Several years ago, while attending a communication course, I experienced a most unusual process. The instructor asked us to list ___1___ in our past that we felt ___2___ of, regretted, or incomplete about and read our lists aloud.
This seemed like a very ___3___ process, but there’ s always some ___4___soul in the crowd who will volunteer. The instructor then ___5___ that we find ways to ___6___ people, or take some action to right any wrong doings. I was seriously wondering how this could ever ___7___ my communication.
Then the man next to me raised his hand and volunteered this story: “Making my ___8___, I remembered an incident from high school. I grew up in a small town. There was a Sheriff ___9___ of us kids liked. One night, my two buddies and I decided to play a ___10___ on him.
After drinking a few beers, we climbed the tall water tank in the middle of the town, and wrote on the tank in bright red paint: Sheriff Brown is a s.o.b.(畜生). The next day, almost the whole town saw our glorious ___11___. Within two hours, Sheriff Brown had us in his office. My friends told the truth but I lied. No one ___12___ found out.”
“Nearly 20 years later, Sheriff Brown’s name ___13___ on my list. I didn’t even know if he was still ___14___. Last weekend, I dialed the information in my hometown and found there was a Roger Brown still listed. I tried his number. After a few ___15___, I heard, “Hello?” I said, “Sheriff Brown?” Paused. “Yes.” “Well, this is Jimmy Calkins.”
“And I want you to know that I did it？”Paused. “I knew it!” he yelled back. We had a good laugh and a ___16___ discussion. His closing words were: “Jimmy, I always felt bad for you ___17___ your buddies got it off their chest, but you were carrying it ___18___ all these years. I want to thank you for calling me...for your sake.”
Jimmy inspired me to ___19___ all 101 items on my list within two years, and I always remember what I learned from the course: It’s never too late to ___20___the past wrongdoings.
1. A. something      B. anything     C. somebody   D. anybody
2. A. ashamed B. afraid  C. sure    D. proud
3. A. private   B. secret  C. interesting  D. funny
4. A. foolish   B. polite  C. simple D. brave
5. A. expected B. suggested   C. ordered      D. demanded
6. A. connect with        B. depend on  C. make apologize to D. get along with
7. A. improve B. continue     C. realize D. keep
8. A. notes      B. list      C. plan    D. stories
9. A. any B. most   C. none   D. all
10. A. part      B. game  C. trick   D. record
11. A. view     B. sign    C. attention     D. remark
12. A. also      B. even   C. still     D. ever
13. A. appears B. considers    C. presents      D. remembers
14. A. angry   B. happy C. doubtful     D. alive
15. A. words   B. rings   C. repeats       D. calls
16. A. cold     B. plain   C. nervous      D. lively
17. A. in case  B. so long as   C. unless D. because
18. A. around  B. out     C. on      D. away
19. A. build up       B. make up     C. clear up      D. give up
20. A. regret   B. forgive       C. right   D. punish