Recently I dined at a “dark restaurant”,     1     people eat in complete darkness,     2     (serve) by blind staff. I wanted to understand the experience of being blind, and I thought     3     (eat) would be the most difficult activity.

It was a difficult meal. Because we couldn’t see where anything was, my friend and I knocked over glasses and     4     (drop) food. My senses of taste and smell became more sensitive, and I ate much more     5     (slow). Pouring water was very difficult, plus I kept drinking from my friend’s glass.

After     6     (fail) to pick up any food with a fork, I decided to use my hands. I reached down,     7     (expect) rice and vegetables, but instead I stuck my hand into a bowl of warm, thick soup. “It’s best to use a spoon for this course,” the waiter said into my ear, helpfully but much too late. Even using a spoon, most of the soup ended up on my shirt. I felt     8     (embarrass), even though no one could see me.

Our waiter advised us     9     (lift) the plates and bowls close to our faces. However, I still left the restaurant with a sense of     10     (hungry), though I was much more aware of the challenges that blind people face.