You may have heard of the Red Cross. It is an organization that     1     (help) people who are in need no matter     2     bad the situation is! But if not for the passion of a young woman named Clara Barton, the American Red Cross may have never been formed!

One day when she was 11 years old, her elder brother was     3     (terrible) injured. He had been ill for two years. Clara cared for him     4     whole time. Through this experience she found out that she came alive when she cared for others.

Soon, Clara began taking care of injured animals. Neighbors began bringing their pets to her. And, almost always, she made them better.

When she was     5     (old), she became a nurse in the American Civil War and she helped save hundreds of soldiers.

After the Civil War, Clara travelled to Europe to rest.     6     that did not last long. Soon she was caring for     7     (wound) people in battle once again! But this time, she learned about the Red Cross who worked alongside her on the battlefield. Their mission was to help those who needed it most.

She decided that the Red Cross     8     (need) in America. Over several years, she asked four different presidents     9     (bring) the Red Cross to America. They all said no. But then, thanks to her persistence, one of the     10     (president) changed his mind! And the American Red Cross was born.