I grew up poor – living with six brothers, my father and a wonderful mother. We had 36 money and few worldly goods, but plenty of love and attention. I was 37 and energetic. I understood that no matter how poor a person was, they could 38 afford a dream.
My dream was to be a 39 .When I was sixteen, I could crush a baseball, throw a ninety-mile-per-hour fastball. I was also 40 : my high-school coach was Ollie Jarvis, who 41 me the difference between having a dream and showing strong belief. One particular 42 with him changed my life forever.
It was a summer and a friend recommended me for a summer 43 . This meant a chance for my first income—cash for a new bike and new clothes, and the 44 of savings for a house for my mother. The opportunity was attracting, and I wanted to 45 at it.
Then I realized I would have to 46 summer baseball to handle the work schedule, and that meant I would have to tell Coach Jarvis I wouldn’t be playing. I was 47 about this.
When I told Coach Jarvis, he was as 48 as I expected him to be. “You have your whole life to work,” he said. “Your 49 days are limited. You can’t afford to waste them.”
I stood before him with my head 50 , trying to think of how to explain to him why my dream of buying my mom a house and having money in my pocket was worth 51 his disappointment in me.
“How much are you going to make at this job?” he demanded.
“$ 3．25 an hour,” I replied.
“Well, is $ 3.25 an hour the price of a 52 ?” he asked.
That 53 laid bare for me the difference between wanting something right now and having a goal. I devoted myself to 54 that summer, and within the year I was offered a $ 20,000 contract. I signed with the Denver Broncos in 1984 for $ 1.7 million, and bought my mother the 55 of my dreams.
1.A. some B. little C. no D. much
2.A. happy B. lovely C. angry D. noisy
3.A. only B. ever C. still D. almost
4.A. teacher B. coach C. doctor D. sportsman
5.A. lucky B. satisfied C. hopeful D. surprised
6.A. taught B. asked C. told D. trained
7.A. match B. story C. moment D. incident
8.A. job B. camp C. holiday D. course
9.A. cause B. start C. need D. amount
10.A. stand B. call C. look D. jump
11.A. take out B. cut off C. put on D. give up
12.A. excited B. curious C. anxious D. disappointed
13.A. mad B. puzzled C. regretful D. discouraged
14.A. working B. playing C. learning D. shining
15.A. shaking B. hanging C. holding D. nodding
16.A. feeling B. suffering C. facing D. expressing
17.A. dream B. game C. chance D. life
18.A. offer B. price C. question D. order
19.A. study B. sports C. homework D. business
20.A. clothes B. bike C. house D. goods
— I’m more than happy to go out this weekend.
— ____ . We’ve got so much work to do at that time.
A. Don’t worry B. Don’t mention it C. Don’t say so D. Forget it
— Do you enjoy your present job?
— ____. I just do it for a living.
A. Of course B. Not really C. Not likely D. Not a little
It ____ we had stayed together for a couple of weeks ____ I found we had a lot in common.
A. was until; when B. was not until; that
C. was not until; when D. was until; that
Fast ____ you read, you can’t finish the book in two days.
A. so B. if C. as D. although
Remember that there is still one point ____ we must make clear at the conference tomorrow.
A. where B. why C. when D. that
