Another person’s enthusiasm was what set me moving toward the success I have achieved. That person was my stepmother.
I was nine years old when she entered our home in rural Virginia. My father 36 me to her with these words: “I would like you to meet the fellow who is 37 for being the worst boy in this county and will probably start throwing rocks at you no 38 than tomorrow morning.”
My stepmother walked over to me, 39 my head slightly upward, and looked me right in the eye. Then she looked at my father and replied, “ You are 40 . This is not the worst boy at all, 41 the smartest one who hasn’t yet found an outlet for his enthusiasm.”
That statement began a (n) 42 between us. No one had ever called me smart. My family and neighbors had built me up in my 43 as a bad boy. My stepmother changed all that.
She changed many things. She 44 my father to go to a dental school, from which he graduated with honors. She moved our family into the country seat, where my father’s career could be more 45 and my brothers and I could be better 46 .
When I turned fourteen, she bought me a secondhand 47 and told me that she believed that I could become a writer. I knew her enthusiasm, I 48 it, and I saw how it had already improved our lives. I accepted her 49 and began to write for local newspapers. I was doing the same kind of 50 that great day I went to interview Andrew Carnegie and received the task which became my life’s work later. I wasn’t the 51 beneficiary(受益者). My father became the 52 man in town. My brothers and stepbrothers became a physician, a dentist, a lawyer, and a college president.
What power 53 has! When that power is released to support the certainty of one’s purpose and is 54 strengthened by faith, it becomes an irresistible force which poverty and temporary defeat can never 55 .
You can communicate that power to anyone who needs it. This is probably the greatest work you can do with your enthusiasm.
1.A. rushed B. introduced C. sent D. carried
2.A. mistaken B. favored C. distinguished D. rewarded
3.A. later B. sooner C. longer D. earlier
4.A. dragged B. raised C. shook D. bent
5.A. perfect B. right C. impolite D. wrong
6.A. so B. but C. or D. and
7.A. agreement B. gap C. friendship D. relationship
8.A. opinion B. image C. mind D. expectation
9.A. persuaded B. begged C. ordered D. invited
10.A. meaningful B. successful C. helpful D. useful
11.A. treated B. entertained C. respected D. educated
12.A. camera B. radio C. typewriter D. bicycle
13.A. considered B. appreciated C. ignored D. suspected
14.A. criticism B. belief C. request D. description
15.A. writing B. teaching C. studying D. reading
16.A. only B. next C. same D. real
17.A. cleverest B. strongest C. healthiest D. wealthiest
18.A. fortune B. sympathy C. enthusiasm D. confidence
19.A. deliberately B. constantly C. traditionally D. happily
20.A. win B. reach C. match D. doubt
---Come to my family for dinner, please.
---- .
A. I’m very busy B. See you in the evening
C. Yes, I would D. Oh, thank you for your invitation
in a story book, the girl didn’t notice the stranger.
A. Burying B. Buried C. To bury D. Having buried
I believe it must have been in the hotel we stayed I lost my computer.
A. that, where B. that, that
C. which, that D. where, that
he visited the new school, he showed great interest in everything he saw.
A. It’s the first time B. For the first time
C. The first time D. At first
you may have , you should gather your courage to face the challenge .
A. However serious a problem
B. Whatever serious a problem
C. However a serious problem
D. No matter how a serious problem
