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There was a skinny young boy who loved football with all his heart, (1)Practice (after practice, he
eagerly gave everything he had. But being half the size of the other boys, (a)he got absolutely
nowhere. At all the games this hopeful athlete sat on the bench and hardly ever played. This
teenager lived alone with his father. Even though the son was always on the bench, his father was
( ア ) in the stands cheering.
When the young man went to college, he decided to join the football team. Everyone was sure he
could not bea member. But the coach enrolled him because he always put his ( イ ) and soul into
every practice, and at the same time, provided the other members with the spirit and hustle they
badly needed.
It was the end of his senior football season, and as he ran onto the practice field shortly beforel
the big playoff game, the coach met him with a telegram. The young man read the telegram and he
became deathly silent. Swallowing hard, he mumbled to the coach, "My father died this morning. Is
it all right if I ( ウ ) practice today?"
The coach put his arm gently around his shoulder and said, "Take the rest of the week off. And
don't even plan to come back for the ( I ) on Saturday."
Saturday arrived, and thegame was not going well. In the third quarter, when the team was ten
points behind, a silent young man quietly slipped into the empty locker room and put on his protector.
As he ran onto the sidelines, the coach and his players were ( オ ) to see their faithful team mate
back so soon.
"Coach, please let me play. I've just got to play today," said the young man.
(2)The coach pretended not to hear him. He didn't want his worst player in this close playoff game
ーー Gnalll foolina corny for the vOuna man, (hithe coach gave in. "A
