A StorytellerIn my early 20s, after a year and a half in England, and four months in France, I returned...

1. A) friend
2. A) neat
3. D) sense
4. A) explore
5. C) spend
6. D) pass
7. C) remain

In my early 20s, after spending time in England and France, I found myself working at a camp in northern Virginia with a colleague named Dan from Mississippi. Despite our differences in background and habits, we bonded over a shared sense of humor. One memorable experience we had was when a group of us got stuck in a cave in West Virginia overnight, with Dan injuring his foot in the process. As we waited for rescue, we passed the time by telling stories. The atmosphere of the cave seemed to inspire a flood of memories and stories that we had never shared before, making that night a transformative experience for me as I discovered my talent as a storyteller. When the rangers eventually arrived, we were reluctant to leave, wanting to continue sharing our tales.

In the given passage about a storyteller's experience, we are introduced to a narrative about a summer camp and an unexpected adventure in a cave. Let's analyze each of the blanks to find the most appropriate words to complete the story:

1. "My 1 that summer was Dan from Mississippi, and I am from Rhode Island."

   • The context suggests a relationship based on working together. The word "partner" (C) fits best here, as it implies a cooperative relationship at the camp, which aligns with the context of working together with a group of boys.

2. "I've always been a bit untidy, but Dan was 2 and clean, even after a night in the woods with our campers."

   • The contrast between the narrator's untidiness and Dan's cleanliness is highlighted. "Neat" (B) is the best choice as it directly contrasts with "untidy."

3. "We could not have been more different, but we got on because we shared the same 3 of humor."

   • The phrase "sense of humor" is a common expression. Thus, "sense" (D) is the correct choice.

4. "At the end of the summer, a few of us went to 4 a cave in West Virginia and got stuck in the cave for the night."

   • The context is about an adventure involving a cave. "Explore" (A) is the most appropriate choice as it conveys the idea of venturing into the cave to discover or investigate it.

5. "Dan hurt his right foot badly. So we had to 5 the night in the cave."

   • Given the context of staying overnight due to the injury, "spend" (B) is the best fit, implying the necessity to stay there for the night.

6. "To 6 the time, we told stories."

   • The phrase "pass the time" is commonly used to describe occupying oneself during a period of waiting. Thus, "pass" (D) is the correct choice.

7. "When the rangers came the next morning, we didn’t want to 7 ."

   • The story suggests a reluctance to end the storytelling experience. "Leave" (B) is the most fitting word, as it indicates an unwillingness to depart from the cave.

In summary, the completed passage would read as follows:

In my early 20s, after a year and a half in England, and four months in France, I returned to the United States and got a job at a camp in northern Virginia. My partner that summer was Dan from Mississippi, and I am from Rhode Island. We worked together with a group of boys from 12 to 14 years old. I've always been a bit untidy, but Dan was neat and clean, even after a night in the woods with our campers. We could not have been more different, but we got on because we shared the same sense of humor. At the end of the summer, a few of us went to explore a cave in West Virginia and got stuck in the cave for the night. It wasn’t as dramatic as it sounds. The park rangers had told us to stay there if anything happened. They knew where we were going, and when we should have been back. Dan hurt his right foot badly. So we had to spend the night in the cave. Food and water were not a problem, but we turned off our lights to save power. In the distance, we could hear the sound of running water. To pass the time, we told stories. That night in the cave we moved from one family story to another. As the night wore on, I remembered more and more. I was not alone–the cave, the blue light and the flowing water released stories and memories that we had never revealed to anyone. It was as if a river of stories had started flowing in each of us. When the rangers came the next morning, we didn’t want to leave. "Can't we just tell a few more stories?" In the cave, that night, I became a storyteller.