Half a year ago, I took part in an English {#blank#}1{#/blank#}（演讲） competition. The experience taught me how important it is to stay calm and {#blank#}2{#/blank#}（做） myself.

    When it was my time to give the speech, I became very {#blank#}3{#/blank#}（紧张）. I could even feel my heart beating very fast. A girl beside me noticed how I was feeling. With a smile she said, "Come on, just be yourself." "But, " I said, "all the speakers here are much better than me and I don't think I can beat {#blank#}4{#/blank#}（他们）." "So what?" she shouted. "You haven't even tried. So how do you know you're a loser?"

    Yes, maybe she's right. I took a deep {#blank#}5{#/blank#}（呼吸） and stepped onto the stage to begin my speech. Everything seemed to go {#blank#}6{#/blank#}（顺利地） while suddenly I stopped. My mind went completely black. I just stand there {#blank#}7{#/blank#}（没有） saying a word.

    "What should I do?" I asked myself. "Run away or continue?" Just then, the girl's words came back to me. "Be yourself." Yes, she is right. Her words gave me {#blank#}8{#/blank#}（勇气）. I can't give up. I won't let her{#blank#}9{#/blank#}（失望）.

    Then I went on with the {#blank#}10{#/blank#}（剩余） of my speech with a cheerful voice. Little by little, the audience seemed to be interested in my story. My speech turned into an easy chat. I had found myself again.

—I've caught a{#blank#}1{#/blank#}（感冒）.

    How long does it take to build a new house? It usually takes about six months or more. B{#blank#}1{#/blank#} each year, thousands of people work together to build new homes in just four months. Who does this w{#blank#}2{#/blank#} work? Habitat for Humanity. Habitat for Humanity is a group that builds homes for families in n{#blank#}3{#/blank#}. It has branches (分部) in different states around the country. This group works all over the world, too. Volunteers help build the homes. They are unpaid workers who do all the work for f{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Volunteers can be builders and painters. They can be teachers or bankers, and some are students. Habitat for Humanity has built more than 300，000 houses. More than 1. 5 million people l{#blank#}5{#/blank#} in these houses. Building a home is hard work. Volunteers learn h{#blank#}6{#/blank#} to put up walls. They use many m{#blank#}7{#/blank#} and tools. These selfless (无私的) volunteers work with the family that will live in the house Everyone works together to make the family's d{#blank#}8{#/blank#} come true. Suruchi Srikanth has worked with Habitat for Humanity for four years. She b{#blank#}9{#/blank#} volunteering in high school. She has built many homes with other volunteers. She takes her responsibilities(责任) seriously. Volunteers know i{#blank#}10{#/blank#} they don't help, homes may not get built. They are good citizens who care about other people.