As Elton John’s song goes, “Sorry seems to be the hardest word.” Indeed, it takes immense courage to ask for forgiveness, and sometimes it may not be simply about uttering the word “sorry”. Read the following passage to see how a kneeling man laid the foundation for European peace. Fill in the blanks with words that best complete the sentences. Some letters have been given.

It was a frosty morning on 7 December 1970 when a (1) c _ _ _ _ m _ _ _ _ _ _ e ceremony was held at the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes in Warsaw, Poland. A wreath was laid on the ground as a homage to the (2) f _ _ _ e _. In this it was no different from many other similar occasions. Wearing a (3) _ _ _ _ m _ expression, a man in his long coat slowly came forward, and straightened the wreath ribbons, revealing their (4) _ _ _ _ _, red and gold stripes.

The man took a few steps back. Remaining silent, he abruptly sank onto his knees, with his head slightly tipping forward and his hands (5) c _ _ _ p _ _ together in show of respect. For half a minute, he retained his kneeling posture on the wet stone platform. Press photographers wasted no time in capturing the (6) i _ _ _ _ c moment: Willy Brandt, the Chancellor of West Germany, knelt down to express sorrow for millions of Jewish victims murdered by Nazi Germany during World War II. Such an act of humility from a (7) _ _ _ _ of state was unheard of and (8) u _ p _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ d.

At a time when (9) d _ _ _ _ _ of culpability was prevalent in post-war Germany, Brandt’s silent repentance spoke (10) v _ l _ _ _ s. It indicated not only remorse but also a plea for forgiveness. Instead of (11) d _ _ _ _ _ _ m _ _ _ the past, he was empathetic toward those who suffered in agony at the hands of Nazi Germany. In 1971, Brandt was awarded the Nobel Prize in Peace for his effort to achieve (12) r _ c _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ n between West Germany and Eastern Europe.

Years later, reflecting on the Warsaw kneeling, Brandt simply wrote in his memoirs, “I did what people do when words fail.”