Mary is going to a private school that costs $15,000 each year. Mary does not have to pay anything1 she has a scholarship (奖学金). Her parents are very poor. Her parents work as workers. Mary has to do well in her lessons every term to keep her scholarship. She pretends (假装) that she is2 so she can have friends. Everyone at the school has nice clothes. It can be hard for Mary to take up with them.
Mary's friend Patricia was having a3 for her 16th birthday. It was going to be in the ballroom of a hotel. There was going to be hundreds of guests. Mary had to4 a beautiful dress, but she knew she could not5 it. "Mary, what are you going to wear?" Patricia asked. "I think I'll wear the dress I wore at your birthday party last year." she said. Patricia started laughing out loud." You're6, right?" Patricia said. It took Mary over two years to pay off the dress she bought last year. Now she had to get a7 one.
Everyone would be wearing dresses that8 at least $100. Mary could only spend $30 on a dress. She went to a9 selling old things. She looked around for hours trying to find something good. Mary finally came across a long, red dress. It sold for $300 before, but now10$20! What a good idea! Mary wore the dress at Patricia's party and everyone complimented her.
