Making friends is a skill. Like most skills, you can improve it if you are patient. If you want to meet people and make friends, you must be willing to take action. You must first go where there are people. You won't make friends staying home {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    Joining a club or a group, talking to those who like the same things as you do is much {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. Or join someone in some activity.

    Many people are {#blank#}3{#/blank#} when talking to new people. After all, meeting strangers means seeing the unknown. And it's human nature to feel a bit unpleasant about the unknown. Most of fears about {#blank#}4{#/blank#} with new people come from doubts  about ourselves. We imagine other people are judging us—finding us too tall or too short, too this or too that. But don't forget that they must be feeling the {#blank#}5{#/blank#}way. Try to accept yourself as you are, and try to make others feel at home. You'll all feel more {#blank#}6{#/blank#}.

    Try to be brave even if you don't feel that way when you {#blank#}7{#/blank#} a room full of strangers. Walk tall and straight, look directly at other people and smile.

    If you see someone you'd like to speak to, say something. Don't wait for the other person to start a {#blank#}8{#/blank#}.

    Just meeting someone new does not mean that you'll make friends with that person. Friendship is based on mutual (相互的) likings and "give and take". It takes time and effort (精力)for us to {#blank#}9{#/blank#} friendship. And there are things that stop a new friendship from {#blank#}10{#/blank#}.

    At 13, Rachel Crow appeared on The X Factor. It is a {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (Britain) music competition reality TV show (电视真人秀). The judges (评判员) loved her beautiful singing. It {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (seem) that she was ready to win. However, she failed. Rachel was shocked. She cried on the stage. It was sad for her. But it was just the kind of show TV audiences love.

    Some experts say that kids should stay away {#blank#}3{#/blank#} reality shows, because they don't know how to play characters. They play themselves. Cameras show their most private moments. Also, there {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (be) little free time left for the kids on these shows.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} others say reality shows give kids a chance to shine. One Direction, {#blank#}6{#/blank#} pop boy band, became world famous after {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (compete) on The X Factor. Even Rachel recorded her album (音乐专辑) and voiced a character in the movie Rio 2, though she failed.

    Here are two {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (student) different opinions on this.

◆Kids should be on reality shows.

☆Kids on reality shows can make a lot of money.

☆Talented kids can become famous if they appear on a reality show.

☆It's good for kids to learn that they can't always win.

◆Kids shouldn't {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (allow) on reality shows.

☆Children may not be able to deal with unkind words from judges and fans.

☆Kids on reality shows have to give up privacy. They are too young to make that decision.

☆Reality shows may leave little time for a child {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (study), play or just relax.