“I Went Skydiving at 84!”
As a young girl growing up in the 1930s, I always wanted to fly a plane, but back then it was almost unheard of a woman to do that. I got a taste of that dream in 2011,when my husband arranged for me me ride in a hot air balloon for my birthday. But the experience turned out to be very dull. Around that time ,I told my husband that I wanted to skydive. So when our retirement community（社区）announced that they were having an essay competition and the topic was an experience of a lifetime that you wanted to have, I decided to write about my dream.
In the essay, I wrote about my desire to skydive, stating George Brush Sr. did it at age 80. Why not me? I was just 84 and in pretty good health. A year went by and I heard nothing. But then at a community party in late April 2009, they announced that I was one of the winners. I just couldn’t believe it.
One june 11, 2009, nearly 40 of my family and friends gathered in the area close to where I would land while I headed up in the airplane. My instructor, Jay, guided me through the experience. The plane was the noisiest one I had ever been in, but I wasn’t frightened—I was really just looking forward to the experience. When we reachen 13,000 feet, Jay instructed me to throw myself out of the plane. When we first hit the air, the wind was so strong that I could hardly breathe. For a second I thought, “What have I gotten myself into?” But then everything got calmer. We were in a free fall for about a minute before Jay opened the parachute（降落伞）, then we just floated downward fo zhout five minutes. Being up in the clouds and looking at the view below was unlike anything I have ever felt—much better than the hot air ballon. I was just enjoying it.
Skydiving was really one of the greatest experiences of my life. I hope other people will look at me and realize that you don’t stop living just because you are 84 years old. If there’s something you want to experience, look into it. If it’s something that is possible, make it happen.
1.
What happened to the auther in 2001?
A. She flew an airplane
B. She entered a competition
C. She went on a hot air balloon ride
D. She moved into a retirement community
2.
The author mentioned George Bush Sr. in her essay to .
A. build up her own reputation
B. show her admiration for him
C. compare their health conditon
D. make her argument persuasive
3.
How did the authou feel immediately after she jumped out of the plane?
A. Excited B. Scared C. Nervous D. Regretful
4.
What did the author enjoy most when she was skydiving?
A.The beautiful clouds B. The wonderful view
C. The company of Jay D. The one-minute free fall
I used to hate being called upon in class mainly because I didn’t like attention drawn to myself. And 36 otherwise assignen（指定）a seat by the teacher, I always 37 to sit at the back of the classroom.
All this 38 after I joined a sports team. It began when a teacher suggested I try out for the basketball team. At first I thought it was a crazy 39 because I didn’t have a good sense of balance, nor did I have the 40 to keep pace with the others on the team and they would tease me. But for the teacher who kept insisting on my “ 41 for it”, I wouldn’t have decided to give a try.
Getting up t he courage to go to the tryouts was only the 42 of it! When I first started 43
the practice sessions, I didn’t even know the rules of the game, much 44 what I was doing. Sometimes I’d get 45 and take a shot at the wrong direction—which made me feel really stupid. 46 , I wasn’t the only one “new” at the game, so I decided to 47 on learning the game, do my best at each prctice session, and not be too hard on myself for the things I didn’t 48 “just yet”.
I practiced and practiced. Soon I knew the 49 and the “moves”. Being part of a team was fun and moticating. Very soon the competitive 50 in me was winning over my lack of confidence. With time, I learned how to play and made friends in the 51 — friends who respect my efforts to work hard and be a team player. I never had so much fun!
With my 52 self-confidence comes more praise from teachers and classmates. I have gone from “53” in the back of the classroom and not wanting to call attention to myself, 54
raising my hand — even when I sometimes wasn’t and not 100 percent 55 I had the right answer. Now I have more self-confidence in myself.
1. A. as B. until C. unless D. though
2. A. hoped B. agreed C. meant D. chose
3. A. continued B. changed C. settled D. started
4. A. idea B. plan C.belief D. saying
5. A. right B. chance C. ability D.patience
6. A. going B. looking C. cheering D. applying
7. A. point B. half C. rest D. basis
8. A. enjoying B. preparing C. attending D. watching
9. A. less B. later C. worse D. further
10. A.committed B. motivated C. embarrassed D. confused
11.A. Interetingly B. Fortunately C. Obviously D. hopefully
12. A. focus B. act C. rely D. try
13. A. want B. do C. support D. know
14. A. steps B.orders C. rules D. games
15. A. roles B. part C. mind D. value
16. A.process B. operation C. movement D. situation
17. A. expressed B. improved C. preserved D. recognized
18. A.dreaming B. playing C. relaxing D. hiding
19. A. by B. for C. with D. to
20. A. lucky B. happy C. sure D. satisfied
With new technology, pictures of underwater valleys can be taken color.
A. by B. for C. with D. in
The employment rate has continued to rise in big cities thanks to the efforts of the local govenments to increase .
A. then B. those C. it D. that
Sit down, Emma. You will only make yourself more tired, on you feet.
A. to keep B. keeping C. having kept D. to have kept
—Bob has gone to Califonia.
—Oh, can you tell me when he ?
A. has left B. left C. is leaving D. would leave
