I. Read an interview with Michelle Fossett, a knife thrower's assistant.

Fill in gaps a)—f) in the article with questions 1-6.

1. Did you have any accidents in those ten years?

2. How did you meet your knife-throwing partner?

3. Did he say sorry?

4 How did you become a knife thrower's assistant?

5. Which is worse, being the assistant or the thrower?

6. When was your first show together?


a) ...............................

I was born into the circus. My dad was a knife thrower and my mum was his assistant. One day Mum couldn't assist him, so I did. I didn't have to, it was my decision. This was when I was 12. Dad never hit me or my mum - he was very good.

b) .... ...

I met him at my uncle's circus. He wanted to be a knife thrower and he needed an assistant. We had to practise for hours every day. But it was fantastic to hear our first audience go "Ooh!". The last part of the act was throwing six knives on fire. The audience really loved that.

c)..... . Did you have any accidents in those ten years?..........................

Over ten years ago. And we worked out that, in the first ten years of our act, my partner threw 195,200 knives at me!

d) ...............................

Yes, when he tried to throw the knives too close together. He hit me three times — in the leg, in the arm and the top of my head! But I couldn't go to the doctor's because I had to do the next show. That's what circus people do — the show must go on.

e).... Did he say sorry?.......

No, he didn't say sorry, but then he never apologises! I got really angry about that and we had a big arguement — but after the show, not in front of the audience. That's unprofessional.

f) ...............................

It's the same. If something goes wrong, we both feel really bad! But I love the excitement It's wonderful when 500 people are watching me and I'm making them happy.

II. Read the article again. Complete the sentences.

1. Michelle first assisted her father because her mother...............................

2. We know her father was a good knife thrower because he ...............................

3. Her partner hit her three times because ...............................

4. She had to do the next show so she ...............................

5. Her partner didn't apologise so they ...............................