Paula Radcliffe, chasing a third London marathon title, says she has became a stronger person after her terrible experience at the 2004 Athens Games.

Radcliffe, who failed to complete the Olympic marathon and the 10,000m last August, said: "Athens made me a stronger person and it made me care less about criticism"

"In the past I wanted to please everyone, but now I am going to listen even more to the people around me."

She didn't care about criticism made at the weekend by Liz McColgan, who felt Radcliffe should have rested and let her body recover after her failure in Athens.

"Liz is someone I look up to but she hasn't spoken to me since last year and if she really cared for me, I'm sure she would have contacted me."

Instead Radcliffe won the New York City marathon just 11 weeks after Athens.

"In New York I wasn't in my best state but I did know I was good enough to win the race."

Radcliffe insisted her only goal in Sunday's race would be winning a third title and not chasing world records.

However, Radcliffe has not ruled out in the future chasing her "final" world record time and questioned sayings that marathon runners have the ability in their career to produce only four or five world-class times.

"I don't think that ——although I can't put a number on it," said. Radcliffe. "That changes from person to person."

Radcliffe is sure she can better her winning London 2003 performance at some point in the future. Following a successful three-month training period in the United States, the 31-year-old will chase a third title on Sunday after her first victory in 2002 and again 12 months later.

Radcliffe clocked a time of 2:18:56 in her first 42.2-kilometre race three years ago.

Afterwards she set a "mixed course" mark of 2:17:18 five months later in Chicago before lowering that to a time of 2:15:25 in the 2003 London event.

1.Radcliffe’s failure in Athens made her___________.?

A. develop respect for Liz?   B. love people around her more?

C. rest for five months?      D. face criticism calmly?

2.Which of the following is true according to the passage??

A. Radcliffe broke the world record in the New York City marathon.?

B. Radcliffe didn’t fully recover before the New York City marathon.?

C. Radcliffe won her first marathon title in the New York City marathon.?

D. Radcliffe had a 3-month training before the New York City marathon.?

3.By saying “I can’t put a number on it,” Radcliffe means she’s not sure ___________.?

A. if she has the ability to set a new world record?

B. if she can win another race though she has won many times?

C. how many times a marathon runner can set the world record?

D. if she has the ability to produce four or five world-class times?

4.According to the text, Radcliffe has won ___________ London marathon title(s).?

A. one　　　　　B. two?             C. three          D. four

5.What can we learn from Radcliffe’s story??

A. Practice makes perfect.?            B. Well begun is half done.?

C. Where there is a will, there is a way.?  D. A friend in need is a fried indeed.

I believe being honest is one of the greatest gifts. I know they call it a lot of fancy names these days，like　36　and straightforward. And it’s still what  37 a man a good citizen. This is my code(准则)，and I try to live by.

I’ve been in the taxi business for thirty-five years，  38　 there is a lot about it that is not so good. Taxi drivers have to be rough and tumble(乱作一团) fellows to be able to take it in New York. You've got to be  39 to fight the New York traffic eight hours a day.

Because taxi drivers are tough，people get the  40 impression that they are bad. Taxi drivers are just like other people. Most of them will act as  41 fellows.  Almost every week you read in the papers where a taxi driver  42  money or jewels or like that people leave in their  43 . If they weren't honest，you wouldn't be reading those stories in the papers. One time，I found an emerald（翡翠的）ring in my car. I remembered helping a lady with a lot of suitcases that day，so I went back to where I had  44  her off. It took me almost two days to wait for her in order to return her  45 to her. I didn't get as much as “thank you.”  46 ，I felt good because I had done what was right. I think I felt better than she   47 .

I was born and brought up in Ireland until I was nineteen years old. I came to this country in 1913 where I  48 several jobs to earn a few dollars before joining the army in World War I. After being discharged(退伍)，I bought my own car and have owned one ever since. It hasn’t been too easy  49 ，but my wife takes care of our money and we have a good bit  50  for a rainy day(一时之需). In all my years of driving a taxi，I have never had___51__ with the public，not even with drunks. Even if they get a little headstrong(顽固的) once in a while，I just agree with them and then they behave themselves.

People ask me about tips. As far as I know，  52 everyone will give you something，because most Americans are  53 generous. I always try to be nice to everyone，whether they  54 or not. I believe in God and try to be a good member of my parish（教区）. I try to act toward others like I think God wants me to act. I have been trying this for a long time，and the  55 I try，the easier it gets.