I was the youngest of five boys and also had four sisters who had to pull together and take care of each other. Dad wasn't around, so I never knew him well. He killed himself when I was three years old, leaving mom with the job of raising nine kids. She was a very hard worker, and in order to make ends meet, she hardly ever rested. With my mom as my example, I learned that hard work is the best way to get what you want.
Even as a little boy, I knew I was going to be successful. Regardless of what I chose, I wanted to make my brothers, sisters and mom proud of me—not only by being successful in what I chose to do, but also as a person who could be looked up to for the right reasons.
Surprising as it might seem, basketball wasn't in my plans. One day, my mom cut a rim(边缘) off an old water barrel(水桶) and then held it up for me to throw an old rubber ball through. By junior high, I started playing basketball on a team. I loved to compete. For me, it paid off. I always put the effort in, every day.
I am grateful for the life I've enjoyed as a basketball star. Basketball is not life. It can be exciting. But the most important thing about basketball is that it gives me a way to do good things for others as I move through this journey called life.
1.It can be inferred that the author's________.
A.brothers were more famous than him |
B.mother had a great influence on his career |
C.father loved his children and wife very much |
D.family was rich and happy when he was a child |
2.Why did the author's father kill himself?
A.Because the family was poor. |
B.Because he often quarreled with his wife. |
C.Because he was seriously ill. |
D.The passage didn't tell us the reason. |
3.From the second paragraph, we can infer that________.
A.the author was respected as a brave boy |
B.the author's family didn't like his career |
C.the author got on well with his mother, brothers and sisters |
D.the author helped his brothers and sisters succeed |
4.What does the author get from basketball?
A.How to do good things for others. |
B.Life is as hard as playing basketball. |
C.Cooperation with others is important. |
D.Two heads are wiser than one. |
The other day, I happened to meet someone I hadn’t seen for many years. I couldn’t believe the change in him. In fact, he didn’t even seem like the 36 person.
When I first knew Bill , back in 37 , he was one of the most carefree(无忧无虑)people I had ever 38 . He was always ready to have a party. He thought 39 of going out for beer at three o’clock in the morning or driving 15 miles to see an old 40 he really liked. Bill and I were in the same class in college, and 41 was never dull when he was 42 . With him there was one wild 43 after another. Sometimes I wonder how we 44 to study for our exams.
Last week I was in Houston on business and I ran into Bill in the bar at the hotel. 45 , I wasn’t even sure it was 46 . Was this short-haired businessman really the same person? I wasn’t really sure until I came near him but it indeed was Bill. Now he works for a bank. He 47 most of the evening about his job, his new car and his house. How he had changed! Back when we were in college, the 48 thing Bill cared about were possessions(财富). Now they seemed to be his main 49 . Although I have changed quite a bit myself, somehow I never 50 Bill changing so much. My image of him 51 the one I had formed 52 the time when we were college students together.
I suppose it’s 53 to expect people to remain the same, especially 54 I have changed so much myself. But I must say that I enjoyed the old Bill much more than the new Bill. Maybe he 55 the same way about me.
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I _________ the boy to work hard at his lessons, but he wouldn’t listen.
A.advised |
B.suggested |
C.persuaded |
D.made |
Every year, ________ 300,000 visitors come to visit Kaiyuan Temple in Quanzhou from other provinces.
A.as much as |
B.so many as |
C.as more as |
D.as many as |
Often,even a common thing of the past can ________ the image of life in the ancient time.
A.describe |
B.present |
C.express |
D.impress |
According to an old story, Leif followed Biarni’s directions and sailed to _______ is believed to be the coast of present-day Canada.
A.where |
B.which |
C.what |
D.that |