Colleen, Aiden, and Kyla were on the high school wrestling team. They were a tight-knit group, spending most of their afternoons training in the gym. Colleen was the team captain, with a fierce determination that sometimes made her ​ (a)   with anger. Aiden was the team's star wrestler, with an impressive record of victories. Kyla was the newest member, still learning the ropes, but eager to improve.

One day, during a particularly intense practice session, the coach brought out a new sparring partner - a tall, ​ (b)   -looking guy from another school. He was twice the size of any of them, and his muscles bulged under his uniform. The three friends looked at each other, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension.

As they began to spar with the new guy, it quickly became clear that he was tough. He fought back with an intensity that none of them had seen before. Colleen felt her anger bubbling inside her, determined not to be beaten. Aiden's signature move didn't seem to faze their opponent. Kyla tried to keep up but had a hard time keeping her balance.

Despite their best efforts, the new guy seemed to have the upper hand. They were all feeling exhausted and a little defeated. But then, Colleen noticed something. The new guy was moving ​ (c)   , favoring one leg. She quickly signaled to Aiden and Kyla, and they all sprang into action, working together to take advantage of their opponent's weakness.

In the end, the three friends managed to ​ (d)   the new guy, much to their coach's surprise. As they walked out of the gym, feeling tired but proud, Colleen looked at Aiden and Kyla and smiled. They may have been up against a difficult opponent, but they had each other's backs.

Paulo had been in love with Aundraya since he saw her at their high school. She was beautiful, with long, dark hair that flowed down her back like a​ (a)   . But she was also ​ (b)   , rarely speaking to anyone and keeping to herself.

Despite this, Paulo was determined to win her heart. He wrote her love letters and composed poems about her beauty. But she always seemed distant, leaving him ​ (c)   .

One day, they partnered together on a project. Paulo saw it as an opportunity to get closer to her, but she remained​ (d)   , barely speaking to him. However, as they worked on the project, Paulo began to see a different side of her. She was intelligent and thoughtful, with a sharp wit that made him laugh.

As the days went by, they grew closer. They would talk for hours about their dreams and ambitions, and Paulo began to feel like he had a chance with her. But then, tragedy struck. Aundraya was diagnosed with a rare disease and had only a few months to live.

Paulo was devastated. He spent every moment he could with her, trying to make her last days as happy as possible. They would watch the sunset together, and he would play guitar while she sang. But as her condition worsened, Aundraya became ​ (e)   [d] again, keeping her thoughts to herself.

On the day of her passing, Paulo was devastated. He had lost his love. But he knew the time spent together was worth it, and he would never forget the beautiful moments they shared.

1. Sometimes, when you really want something, you might resort to whining and blubbering to get it — in other words, you'll (a)   .

2. ​ (b)   when you've just ingested some stomach-wrenching poison, or perhaps in response to red ant stings.

3. When you're camping, you ​ (c)   the campfire with water when you're done with it.

4. To​ (d)   is to supply with water, usually with ditches and channels that allow the water to flow.

1. Someone who is ​ (a)   gives orders in a way that shows they feel superior or more important than other people.

2. If you make a motion with your hands to indicate eating ice cream, you are using ​ (b)   .

If something needs to be done with great care and caution, you should do it ​ (c)   — like holding a newborn baby or creeping down the creaky stairs when you're trying to sneak out.

4. To ​ (d)   is to remove an outer layer, like filing dry skin from feet.

Daniel felt a surge of ​ (a)   as he watched his hard work go to waste when his careless coworker accidentally knocked over a bucket of water, causing it to ​ (b)   the delicate machinery.

Omar managed to ​ (a)   a potential conflict with a group of ​ (b)   [ing] hecklers by taking the high road and walking away, refusing to stoop to their level.

Despite being a ​ (a)   in the classroom with his​ (b)   behavior, Carlos surprised everyone when he joined the school's anti-bullying campaign, determined to put an end to the problem of bullying that was affecting his peers.

Angel looked up at the ​ (a)   light filtering through the​ (b)   clouds, feeling a sense of foreboding that made him wonder if the storm would ever pass.

Kaden's ​ (a)   behavior intensified as he hurled a series of ​ (b)   insults at his opponent, revealing a deep-seated anger and resentment that had been simmering beneath the surface.

Marie ​ (a)   approached the wild animal, using her knowledge of animal behavior to ​ (b)   it without causing harm, earning the respect and admiration of his fellow conservationists.

Micah couldn't hide his​ (a)   expression when Naomi told him she had accepted a job offer in another city, leaving him to face the prospect of a long-distance relationship or a painful breakup.

Walker's ​ (a)   attitude caught Mia off guard, leaving her feeling intimidated and unsure of how to approach him without eliciting a defensive response.

Kristian and Angie realized they had become ​ (a)   in their relationship, taking each other for granted and neglecting the small gestures of love and appreciation that had once brought them closer together.

Cynni couldn't help but ​ (a)   when Rodney made a ​ (b)   comment, standing up for herself and demanding respect in the face of his condescending attitude.

Jazmyn's​ (a)   demeanor often rubbed Nia the wrong way, making her feel like she was being talked down to and belittled at every turn.

Caitlin asked Victor to ​ (a)   her artwork, eager to get an honest evaluation from someone she respected and admired in the art world.

Emerald and Jamie worked tirelessly to ​ (a)   the dry land and clear the ​ (b)   after the devastating storm, determined to restore their community to its former glory.

Garry noticed Kenzie becoming increasingly ​ (a)   as the meeting dragged on, prompting him to​ (b)   from the conversation and suggest they reconvene when everyone was feeling more focused and energized.

Jerry was taken aback by Dorien's ​ (a)   comments and ​ (b)   attitude, wondering why he felt the need to belittle and attack others instead of engaging in constructive dialogue and collaboration.

If you're sore after playing basketball all afternoon, you should put some ​ (a)   on your legs.

Hernan and Lesley rubbed the ​ (a)   onto their aching feet after dancing all night at the salsa club.