1 . Every day, Tim in his car would pass by Eric, who had been homeless for years. It took some courage to finally walk up to him. He introduced himself, and _______ to Eric, saying, “I’m sorry for _______ by you a hundred times and never saying Hi.” The visit was a sincere one. He asked Eric many questions, like what he wanted to do with his life. Eric told Tim he had _______ to California from Kentucky to be a _______， but some things didn’t work out.

It was during the first conversation _______ they discovered they shared the love of art. And Tim, a car designer who hadn’t _______ a paint brush(画笔) for eight years, asked to paint a _______ of Eric. He saw the man who moved from Kentucky just to have a career in music. For eight years, Eric was the first guy that captured(捕获) his heart and gave him a subject(主题) to _______.

When he asked Eric what he wanted to _______ the income from the painting, Tim suggested he buy some basics for life, like clothes, or food. However, Eric said, “I want to ________ a CD.” And then Tim started looking for a ________. There was no drum set(架子鼓), so Tim suggested using synthesized(合成音响) drums. Eric turned ________ that idea. “No way,” he said. Tim thought to himself, “Man, how many areas in my own life have I just given in to making do with(用某物将就) less? And the fact that he wouldn’t was a lesson that I’ve ________.”

Eric, who’s still homeless, has finished recording a CD.He’s so ________ for his friendship with Tim. “It’s really helped me to meet someone who supports me,” Eric says. “I consider you ________ a friend,” Tim tells Eric. “You’ve shown me a new way to look at the world. Everyone deserves to be seen with eyes of love and respect.”

2 . You've been painting for a few years, and maybe you have even sold a painting or two. Are you ready to ______ the title of an amateur artist?

Distinguishing green hand from professional artists is ______ task. It is not just a matter of your ability to create nice paintings. It's not only about painting techniques. And for most cases, it doesn't happen ______. Very few artists become overnight success without years of struggle and suffering.

To turn professional, people find it critical to develop a personal style. What makes your paintings _______ among other paintings out there? Are your paintings standing out unmistakably directed to you as the creator? A personal style comes along with technique, painting medium, and subject and it tends to develop gradually over time. You _______ it through unconscious and constant exploring and self-shaping. Style does not mean that you are painting the same subject or using the same painting medium. Salvador Dali used to use many artistic media, but they all have a _______ Dali style. Style refers to the emotions and thoughts delivered by your paintings, which people can identify with. (认同/产生共鸣) Their _______ of the painter is then a sure thing.

Artists talk about their _______ all of the time. What gets you out of bed every morning to paint? How do you find the energy to have all your time devoted to painting?   ______, we all love to do what we do and we get a satisfaction out of creating. For the professional artist, it goes beyond that. Some artists wish to convey a deep message concerning life, society or even politics. Others simply seek   _______ returns to cover kids' tuition fees or pay family bills. Yet, all professional artists know that they have to keep working to achieve the goals.

Many amateur artists passively wait for   _______ to come. If they are not in the mood, they do not bother wasting the time. They sometimes allow themselves to be occupied by events like parties. Professionals are never easily _______ or torn away from their art work in progress. Focused on their work so much, some even regard spending time outside their _______ as crime. _______ is their secret to high productivity.

Besides, professional artists are constantly prepared to grab new ideas for the next painting, which they believe is sure to be better than the previous one. The belief that there is always room for _______ keeps driving them forward in the art world where many masters have come along.