(2019·洛阳市、许昌市质检)

As a young child，I was painfully shy.I'd watch other children at __1__ in the park，wishing I could join their ranks for a __2__ of tag, hide­and­seek, or jump rope, but I was too __3__ to approach them.__4__， my mother would come to the rescue.She'd get up from the bench where she was sitting with the other moms, __5__ my hand, and ask the other kids if I could play too.The answer was __6__ yes(I'm sure the other children didn't want to get in trouble with their own moms)，and then I'd be all set for the rest of the afternoon...until the pattern __7__ itself the next day.

I became __8__ awkward and more outgoing as I grow up, thankfully—though I never __9__ what you'd call a social butterfly.Today, I feel __10__ giving public lectures in large halls, and having __11__ in small groups，but I still tend to avoid situations in which I'm expected to “mingle”(使混合)with a roomful of __12__ (I'm working on it)．

The reasons for my aversion(厌恶) could be various.For one, I might be __13__ some residual (残留的) childhood fear of rejection.But beyond that possibility, one __14__ element is that I __15__ to underestimate how much people like me after I meet them.

As some authors __16__， conversations are a great __17__ of happiness in our lives，but they could bring us even greater joy if we only __18__ that others like us more than we know，which is a good thing to keep in mind as you __19__ the awe­inspiring room of strangers at your next cocktail party，mix and mingle reception, or company __20__ hour.I know I'll try to.

【语篇解读】　本文是一篇夹叙夹议文。作者通过讲述自己从一个害羞的孩子转变成一个能够和他人自在沟通甚至进行演讲的人的经历，启迪我们：对他人敞开胸怀，不再害羞会更开心。