Some years ago when I was in my first year in college, I heard Salome Bey sing for the first time. The moment was exciting. Salome’s 36 filled the room and brought the theater to life. I was so 37 that I decided to write an article about her.
I 38 Salome Bey, telling her I was from Essence magazine, and that I wanted to meet her to talk about her career. She 39 and told me to come to her studio next Tuesday. When I hung up, I was scared out of my mind. I 40 I was lying. I was not a writer at all and hadn’t even written a grocery list.
I interviewed Salome Bey the next Tuesday. I sat there 41 , taking notes and asking questions that all began with, “Can you tell me…” I soon realized that 42 Salome Bey was one thing, but writing a story for a national magazine was just impossible. The 43 was almost unbearable. I struggled for days 44 draft after draft. Finally I put my manuscript (手稿) into a large envelope and dropped it into a mailbox.
It didn’t take long. My manuscript 45 . How stupid of me! I thought. How could I 46 in a world of professional writers? Knowing I couldn’t 47 the rejection letter, I threw the unopened envelope into a drawer.
Five years later, I was moving to California. While 48 my apartment, I came across the unopened envelope. This time I opened it and read the editor’s letter in 49 :
Ms Profit,
Your story on Salome Bey is fantastic. Yet we need some 50 materials. Please add those and return the article immediately. We would like to 51 your story soon.
Shocked, it took me a long time to 52 . Fear of rejection cost me ly. I lost at least five hundred dollars and having my article appear in a major magazine. More importantly, I lost years of 53 writing. Today, I have become a full – time writer. Looking back on this 54 , I learned a very important lesson: You can’t 55 to doubt yourself.
36. A．joy B．voice C．speech D．smile
37. A．proud B．active C．satisfied D．moved
38. A．visited B．emailed C．phoned D．interviewed
39. A．agreed B．refused C．hesitated D．paused
40. A．replied B．discovered C．explained D．knew
41. A．seriously B．patiently C．nervously D．quietly
