An destination to the South Pole with the great Sir Ernest Shackleton—this is the adventure    1     I have been dreaming of. And I was ready for it. At the age of 19, I am fit and full of vigour. However, when I applied to join the expedition, Shackleton turned me down    2     he thought I was too young and wasn’t qualified. But I was so enthusiastic about the idea of going along with them that I    3    (secret) went aboard his ship, the Endurance, and hid in a small cupboard. Unfortunately, three days after we set off I was discovered. Shackleton did not want to turn back so he offered me a job.

Every Saturday night Mama would sit down by the kitchen table and divide the money     1     Papa had brought home into several parts. Each part had     2     different use. For example, the big silver pieces were for the rent. In our     3     (day) life, Mama tried her best not to draw money out     4     her Bank Account, however hard the life was. When Nels wanted to go on to high school, my family members and I did our best     5     (earn) or save money instead of     6     (go) to the Bank. To get enough money, Nels     7     (volunteer) to work in Dillon’s grocery after school; Papa decided     8     (give) up smoking and I planned to look after the Elvington children every Friday night.

Twenty years later, when the check of my first story came, I hurried over to Mama’s and asked her to put     9     in her Bank Account. She had to admit that she had never been inside a bank.

Actually, Mama’s Bank Account mentioned many times by Mama was just     10     (make) us children feel secure.