How do you feel when you have to make a speech in front of class? What about when you go to a birthday party? Do you get really shy?

    Shyness means feeling nervous or frightened when you're around other people. Experts （专家） {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(find)that more than 80 percent of middle school students feel afraid to be the center of attention. Some kids are born shy. Some become shy later because of their life experiences.

    It's OK if it takes you a while {#blank#}2{#/blank#}( feel )yourself again when you go to a new place or meet new people. In fact, everybody {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(get) a little shy sometimes. It's just a case of how much.

    Most people have red faces and talk in broken sentences when they get shy. But some become so shy that they{#blank#}4{#/blank#} (not go) to a restaurant because they are too nervous {#blank#}5{#/blank#}( order） and pay the bill（账单）. Some are afraid of {#blank#}6{#/blank#}（meet） new people, so they seldom go outside. This kind of shyness can be bad for a person.

    If shyness doesn't stop you from doing something you want to do, being shy isn't a very big problem. Some experts say shy people are quieter and cleverer because they think more and talk less. Shy people are also good at working with others because they think more for other people. Some great people in history {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(be)shy, too.

    You see, being shy isn't all bad. But remember not to let good chances pass by just because of it! If you have to sing a song at a birthday party or practice your spoken English in front of others, just do it! There's nothing to be afraid of.

—I want to be a {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(pilot).

When I was in school, I volunteered to work in a hospital for some time.

On one visit, I carefully entered a dark room to find an elderly man {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (lie) in bed. I firstly thought he was sleeping. When I moved {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (close), however, I realized he was very much awake. He wanted to communicate something; but I couldn't make sense of what he {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (say). 0He seemed quite weak, and I couldn't tell if he was in pain, or just frightened. I knew nothing about him, and I felt totally helpless. He clearly didn't want me {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (leave) him, but I felt so lost and uncomfortable that I had to leave the room after only a couple of {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (minute).

The next time I was at {#blank#}6{#/blank#} hospital and saw him again, I was certain he didn't remember me. But he {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (immediate) said, "I remember you. , You gave me hope in my darkest hour that evening!" I was so {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(amaze) that I didn't know how to answer.

In the short moment of my staying there, I did nothing at all. {#blank#}9{#/blank#} surprisingly he found in me something he needed, just because I was there.

I have thought about this thing often over the past years. {#blank#}10{#/blank#} makes me want to offer whatever kindness I can to others, and I try to make it out and appreciate (赞赏) it.