If I have a short-wave radio, I can often __________ the BBC programmes.

   A. pick out      B. pick         C. pick up      D. pick on

My friend knows where he can ________ a good used car for you at a very reasonable price.

1. A.
   pick up
2. B.
   pick out
3. C.
   make out
4. D.
   make up

When Winston Churchill was a young man, his father concluded that Churchill was “unfit for a career in law or politics” because he did so badly in school.
When Charles Darwin was getting ready to1on his five-year expedition on The Beagle, his father was extremely2. he thought his son was falling into a life of sin and idleness.
George Washington’s mother was a complaining,3woman by all accounts. She thought little of Washington’s achievements and didn’t4at either of his presidential inaugurations(就职典礼). She was always complaining that her5overlooked her and she was especially angry when her son George ran off to6the army for the American Revolution. She7believed it was his duty to stay home and take care of her.
In his youth, the8Leonard Bernstein, one of the most talented and successful composers in American history, was continually pressured by his father to give up his9and do something worthwhile, like help out in his family’s beauty-supply business. After Leonard became10, his father was asked about that, and he answered, “Well, how was I supposed to know he was the Leonard Bernstein?”
People may criticize you or make fun of your ideas or actively try to11you. Often their efforts are only attempts to protect you from12. But obviously failure is only a possibility if you stop. If you keep13, a “failure” is just another learning14. Besides, giving up on a heartfelt goal is worse than failing. “Many people die”, said Wendell Holmes, “15their music still in them.” That’s true tragedy.
So listen16to the worries and criticisms of your friends and family, and do your best to put their17at ease, but then carry on. Listen last to your own heart. You18yourself better than anyone on earth. Make sure your song is19.
Listen to your own heart. Don’t let your music20with you.

1. 1.
   1. A.
      set sail
   2. B.
      take charge
   3. C.
      set free
   4. D.
      take off
2. 2.
   1. A.
      excited
   2. B.
      pleased
   3. C.
      disappointed
   4. D.
      affected
3. 3.
   1. A.
      self-centered
   2. B.
      self-confident
   3. C.
      kind-hearted
   4. D.
      cold-blooded
4. 4.
   1. A.
      show off
   2. B.
      show up
   3. C.
      pick out
   4. D.
      pick up
5. 5.
   1. A.
      parents
   2. B.
      neighbors
   3. C.
      students
   4. D.
      children
6. 6.
   1. A.
      fight
   2. B.
      beat
   3. C.
      command
   4. D.
      attend
7. 7.
   1. A.
      foolishly
   2. B.
      secretly
   3. C.
      bravely
   4. D.
      honestly
8. 8.
   1. A.
      late
   2. B.
      latter
   3. C.
      former
   4. D.
      later
9. 9.
   1. A.
      strength
   2. B.
      music
   3. C.
      wealth
   4. D.
      faith
10. 10.
    1. A.
       proud
    2. B.
       steady
    3. C.
       independent
    4. D.
       famous
11. 11.
    1. A.
       advise
    2. B.
       suggest
    3. C.
       stop
    4. D.
       keep
12. 12.
    1. A.
       success
    2. B.
       failure
    3. C.
       poison
    4. D.
       laziness
13. 13.
    1. A.
       stopping
    2. B.
       starting
    3. C.
       going
    4. D.
       coming
14. 14.
    1. A.
       method
    2. B.
       experiment
    3. C.
       schedule
    4. D.
       experience
15. 15.
    1. A.
       with
    2. B.
       beyond
    3. C.
       without
    4. D.
       during
16. 16.
    1. A.
       politely
    2. B.
       rudely
    3. C.
       thoroughly
    4. D.
       roughly
17. 17.
    1. A.
       homes
    2. B.
       minds
    3. C.
       businesses
    4. D.
       efforts
18. 18.
    1. A.
       trust
    2. B.
       believe
    3. C.
       know
    4. D.
       doubt
19. 19.
    1. A.
       finished
    2. B.
       completed
    3. C.
       written
    4. D.
       sung
20. 20.
    1. A.
       live
    2. B.
       die
    3. C.
       sound
    4. D.
       play

We can use a short-wave radio to ________ VOA English programmes.

1. A.
   pick up
2. B.
   pick out
3. C.
   take up
4. D.
   join up