完型填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）

When I was 14, I was hired for an after-school job selling subscriptions (征订，订阅) to my hometown paper, the Houston Post. I was sent to some of the city’s worst neighborhoods to “beg” door-to-door. Even though I was often moving around after dark in bad areas __36__ for garage apartments, I was __37__ for the work.

It was a __38__ because people didn’t like a stranger knocking on their door, __39__ a kid trying to get them to buy something. On one ___40__, a man shut his door heavily in my face and __41__, “I don’t want your damn paper.” I __42__ myself to knock again and was able to tell him how great the paper was. I __43__ selling him a subscription. I was soon among the __44__ subscription sellers and, like other successful __45__, was given responsibility for training newcomers.

__46__ this time I started playing the harmonica and guitar. Before long I was playing in a __47__ at barbecues and other events. When I __48__ 18, I focused my __49__ on becoming a professional musician. I never lost ___50___ of this dream. I’m sure my determination came from what I __51___ knocking on strangers’ doors.

That ___52___ helped me in many ways. Early in my music career I was locked in a legal disagreement with a former manager. He ___53__ me to back off, but I refused.

Having all those doors shut in my face as a kid gave me the ___54___to stand up to this frightening figure. Except this time there was one ___55___: I was the one saying no. And I won.

A. leaving    B. searching        C. reaching    D. asking

A. sorry          B. ready       C. doubtful         D. thankful

A. challenge      B. puzzle      C. surprise         D. failure

A. certainly       B. obviously   C. especially       D. usually

A. time           B. occasion         C. day          D. place

A. screamed       B. whispered   C. begged       D. announced

A. allowed    B. forced           C. wished      D. reminded

A. ended up   B. gave up          C. picked up        D. kept up

A. rich           B. large            C. fast             D. top

A. reporters       B. managers    C. salesmen    D. secretaries

A. For            B. Since       C. Around      D. Until

A. concert        B. band         C. kitchen          D. party

A. seemed         B. grew         C. appeared         D. turned

A. attention       B. attraction       C. service          D. trust

A. sight          B. use         C. ability          D. fortune

A. accepted       B. decided     C. expected         D. learned

A. experience     B. problem     C. story            D. introduction

A. invited        B. pressured        C. excused          D. charged

A. pain           B. right            C. strength         D. imagination

A. conclusion     B. difference       C. chance      D. decision

完型填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）
When I was 14, I was hired for an after-school job selling subscriptions (征订，订阅) to my hometown paper, the Houston Post. I was sent to some of the city’s worst neighborhoods to “beg” door-to-door. Even though I was often moving around after dark in bad areas __36__ for garage apartments, I was __37__ for the work.
It was a __38__ because people didn’t like a stranger knocking on their door, __39__ a kid trying to get them to buy something. On one ___40__, a man shut his door heavily in my face and __41__, “I don’t want your damn paper.” I __42__ myself to knock again and was able to tell him how great the paper was. I __43__ selling him a subscription. I was soon among the __44__ subscription sellers and, like other successful __45__, was given responsibility for training newcomers.
__46__ this time I started playing the harmonica and guitar. Before long I was playing in a __47__ at barbecues and other events. When I __48__ 18, I focused my __49__ on becoming a professional musician. I never lost ___50___ of this dream. I’m sure my determination came from what I __51___ knocking on strangers’ doors.
That ___52___ helped me in many ways. Early in my music career I was locked in a legal disagreement with a former manager. He ___53__ me to back off, but I refused.
Having all those doors shut in my face as a kid gave me the ___54___to stand up to this frightening figure. Except this time there was one ___55___: I was the one saying no. And I won.

完型填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）

When I was 14, I was hired for an after-school job selling subscriptions (征订，订阅) to my hometown paper, the Houston Post. I was sent to some of the city’s worst neighborhoods to “beg” door-to-door. Even though I was often moving around after dark in bad areas __36__ for garage apartments, I was __37__ for the work.

It was a __38__ because people didn’t like a stranger knocking on their door, __39__ a kid trying to get them to buy something. On one ___40__, a man shut his door heavily in my face and __41__, “I don’t want your damn paper.” I __42__ myself to knock again and was able to tell him how great the paper was. I __43__ selling him a subscription. I was soon among the __44__ subscription sellers and, like other successful __45__, was given responsibility for training newcomers.

__46__ this time I started playing the harmonica and guitar. Before long I was playing in a __47__ at barbecues and other events. When I __48__ 18, I focused my __49__ on becoming a professional musician. I never lost ___50___ of this dream. I’m sure my determination came from what I __51___ knocking on strangers’ doors.

That ___52___ helped me in many ways. Early in my music career I was locked in a legal disagreement with a former manager. He ___53__ me to back off, but I refused.

Having all those doors shut in my face as a kid gave me the ___54___to stand up to this frightening figure. Except this time there was one ___55___: I was the one saying no. And I won.

1.A. leaving         B. searching       C. reaching       D. asking

2. A. sorry          B. ready           C. doubtful       D. thankful

3. A. challenge      B. puzzle          C. surprise      D. failure

4.A. certainly       B. obviously       C. especially     D. usually

5. A. time           B. occasion        C. day            D. place

6. A. screamed       B. whispered       C. begged         D. announced

7.A. allowed         B. forced          C. wished         D. reminded

8.A. ended up        B. gave up         C. picked up      D. kept up

9. A. rich           B. large           C. fast           D. top

10.A. reporters      B. managers        C. salesmen       D. secretaries

11. A. For           B. Since           C. Around         D. Until

12. A. concert       B. band            C. kitchen       D. party

13. A. seemed        B. grew            C. appeared       D. turned

14.A. attention      B. attraction      C. service        D. trust

15. A. sight         B. use             C. ability       D. fortune

16. A. accepted      B. decided         C. expected       D. learned

17. A. experience    B. problem         C. story          D. introduction

18. A. invited       B. pressured       C. excused        D. charged

19. A. pain          B. right           C. strength      D. imagination

20. A. conclusion    B. difference      C. chance         D. decision

Until a few months ago, he was a butler(管家) in one of the more expensive residential buildings in Manhattan. But now, Nepal-born Indra Tamang is the owner of two multi-million dollar apartments in the same building.

    The former owner - his former employer, Ruth Ford - died last year and left the apartments  to Mr Tamang in her will.

    Mr Tamang is happy but quickly points out that his good fortune did not come easily. "I am happy and have been touched by the generosity of the Ford family," he says. "I never expected that I will be given the ownership of these apartments. But I have been working for the family for the last 36 years, devotedly, with honesty and dedication(奉献). So my hard work has been rewarded."

    Mr Tamang was 21 when he was brought from Nepal by Charles Ford, a writer and a photographer. Mr Ford died in 2002; his sister, actress Ruth Ford, then took charge and told Mr Tamang that he was like a brother to her after Charles's death.

    Mrs Ford died aged 98. During the last five years of her life, she lost her eyesight and also developed speech problems. Mr Tamang looked after her most of the time and took care of her medicines and food.

    He also worked with Charles Ford on various photography projects, which he now wants to keep as the photographer's legacy(遗产). He hopes to organize exhibitions of Mr Ford's photographs and edit a book of his works.

Mr Tamang plans to sell the bigger, three-bedroom apartment to pay the taxes he owes to the government on his legacy. He says: "The rules of the building might be a problem, as they require a minimum monthly income to qualify to live as owner of apartments. I have my small house here but I am happy with it,"

   Mr Tamang has learnt his lesson from the life of his employers and plans to use his money with great caution. "I think one should save money for old age. That's when you need it the most to get care," he says.