2 . Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passages coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank.
The first time I invited a good friend not just over to but into my house, post-vaccination, without masks, I couldn’t even wait until she walked up to my door —I ran outside to greet her, and we hugged each other in the driveway. We both held on tight, as we took turns exclaiming how good it was to see each other. We 1 (not hang) out in person since January 2020, and of course I was looking forward to talking, sharing a meal, catching up on all her news—but somehow I felt that 2 any of that happened, I would also get to hug her. It was my first hug from a friend in more than a year, and a reminder of just how 3 (comfort) a good hug can be.
I’ve been a huger since middle school, when my friends and I 4 embrace between classes in the hall as though we hadn’t just seen one another the day before. In high school, I volunteered at a Girl Scouts camp every summer, and at the end of each session, many of our campers would seek us out 5 (say) goodbye. My fellow counselors and I would typically offer 6 a choice: Hug, handshake or high five? Most of the kids would choose a hug. But there were always at least a few 7 would opt for a handshake, at times delivered so solemnly that I felt like we were going into business together, or a high five, some slapping so hard that my hand 8 (hurt). I always appreciated this ritual, especially the individual ask, for the simple reason 9 it allowed me to think about and honor each camper’s wishes. As I venture out from my pandemic bubble, I hope to bring the same kind of intentionality to every much 10 (anticipate) reunion.
