“Do you want to come with me?” Sally asked her brother. “I’m going to meet some friends at the bike course（赛道，路线）down the block. We’re going to practice for the race next week.”

“No, thanks,” Mark replied. “Sam’s coming over to play basketball.”

Sally rode off on her bike while Mark waited for his friend. Mark was fast,   35   he usually did well in most sports. He didn’t think it would   36   if he practiced the course. It could be hilly or sandy, and Mark knew he would   37   speed along.

The race day finally arrived. “My stomach feels like I ate some butterflies,” Sally told Mark when she saw so many kids around. Then they   38   the other riders at the start line.

“Sally is always nervous,” Mark thought. “Don’t worry.   39   will do fine,” he said. As soon as the starter shouted “Go!”, Mark’s legs pumped up and down like two machines. He moved   40   to the front.

A few minutes later, there wasn’t anyone ahead of him! Mark raced along the course. He rode past some pine trees. Then the path looped(环绕)around a pond. Mark was surprised that the course was so   41  .

His tired legs felt like they weighed a hundred pounds. All at once, a flash of color caught his eyes. There was a line of bike riders on the course ahead of him! “How could this be?” Mark said to himself. “I must have taken a wrong   42   and made one more loop in the course,” he thought.

Mark pushed his achy muscles(肌肉)harder. He realized his   43   alone wouldn’t be enough this time;   44   the course was just as important. He managed to ride past a couple of bike riders, but he couldn’t   45   the riders who were in the lead.

After the race Mark saw his sister. “Wow, you must have done a good job in the race. What place did you get?” Mark asked.

“Third place!” Sally answered excitedly.

“That’s great! I came in ninth place. But I’ll do better next year because I’ll be     46   enough to practice the course with you,” Mark made a face at his sister and replied.

35. A. but                           B. as                        C. and                      D. or

36. A. help                          B. move                   C. care                     D. come

37. A. just                           B. even                     C. never                   D. still

38. A. joined                       B. passed                  C. visited                  D. invited

39. A. I                              B. You                      C. They                    D. She

40. A. quickly                     B. quietly                  C. clearly                  D. carefully

41. A. hard                         B. wide                    C. long                     D. tidy

42. A. chance                      B. turn                     C. step                     D. ride

43. A. patience                    B. spirit                    C. speed                   D. imagination

44. A. accepting                  B. changing              C. knowing               D. finishing

45. A. leave                         B. touch                   C. face                     D. reach

46. A. honest                      B. smart                   C. brave                   D. confident

Last night Molly watched a basketball game. Her little brother, Sam, played in it. Sam did his best in the game, but his team   41   the game. Sam was very sad. Molly tried to make him   42  , but he was still unhappy with the result.

Molly thought for a long time and finally she came up with a good   43  . She decided to make his favorite cake for him though she was not good at it. She just wanted him to know that every loss has its own   44   and we can improve our performances next time. She thought it was enough if we had tried our best.

After Molly finished making the cake, she gave Sam a piece. When Sam tried a piece of it, he smiled, “No matter what others   45   the cake, I like it very much,” Sam continued, “because I know you have made it with your   46   and you have tried your best. ” Hearing this, Molly said, “This is just   47   I want to say to you.   48   your team didn’t win the game, you had tried your best. You are the greatest in my heart all the time!”

From then on, every time Sam   49   to do something, he thinks of Molly’s words. He is no longer   50   failing. Instead he becomes stronger to face all his troubles in his life.

1.A. won               B. beat             C. lost           D. missed

2.A. play              B. smile            C. come           D. cry

3.A. idea              B. manner           C. game           D. ball

4.A. lesson            B. school           C. time           D. term

5.A. point at          B. think of         C. stick to       D. take away

6.A. money             B. love             C. material       D. time

7.A. why               B. what             C. who            D. how

8.A. Since             B. So               C. Though         D. Because

9.A. helps             B. wants            C. forgets        D. fails

10.A. crazy about   B. good at  C. afraid of    D. interested in