Kate was unsure. Her parents were (1) convinced that their daughter had genuine talent, but what do parents know when

Kate was unsure. Her parents were (1) convinced that their daughter had genuine talent, but what do parents know when you're their only child? Especially when one of them was a music teacher and the other an accountant who were the first to (2) admit that they didn't know much about art, but they knew what they liked. Nonetheless, they appeared quite willing to support her for another year. Kate was painfully aware that, (3) despite her parents being fairly well-off, another year without generating any income could only be a burden for them. After much introspection, she told them, "Only one year. After that, if the paintings aren't good enough, or if no one shows any interest in exhibiting them, I'll be realistic and search (4) for a proper job. Over the next six months, Kate worked tirelessly, putting in hours she hadn't realized existed when she was a student. During that time, she created a dozen canvases. She allowed no one to see them out of fear that her parents and friends wouldn't be honest with her. She was determined to complete her portfolio and then listen only to the harshest possible critics, those of the professional gallery owners, and even tougher, those (5) of the buying public. By the eleventh month, Kate had (6) accomplished twenty-seven works, but she still wasn't sure if they showcased any real talent. Nevertheless, she felt that the time had finally come to let others pass (7) judgment on them.