Roberta appeared on the stage (舞台). She took a deep breath and began to speak. Now she was Portia, a strong-willed character in Shakespeare's (莎士比亚) The Merchant of Venice. The theater was filled with people. She was speaking with a 1 she had never had before, the words coming smoothly (流畅地) from her.
In fact, Roberta had never acted in her life before the audition (选拔试镜). She 2 being in front of other people. She was very shy at school. She had 3 thought she was good enough at anything. She stayed mostly with herself, making few friends. She had 4 grades, but she always thought that something was missing.
Two weeks before the audition, Roberta's mother had heard about it and 5 her to join in.
"I can't think of anyone else better to play the part. Remember all the plays you used to act out for us."
Her mother wouldn't let the matter drop "You're just a little scared. Everyone gets scared. You know you can do it. The trick is to look over the fear to find the 6 of what you're doing."
So Roberta went to see the head of the Drama Club. She had read the play and found herself excited by the idea of speaking such rich words. In secret she practiced Portia's part, learning the lines by heart by 7 them over and over. It wasn't hard, and she loved every minute of it. Every time she spoke the words, she had a 8 understanding of the lines, as if Shakespeare had written Portia on many levels.
On the day of the audition, she 9 two of Portia's famous speeches for the auditors. When she had finished, the head of the Drama Club announced (宣布) the 10 was hers, she knew she had made it.
