My friend Leo makes up weak and poor excuses whenever there is something he doesn't want to do. Just two weeks ago, he was at my house when he decided he didn't want to go into work. He called his boss and said he had to get a new set of tires put on his truck. Then he【C1】and watched TV with me. Not only had he lied but his excuse wasn't a very【C2】 one. Another time, he cancelled a date with his girlfriend at the last minute, telling her he had to get a new【C3】____________ for his truck. She was angry and refused to go out with him again until he【C4】. Last weekend, Leo offered the poorest excuse yet. He'd【C5】he'd help me move some【C6】, from my parents' house to my new【C7】. He was supposed to bring his truck over about 8 o'clock Saturday morning. I waited, and then called and【C8】__________ on his machine. About 11:30, he called and said he was sorry but he'd been getting a new set of tires put on his truck. I guess he'd【C9】____________ he used the same excuse when he called his boss from my house. I think I need a new set of friends. I'm beginning to【C10】____________Leo's excuses.

Katharine Graham graduated from the University of Chicago in 1938 and got a job as a news【C1】____________ in San Francisco. Katharine's father used to be a successful【C2】____________ banker. In 1933 he bought a failing newspaper—The Washington Post. Then Katharine returned to Washington and got a job,【C3】____________ letters in her father's newspaper. She married Philip Graham who【C4】____________ his father-in-law's position shortly after and became publisher of The Washington Post. But for many years her husband【C5】____________ mental illness and he killed himself in 1963. After her husband's death, Katharine operated the newspaper. In the 1970s, the newspaper became famous around the world. And Katharine was also【C6】____________ an important leader in newspaper publishing. She was the first woman to head a major American publishing company—The Washington Post Company. In a few years, she successfully【C7】____________ the company to include newspaper, magazine, broadcast and cable companies. She died of head injuries after a fall when she was 84. More than 3,000 people attended her【C8】____________ including many government and business leaders. Her friends said she would be remembered as a woman who had an important【C9】____________ on events in the United States and the world. Katharine once wrote: "The world without newspapers would not be the same kind of world." After her death, the【C10】____________ of The Washington Post wrote: "The world without Katharine would not be the same at all."

Patricia Pania never wanted to be a national public figure. All she wanted to be was a mother and homemaker. But her life was turned upside down when a motorist, distracted by his cell phone, ran a stop sign and【C1】the side of her car. The impact killed her 2-year-old daughter. Four months later, Pania【C2】__ but courageously decided to try to educate the public and to fight for laws to【C3】____________ using cell phones while a car is moving. She wanted to save other children from what happened to her daughter. In her first speech, Pania got off to a shaky start She was visibly【C4】____________ and her voice was soft and uncertain. But as she got into her speech, a dramatic transformation【C5】. She stopped shaking and spoke with a strong voice. For the rest of her talk, she was a forceful and【C6】 speaker. She wanted everyone in the audience to know what she knew without having to learn it from a personal【C7】. Many in the audience were moved to tears and to action. In【C8】 presentations, Pania gained reputation as a highly effective speaker. Her appearance on a talk show was broadcast three times,【C9】____________ her message to over 14 million people. Her campaign increased public awareness of the problem, and prompted over 300 cities and several states to consider【C10】____________ on cell phone use.