One of the most well-known directors of our time is Stephen Spielberg. He was born in Cincinnati on 18 December 1946. His father was an electric engineer and his mother was a performing pianist. His sister, Anne Spielberg, became a screenwriter who wrote the stories for many famous films.
Stephen had always wanted to be a director ever since he was a young boy. When he was just 13 years old, he made a 40-minute film. It won a local competition. Three years later, he produced a film called Firelight, which made one hundred dollars’ profit at the cinema in his hometown. Many of the ideas from this film were later used for one of his most famous films called Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
When he was 18 years old, he wanted to go to film school so that he could improve his skills and become an even better director. Unluckily, he was unsuccessful in getting a place at this school so he went to a university in California to study English. Even though he had failed to get into the school he wanted to go to, he didn’t let this stop him following his dream to become a great director.
Stephen Spielberg has directed many films since his first major film in 1976. He now owns many different businesses, most of which are involved in the film industry.

While watching a swimming competition one night, I came across an unbelievable sight. It was not a gold medal, or a world record broken, but a show of courage.

The event started with only three men on the blocks. For one reason or another, two of them false started, so they were disqualified. That left only one to complete. In fact, it is difficult enough, not having anyone to race against.

I watched the man dive off the block and knew right away that something was wrong. I’m not an expert swimmer, but I can tell a good dive from a poor one, and this was not exactly medal quality. When he resurfaced, it was obvious that the man was not out for gold — his arms were waving in an attempt at freestyle. The crowd started to laugh. Clearly this man was not a medal competitor.

I listened to the crowd beginning to laugh at this poor man who was clearly having a hard time. Finally he made his turn to start back. It was pitiful. He made a few desperate strokes (划水) and you could tell he was exhausted.

But in those few awful strokes, the crowd had changed.

No longer were they laughing, but beginning to cheer. Some even began to stand and shout “Come on, you can do it!” and he did.

This young man finally finished his race. The crowd went wild. Even though he recorded one of the slowest times in swimming history, this man gave more heart than any of the other competitors.

Just a short year ago, he had never even swum, let alone race. His country had been invited to the competition.

In a competition, we usually watch the brilliant athletes competing for medals, but it is nice to watch an underdog.

1.From the passage we learn that the young man _____.

A．made his turn to start back pitifully

B．was skillful at freestyle swimming

C．swam faster than the average swimmer

D．seemed unlikely to win a gold medal

2.The crowd changed their attitude because _____.

A．they felt sorry for the young man

B．they wanted to show their interest

C．they were moved by the young man

D．they meant to please the young man

3.According to the passage, “it is nice to watch an underdog” probably means ____.

A．it’s amusing to watch a skillful swimmer swimming

B．it’s amazing to watch a good loser challenging himself

C．it’s good for athletes to act proudly

D．it’s difficult for some athletes to remove medals

4.What would be the best title for the passage?

A．Go for it！         B．Try again!          C．Compete for gold!   D．Break a record!

完形填空（共15小题; 每小题1分, 满分15分）   

阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

Nearly twenty years has passed, I still remember my favourite professor, James Sehwartz. And almost all his students are his friends, and almost all his students know his life story.

When James was a teenager, his father   36   him to a fur (毛皮)factory where he worked . This was during the Great Depression(大萧条). The   37   was to get James a job.

He entered the factory, and immediately felt as if the walls had closed in around him. The room was dark and hot, the windows covered with dust, and the   38   were packed tightly together, running like trains. The fur hairs were flying,   39   the air thicker, and the workers, sewing the pieces of fur together, were bent over their needles   40   the boss marched up and down the rows, shouting and forcing them to go faster. James could hardly   41   . He stood next to his father, frozen with fear, hoping the boss wouldn’t   42   at him, either.

During lunch break, his father took James to the boss and pushed him in front of him,   43 if there was any work for his son. But unfortunately, the answer was “no”, because at that time no one would__44___ it up once he takes a job.

However, for James, it was a blessing(福气) . He hated the place. He made a(an)   45   that  he would never do any work that brought   46   to someone else, and that he would never allow himself to  47   money from others who would lose their jobs for him.

“What will you do?” his mother , Eva , would ask him.

“I don’t know,” he would say. He ruled out（排除）law, because he didn’t like  48   , and he ruled out medicine , because he couldn’t take the    49  of blood.

　　50__, my best professor became a teacher, he thought it was the job not to hurt anybody.

36．A．sent          B．took            C．carried         D．admitted

37．A．situation     B．condition       C．  aim           D．way

38．A．goods         B．workers         C．machines        D．vehicles

39．A．making        B．sending         C．taking          D．breaking

40．A．as            B．after           C．if              D．though

41．A．breathe       B．see             C．walk            D．hear

42．A．attack        B．laugh           C．rush            D．shout

43．A．doubting      B．questioning     C．asking          D．begging

44．A．pick          B． give           C． come           D． turn

45．A．request       B．promise         C．plan            D．arrangement

46．A．harm          B．injury          C．damage          D．convenience

47．A．pay           B．save            C．earn            D．let

48．A．police        B．lawyers         C．doctors         D．government

49．A．sight         B．feel            C．sense           D．scenery

50．A．Generally     B．Possibly        C．Eventually      D．Basically

While watching the Olympics the other night, I came across an unbelievable sight. It was not a gold medal, or a world record broken, but a show of courage.

       The event was swimming and started with only three men on the blocks. For one reason or another, two of them false started, so they were disqualified. That left only one to complete. It would have been difficult enough, not having anyone to race against, even though the time on the clock is important.

       I watched the man dive off the block and knew right away that something was wrong. I’m not an expert swimmer, but I can tell a good dive from a poor one, and this was not exactly medal quality. When he resurfaced, it was evident that the man was not out for gold — his arms were waving in an attempt at freestyle. The crowd started to laugh. Clearly this man was not a medal competitor.

       I listened to the crowd begin to laugh at this poor man who was clearly having a hard time. Finally he made his turn to start back. It was pitiful. He made a few desperate strokes and you could tell he was worn out.

       But in those few awful strokes, the crowd had changed.

       No longer were they laughing, but beginning to cheer. Some even began to stand and shout “Come on, you can do it!” and he did.

       A clear minute past the average swimmer, this young man finally finished his race. The crowd went wild. You would have thought that he had won the gold, and should have. Even though he recorded one of the slowest times in Olympic history, this man gave more heart than any of the other competitors.

       Just a short year ago, he had never even swum, let alone race. His country had been invited to the Olympics.

       In a competition where athletes remove their silver medals feeling they have somehow been cheated out of gold, or when they act so proudly in front of their competitors, it is nice to watch an underdog.

From the passage we can learn that the young man _______.

A. made his turn to start back pitifully                       B. was skillful in freestyle in the game

C. swam faster than the average swimmer                  D. was not capable enough to win the medal

The crowd changed their attitudes because _______.

       A. they felt sorry for the young man                         B. they wanted to show their sympathy

       C. they were moved by the young man                      D. they meant to please the young man

According to the passage, “it is nice to watch an underdog” probably means _______.

       A. it’s amusing to watch a man with awful swimming skills

       B. it’s amazing to watch an ordinary man challenging himself

       C. it’s cheerful for athletes to act proudly before their competitors

       D. it’s brave enough for some athletes to remove the silver medals

What’s the best title for the passage?

       A. Go for it!          B. Try again！              C. Compete for Gold!      D. Break a Record!

While watching the Olympics the other night, I came across an unbelievable sight. It was not a gold medal, or a world record broken, but a show of courage.

The event was swimming and started with only three men on the blocks. For one reason or another, two of them false started, so they were disqualified. That left only one to complete. It would have been difficult enough, not having anyone to race against, even though the time on the clock is important.

I watched the man dive off the block and knew right away that something was wrong. I'm not an expert swimmer, but I can tell a good dive from a poor one, and this was not exactly medal quality. When he resurfaced, it was evident that the man was not out for gold — his arms were waving in an attempt at freestyle. The crowd started to laugh. Clearly this man was not a medal competitor.

I listened to the crowd begin to laugh at this poor man who was clearly having a hard time. Finally he made his turn to start back. It was pitiful. He made a few desperate strokes and you could tell he was worn out.

But in those few awful strokes, the crowd had changed.

No longer were they laughing, but beginning to cheer. Some even began to stand and shout "Come on, you can do it! " and he did.

A clear minute past the average swimmer, this young man finally finished his race. The crowd went wild. You would have thought that he had won the gold, and he should have. Even though he recorded one of the slowest times in Olympic history, this man gave more heart than any of the other competitors.

Just a short year ago, he had never even swum, let alone race. His country had been invited to Sydney.

In a competition where athletes remove their silver medals feeling they have somehow been cheated out of gold, or when they act so proudly in front of their competitors, it is nice to watch an underdog.

1.From the passage we can learn that the young man         .

A．made his turn to start back pitifully

B．was skillful in freestyle in the game

C．swam faster than the average swimmer

D．was not capable enough to win the medal

2.The crowd changed their attitudes because ________.

A．they felt sorry for the young man

B．they were moved by the young man

C．they wanted to show their sympathy

D．they meant to please the young man

3.According to the passage, "it is nice to watch an underdog" probably means _______.

A．it’s amusing to watch a man with awful swimming skills

B．it’s amazing to watch an ordinary man challenging himself

C．it’s cheerful for athletes to act proudly before their competitors

D．it’s brave enough for some athletes to remove the silver medals

4.What’s the best title for the passage?

A．Compete for Gold!                      B．Try again!

C．Break a Record!                        D．Go for it!