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Today I am known for my voice.But it 1 a long time to believe I could read well.When I was young I stuttered(结巴) 2 badly that I was completely 3 to speak in public.
4 , when I was 14, Professor Donald Crouch came to our school.He was a retired college professor.He held a book of poems 5 it were a diamond necklace.When he heard our school was 6 Shakespeare, he could no longer 7 not being a part of our school.
When he 8 that I not only loved poetry but was 9 it, we became closer.There was, however, one 10 between us-Professor Crouch could not stand the 11 that I refused to read my poems to the class.
“Jim, poetry is 12 to be read aloud,”he said.“You should be able to speak those beautiful words.”I shook my head and 13 .
Then he tricked me.After handing in a poem, I waited for his 14 .It didn't come.Instead, one day as the students gathered together, he said to me,“Jim, I don't think you wrote this.”I 15 him in disbelief.“Why”, I started,“of course I 16 !”“Well, then,”he said,“you've got to prove it by getting up and reciting it 17 memory.”
With knees shaking, I walked up.For a moment I stood 18 .Then I began, and kept going.I recited my poem all the way through!
Afterwards, Professor Crouch congratulated me, and 19 me to read other writers' poems before the public.
Before long, I discovered I did have a(n) 20 and found my fellow students actually looked forward to hearing me recite.