

All the ______ acquired from years of swimming was eaten away. Previously, I could swim miles daily. Now it was a(n) ______ to sit up and I couldn’t swim for almost three months.

When I finally returned to the pool, I struggled with my ______ ability. Race after race, I ______ my goals. Every time I ______ to enter the national competitions, I failed by a tiny amount.

Finally, I came to the last event that could ______ me for nationals. This was my last ______ : now or never. After so many failures, I couldn’t help being furious about recent events.

The race started, and I dived in, throwing the pain, ______ and anger I had experienced recently into the pool. My mind focused, self-limitation was ______ and I devoted all my attention and strength to my moves.

When I saw my time, a wave of ______ swept over me. I eventually ______ self-doubt and won what almost ______ from me. Nationals were waiting for me, and by no means would I let anything ______ my advancement.