2 . My history with music was not good. I still remembered when I took my short-lived piano lessons, my grandfather said _______   to my grandmother, “Why didn’t   he make any progress with much practice?” I_______ to make my piano performance attractive. However, my efforts were_______ .

So I gave up playing any musical instrument until my old friend Leroy _______   me to play the violin with him when I was 57. It made me enjoy the joy of playing music again. On day, Leroy sent a text_______ me that there was a music performance and he wanted me to join him. Thinking of my past, I _______ his invitation. I expected to hear his words that I would become_______ with practice on stage. But he said,   “OK, only   play if you want to.” I was totally_______ by the unexpected answer and made no reply except to tell him goodbye.

No one was_______ me to participate, but I faced a special ________ . Should I play on stage or just watch a movie? I had chosen the “movie route” too many times and this time I was________ to grasp the opportunity. After a long and careful________ , I played my violin with Leroy.________ I didn’t lose all my nervousness, it was enough for me to overcome my fear. Finally, I________ a full performance in front of the audience.

A short time later, my friend Leroy passed away,   but his ________ stayed. It helped   me not only in music, but in all aspects of life. When I focused on what I wanted to do, fear will be replaced with joy.

3 . One day when I was about nine years old, I ran into my mother’s bedroom and opened the dresser（化妆台）. Then in the top drawer was a small________jewelry box. I was fascinated by its treasures. Then I saw there was something________under a piece of cloth.________the cloth, I found a little white chip of china(瓷器). Why did my mother keep such a________thing? Shining slightly in the light, it________no answers.

Some months later, I was setting the dinner table when my neighbor Marge knocked at the door. Coming in and________the table, Marge said, “Oh, you are expecting company. I'll________another time."

“No, come on in,” Mum replied. “We are not________anyone."

“But isn’t that your good china?” Marge asked. “I’d________trust kids to handle my good dishes!”

Mum laughed. “Tonight’s my family’s favorite meal. If you set your best table for a(n)________meal with guests, why not for your own________? A few broken plates are a small________to pay for the joy we get. ” Then she added, “________，every chip and crack has a story to tell.”

Mum went to the cupboard and took down a plate. She said, “Seeing this________on the edge(边缘) here? It happened when I was 17.”

Her voice________. “One day my brother invited a young man to dinner and sat him next to me. I was so________that when I took the plate, it________and knocked against the fork. As the young man was leaving, he________a piece of broken china in my hand without saying a word.”

I couldn’t forget about that plate with the________chip. I went up to take out the little wooden jewelry box again. I examined the chip________. The chip which my mother had saved with care belonged to the plate she broke on the day she met my father.