1 . His palms were sweating. He needed a towel to dry his palms. The sun was as hot as the _______ he faced today at the National Junior Olympics. The bar (横竿) was set at 17 feet. That was three inches higher than his personal best. Michael Stone faced the most _______ day of his pole-vaulting (撑竿跳高) career.

You couldn’t tell whether Michael Stone was surprised, excited or vain about clearing the bar at 17 feet. As soon as he _______ on the inflated (充了气的) landing mat, Michael immediately began _______ for his next attempt at flight. He seemed _______ the fact that he had just beaten his personal best _______ three inches and that he was one of the first two competitors in the pole-vaulting _______ at the National Junior Olympics.

When Michael _______ the bar at 17 feet 2 inches and 17 feet 4 inches, again he showed no _______. At the same time, he ________ the people sigh (叹气), he knew the other vaulter had missed his final jump. He knew it was time for his ________ jump. Since the other vaulter had fewer misses, Michael needed to clear this vault to win. A ________ would get him second place. It was nothing to be ashamed of, ________ Michael would not ________ himself to have the thought of not winning first place.

He rolled over and found his pole, stood and stepped on the runway that ________ the most challenging event of his 17-year-old life.

As he sprinted (冲刺) down the runway, something felt wonderfully different, yet familiar. When he took a deep breath, it happened. He began to ________ like an eagle.

He later went on that day to clear 17 feet 6 inches: a new National and International Junior Olympics record.

With all the media attention and sponsorship possibilities, Michael’s life would never be ________ again. It wasn’t just because he won the National Junior Olympics and ________ a new world record. And it wasn’t because he had just increased his personal best by 9 inches. It was simply because Michael Stone is blind.

A challenge can sometimes make a ________ to the life, and bring ________ the best in us.