M: Miranda, let ’ s speak about your performance in class. You ’ re not(1) ; you ’ re careless with your assignments and often hand them in late. You don ’ t want to be here, do you? W: I ’ m sorry Dr. Smith. It ’ s just ... I ’ ve got lots of things to do. I ’ m studying Web design and I ’ m a first-class player on our golf team. It ’ s hard to see why I need to take a Spanish language class! M: Well, I ’ m sorry you feel that way, but learning another language can improve your (2) in all of your efforts. And it can be very useful sometimes, for instance, when you visit your father in Mexico. W: Gosh! What do you mean, professor? Just because my father does business in Mexico I ’ m (3) to learn Spanish – on top of everything else I have to learn? It ’ s just too much! And if I don ’ t spend enough time on the golf course, I won ’ t remain a first-class player on the golf team. I still don ’ t see why I should learn a language that ’ s so hard for me. There are no verb tenses on the golf course or in Web design! M: Listen Miranda, I ’ ve known your father since we were students at university 20 years ago – and have known you since you were a little girl. Of course, there are no verb tenses in golf or Web design. But I am giving you good advice. Please listen. W: Yes, of course, you ’ re like my favorite uncle. M: Your brain isn ’ t like a cup that has water flowing over its (4) when it i s full. Instead, it ’ s like a muscle. Learning Spanish exercises your brain in new ways, making it stronger. It will strengthen your (5) thinking skills and creativity. W: Really?! Then I guess I can give it a try.