题目内容：

The most important lesson I learned in high school had nothing to do with maths or American history. It came at graduation, several minutes before I left Miramonte High School.

    I was rather shy back then, content to hang around with my few friends and to concentrate on my  _______ . I was doing so well that by the end of senior year I had perfect scores and enough credits(学分) to go to college.

    But my good record soon became a _______ to my well-being. In early June of senior year, the headmaster railed me into his office. He asked me to give a leave-taking speech at graduation. I looked at him. my heart _______  fast. This was the reward(回报) for my hard work? I said something, but not very clearly, and hurried away from the office.

    I was hesitant(犹豫不决) about the decision, finally agreeing to compromise. I wasn't the only speaker—I would_______ the honor with five other students. Still, it was doubtful whether the task was _______ me. How would I give a speech to hundreds of people?

    Graduation day soon arrived and, as  _______ , I was nervous. I'd been practicing my speech for days, and I had it _______. But I had never been so terrified in my life. The first half hour of the ceremony passed, and then my mother came…

    Now I still have the video tape of that speech. My voice trembled (颤抖) a little, but _______ it was clear and strong. I'm proud of that tape. I achieved something I'd never _______ — I spoke in front of hundreds of people.   ________ I didn't realize it at the time, the successful completion of that speech gave me the ________ to participate in class at college, to give oral reports, and to eventually break free of my ________ .

1.A. characters    B. interests    C. games    D. subjects

2.A. luck    B. benefit    C. fear    D. solution

3.A. burning    B. breaking    C. aching    D. beating

4.A. share    B. bring    C. spare    D. give

5.A. about    B. for    C. upon    D. beyond

6.A. known    B. hoped    C. expected    D. planned

7.A. thrown    B. printed    C. memorized    D. completed

8.A. partially    B. immediately    C. frankly    D. mostly

9.A. dreamed    B. made    C. decided    D. requested

10.A. Because    B. When    C. Although    D. Unless

11.A. respect    B. confidence    C. freedom    D. excuse

12.A. shyness    B. pride    C. stupidity    D. courage