I used to hate being called upon in class mainly because I didn’t like attention drawn to myself. And    51    otherwise assigned（指定）a seat by the teacher, I always    52    to sit at the back of the classroom.

All this    53    after I joined a sports team. It began when a teacher suggested I try out for the basketball team. At first I thought it was a crazy    54    because I didn’t have a good sense of balance, nor did I have the    55   to keep pace with the others on the team and they would tease me. But for the teacher who kept insisting on my “  56    for it”, I wouldn’t have decided to give a try.

Getting up the courage to go to the tryouts was only the    57    of it! When I first

started    58    the practice sessions, I didn’t even know the rules of the game, much    59   what I was doing. Sometimes I’d get    60    and take a shot at the wrong direction—which made me feel really stupid.   61   , I wasn’t the only one “new” at the game, so I decided to    62    on learning the game, do my best at each practice session, and not be too hard on myself for the things I

didn’t    63    “just yet”.

I practiced and practiced. Soon I knew the    64    and the “moves”. Being part of a team was fun and motivating. Very soon the competitive    65    in me was winning over my lack of confidence. With time, I learned how to play and made friends in the    66    — friends who respected my efforts to work hard and be a team player. I never had so much fun!

With my    67    self-confidence comes more praise from teachers and classmates. I have gone from   68   in the back of the classroom and not wanting to call attention to myself,   69   raising my hand— even when I sometimes wasn’t and not 100 percent    70    I had the right answer. Now I have more self-confidence in myself.

1. A. as            B. until                C. though               D. unless

2. A. hoped         B. chose           C. meant            D. agreed

3.  A. changed          B. continued            C. settled              D. started

4. A. plan              B. idea                 C. belief               D. saying

5.  A. right            B. ability              C. chance               D. patience

6.  A. cheering         B. looking              C. going                D. applying

7. A. point             B. rest             C. half                 D. basis

8.  A. enjoying         B. preparing            C. watching             D. attending

9. A. worse        B. later           C. less            D. further

10.  A. confused       B. motivated        C. embarrassed          D. committed

11. A. Fortunately      B. Interestingly        C. Obviously            D. hopefully

12.  A. try             B. act              C. rely            D. focus

13.  A. want            B. know             C. support              D. do

14.  A. steps           B. rules            C. orders               D. games

15.  A. roles           B. mind                 C. part             D. value

16.  A. situation       B. operation        C. movement         D. process

17. A. improved         B. expressed        C. preserved        D. recognized

18. A. dreaming         B. hiding           C. relaxing             D. playing

19.  A. by              B. for              C. to               D. with

20.  A. lucky           B. happy            C. satisfied            D. sure