完形填空

　　Some years ago I was offered a writing assignment that would require three months of travel through Europe．I had been 　　1　　 a couple of times, but I could hardly 　　2　　 to know my ways around the continent．　　3　　, my knowledge of foreign languages was 　　4　　 to a little college French．

　　I 　　5　　．How would I, unable to speak the language, 　　6　　 familiar with local geography or transportation systems, conduct interviews and do 　　7　　? It seemed impossible, and with considerable 　　8　　 I sat down to write a letter rejecting the 　　9　　．Halfway through, a 　　10　　 ran through my mind：you can’t learn if you don't try．So I 　　11　　 the assignment．

　　There were some bad 　　12　　．But by the time I had finished the trip, I was an experienced traveler．And ever since, I have never hesitated to head for even the most 　　13　　 places, without guides or 　　14　　 advanced bookings, confident that somehow I will 　　15　　．

　　The point is that the new, the different, is almost by definition 　　16　　．But each time you try something, you learn, and as the learning 　　17　　, the world opens to you．

　　I've learned to ski at 40, and flown up the Rhine River in a(n)　　18　　．And I know I'll go on doing such things．It's not because I'm braver or more daring than others．I'm not．But I'll accept worry as another name for 　　19　　 and I believe I can 　　20　　 wonders．