One day when I was 15 years old, I had some friends over to hang out. While we were ma

king food in the kitchen, my brother came in. He placed his beef next to my (1) one and said, “Courtney, your beef is bigger than mine. You don’t need to(2); you’re already fat enough.” Then he walked out laughing.

Unpleasant(3)on my physical appearance were nothing new. Something inside me gave in to his idea that my legs were(4), and that became the last day that I ever willingly wore(5)until I was 30 years old. For the next 15 years, I spent summer after summer(6)in long pants.

But then I met Ragen Chastain, and she(7)everything. I couldn’t believe that this woman who, like myself, weighed almost 300 pounds was so(8)and happy in her own skin. I(9)as she shared her own journey to recovery and self-love. She talked about how amazing our(10)are, simply because of the things they do every day—like breathing, (11)blood to every cell, blinking and walking.

Walking! I was suddenly(12)how foolish I’d been for so long. There’re people who are born without legs, or who lack(13)working legs, or who lose their legs, and I’d been hiding my perfectly strong, healthy, beautiful legs(14) because I had (15) someone to convince me that they weren’t good enough. The next day, I bought three pairs of shorts and a sundress and spent the entire summer letting my legs(16) the sun and feel the breeze.

The next time anyone comments on your body in a(17)way, look them straight in the eye, smile and say, “If what you see(18) you so much, feel free to practice the ancient art of looking (19)else.” That’s Ragen’s own(20) , but I don’t think she’ll mind if you use it.

(1)A.small

B.slim

C.plain

D.thick

(2)A.eat

B.talk

C.walk

D.cry

(3)A.suggestion

B.comments

C.reports

D.reflection

(4)A.unacceptable

B.unnecessary

C.unique

D.special

(5)A.shorts

B.socks

C.pants

D.T-shirts

(6)A.driving

B.roasting

C.sleeping

D.running

(7)A.believed

B.changed

C.explained

D.solved

(8)A.energetic

B.generous

C.sensitive

D.tiresome

(9)A.expected

B.laughed

C.listened

D.waited

(10)A.bodies

B.legs

C.images

D.weights

(11)A.pulling

B.putting

C.preventing

D.pumping

(12)A.afraid of

B.absorbed in

C.anxious about

D.aware of

(13)A.accidentally

B.possibly

C.properly

D.regularly

(14)A.in delight

B.in shame

C.in panic

D.in pride

(15)A.begged

B.allowed

C.refused

D.invited

(16)A.avoid

B.cover

C.kick

D.see

(17)A.different

B.negative

C.normal

D.positive

(18)A.amuses

B.bothers

C.excites

D.hurts

(19)A.anywhere

B.somewhere

C.nowhere

D.everywhere

(20)A.decision

B.creation

C.question

D.requirement