Questions below refer to the following excerpt from a short story. Will He Appear on National Television?     'I think half the world has shown up for this audition.' Gene was talking on his cell phone to his girlfriend. 'I can't wait to perform.  I know I'm in fine voice, and they are going to (5) love the song I chose.'     'Well, good luck. I will be thinking of  you.' Although he sounded upbeat with his girlfriend, in truth Gene was anything but (10) confident. He had staked so much on the audition, and he had no idea what the judges would really think of him. He realized      for the... Show more

Questions below refer to the following excerpt from a short story.

Will He Appear on National Television?    

'I think half the world has shown up for this audition.' Gene was talking on his cell phone to his girlfriend. 'I can't wait to perform.  I know I'm in fine voice, and they are going to (5) love the song I chose.'    
'Well, good luck. I will be thinking of  you.' Although he sounded upbeat with his girlfriend, in truth Gene was anything but (10) confident. He had staked so much on the audition, and he had no idea what the judges would really think of him. He realized     
for the first time that he was scared. Even so, he wanted to succeed so much he could almost (15) taste it. Just imagine competing on national television. He took a long breath in. It was hard to believe he was actually going to perform for the judges. He had arrived exactly at nine and had (20) been in line for over three hours. He could  hear his heart beating loudly. Right then,  Gene heard his name being called.  He went into the building and was ushered into the audition room. (25) 'Yes, I'm here,' he answered. Gene looked at the judges sitting at the table. They seemed bored and unimpressed.    
'Well, what are you going to sing for     
us today?' one of the judges asked him. 'Time (30) After Time,' Gene told him, his voice quavering a bit.    
'Okay, let's see what you've got,' said another judge who was tapping the table with a pencil. (35) Gene felt a knot in his throat and didn't  know if he could go on. He remembered what his voice coach told him: 'Just take a moment before you start. Close your eyes.  Take a deep breath, and then let go.' Gene (40) closed his eyes and took a breath and then a    
sweet voice began emanating from his mouth. The judges seemed to disappear.  He could have been anywhere.  He was in his own world. (45) Suddenly it was over, and he stood in front of the judges feeling very alone and vulnerable. He could feel the sweat on his brow.    
'Well, that was a surprise,' said the first (50) judge. 'I never would have predicted that.'    
'What do you think? Does he go through?'  All four of the judges gave him a thumbs up. 'You're in, kid,' the first judge said. 'Don't make us regret our decision.' (55) 'Oh, no, sir. You won't regret it,' Gene said as he nearly skipped out of the room.    

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