2 . I have had no interest in football for as long as I can remember. While my classmates played, I _________ to stay in the library. I never _________ the passion for the game and would throw away the sports section of the newspaper, as if it _________ the rest of it. As I grew up, I proudly wore my _________

But occasionally, whether in a taxi or when meeting a friend’s father, I found myself faced with a _________ opener likes “Terrible season we’re having, eh?” or simply, “Who do, you support?” My heart sank, knowing my response would unavoidably _________ them, despite their good intentions.

I realized that my _________ had closed off many conversations, outings, and even potential friendships I might have _________ enjoyed. Although I couldn’t change the fact that I found football boring, I began to regret, being a(n) _________.

Then I became a father. I didn’t want my boy to __________ this valuable social experience, so I took him to watch the Lions play. During those matches, we sat close to the field, surrounded by families who had a genuine __________ with the players. My kid’s questions kept me somewhat __________ in the game. Slowly, I started to __________ for the Lions.

During one victorious match, we even met David, the Captain, who happily __________ for a photo with my son.__________, I had an answer to the question, “Who do you support?”

3 . The greatest sports moments often have a wonderful flow state behind the victories or performances. Being in flow refers to the moments where distraction reduces, and concentration ________.

It was a ________ summer camp ping pong tournament where I was not only down 1 set, but 7 points behind my opponent, who had only 3 points left to ________ the set, and the tournament. For a comeback, I had to win at least 10 points, without making ________!

Facing the ________ situation, I could call it a day and let my opponent win. Perhaps my opponent had already focused on the ________, but failure wasn’t an option! ________, I stuck it out, hoping for the best. I told myself, “Let’s just try and win the next point, nothing else.” ________ deep, I stared at the ball with a clear mindset and keen ________. I took it, hit it back and scored!

5 points to go, 4 points to go... My opponent started getting visibly ________ and made mistakes. Point by point I was getting closer to being even 7-8. I was one point away from doing the ________. My mouth was shut and my eyes stayed sharp the entire set. He made another ________ 8-8. The comeback was complete. The crowd went ________! Winning the next 3 points, I managed to win that set. In the last set, my opponent turned restless again. ________ the flow, I ended up winning the final set, and the tournament.

Despite a small game, it inspired me a lot. Not being able to control how our opponent plays, we can ________ how to react. Don’t be there, where you are not. Instead, be here and now! Stay in flow! Be concentrated!

4 . I’ve been a college professor teaching people how to think more creatively and use more of their brainpower. _________, this lifetime passion was awakened by a casual contest in my childhood.

At a picnic of my father’s company, they held contests for kids — who threw a cloth handkerchief the farthest this time. I, 13 years old, was full of the spirit of _________, so I threw myself into the contest, which, I realize now, was not meant to _________ real skills, but simply for laughs. But it stirred my _________ of thinking outside the box.

It disturbed me to see the kids throwing _________ when the handkerchief always opened and stopped. The _________ was not to throw harder but to prevent the cloth from _________. Suppose I hid a rock in the cloth without tying it. The rock would drive the cloth at least _________ than the others, and when they separated, people might not notice a small rock _________ nearby. I had a good chance of __________ it, but I didn’t want to win by cheating. So I had to make the handkerchief fly like a rock. Like a rock! That was it! I __________ tied knot (结) after knot until it was the size of a large walnut (核桃), like a strong __________. I threw hard, and the balled handkerchief rocketed off 60 feet away. All stared at me in __________ and the judge ran to check. “It’s just the __________,” he declared, holding it up and untying the knots.

What I learned from this contest was __________ thinking. To live creatively, you have to tap into the less-used parts of your brain.

9 . I played a racquetball (壁球) game against my cousin Ed last week. It was one of the most ________ and tiring games I’ve ever had. When Ed first phoned and suggested we play, I laughed quietly, figuring on an ________ victory. After all, Ed’s idea of exercise has always been nothing more ________ than lifting a fork to his mouth. ________ I can remember, Ed’s been the least physically fit member in the family, and ________ proud of himself. His big stomach has always ballooned out between his T-shirt and trousers. Although the family often ________ about that, Ed refused to buy a larger T-shirt or to lose weight. So when Ed ________ for our game not only with the bottom of his shirt gathered inside his trousers but also with a stomach you could hardly ________, I was so surprised that I was speechless. My cousin must have made an effort to get himself into shape. ________, at the point in our game when I’d have predicted the score to be about 9 to 1 in my favor, it was ________ 7 to 9 — and Ed was _______. The sudden realization was painful. We continued to play like two mad men. When the score was 16 up, I was having serious ________ about staying alive until 21 years old, let alone ________ that many points. When the game finally ended, both of us were lying flat on our backs, too tired to ________. In a way, I think we both won: I the game, but cousin Ed my ________.

10 . I used to be fit. But _____ a mounting list of injuries, the most active workout I do these days is _____ in front of the TV. But when I _____ a big European study on the benefits of chair yoga in the newspaper, I made up my mind to try it. Chair yoga _____ poses like twists and bends that are changed to be done while sitting on a chair.

I choose a chair yoga video on YouTube. The 10-minute _____ is a combination of slow movements every day. In each _____ my body remembers all that yoga I used to do 15 years ago. That isn’t to _____ it’s not challenging. And _____ I probably couldn’t get through a regular yoga class anymore, this way I still get to experience some of the sense of focus and _____ of being in that yoga   “flow”. Because it doesn’t need too much _____ I can even do it in that _____ dead time in the evenings when I’m too worn out to work but I can’t settle into a TV show because my kid isn’t in bed yet.

Chair yoga probably isn’t going to turn me into a _____ gym girl, but I notice that my neck and shoulders— _____ sore from staring at a computer too much—become less tight, and it’s also useful for helping my _____. It’s almost like mentally changing the channel—even for such a short period of time. It _____ my brain-from a state of great anger to one of just breathing. I’ll take it.