完形填空（共20小题，每题1.5分，共30分）

Today I am known for my voice. But it  31  a long time to believe I could read well. When I was young I stuttered (结巴)  32  badly that I was completely  33  to speak in public.

34  , when I was 14, Professor Donald Crouch came to our school. He was a retired college professor. He held a book of poems  35   it were a diamond necklace. When he heard our school was  36  Shakespeare, he could no longer   37  not being a part of our school.

When he  38  that I not only loved poetry but was  39  it, we became closer. There was, however, one  40   between us—Professor Crouch could not stand the  41  that I refused to read my poems to the class.

“Jim, poetry is 42 to be read aloud,” he said. “You should be able to speak those beautiful words.” I shook my head and  43  .

Then he tricked me. After handing in a poem, I waited for his  44 . It didn’t come. Instead, one day as the students gathered together, he said to me, “Jim, I don’t think you wrote this.” I  45 him in disbelief. “Why”, I started, “of course I  46 !” “Well, then,” he said, “you’ve got to prove it by getting up and reciting it  47  memory.”

With knees shaking, I walked up. For a moment I stood  48 . Then I began, and kept going. I recited my poem all the way through!

Afterwards, Professor Crouch congratulated me, and  49  me to read other writers’ poems before the public.

Before long, I discovered I did have a (n) 50  and found my fellow students actually looked forward to hearing me recite.

Today I am known for my voice. Perhaps the greatest honor came when I was asked to read a book on tape.

But it   1   a long time to believe such good things could happen to me. When I was a youngster I stuttered(口吃)   2   badly that I was completely   3   to speak in public.

  4  , when I was 14, Professor Donald Crouch came to our school. He was a retired college professor. English was his   5   subject; poetry was his deepest love. He held a book of poems   6   it were a diamond necklace, turning pages as if uncovering treasures. When he heard our school was teaching Shakespeare and other classics, he could no longer   7   not being a part of our school.

When he   8   that I not only loved poetry but was   9   it, we became closer. There was, however, one   10   between us－Professor Crouch could not stand the   11   that I refused to read my poems to the class.

“Jim, poetry is   12   to be read aloud,” he said. “You should be able to speak those beautiful words.” I shook my head and   13  .

Then he tricked me. After handing in a poem, I waited for his   14  . It didn’t come. Instead, one day as the students gathered together, he challenged me.” Jim, I don’t think you wrote this.”

I   15   him in disbelief. “Why,” I started, anger flooding me. “of course I   16  !” “Well, then,” he said, “you’ve got to prove it by getting up and reciting it   17   memory.”

By then the other students had settled at their desks. With knees shaking, I walked up. For a moment I stood   18  . Then I began, and kept going. I recited my poem all the way through!

Afterwards, Professor Crouch congratulated me and 19   me to read other writers’ poetry before public.

Before long I discovered I did have a(n)   20   and found my fellow students actually looked forward to hearing me recite.

1．A．lasted                    B．took                    C．spent                  D．wasted

2．A．so                        B．fairly                   C．such                   D．rather

3．A．uncertain               B．unlikely               C．unbelievable         D．unable

4．A．So                        B．Besides                C．Then                   D．Therefore

5．A．good                     B．important             C．selected               D．favourite

6．A．even if                  B．so that                 C．as though            D．if only

7．A．protect                  B．help                    C．keep                   D．stand

8．A．learned                  B．recognized           C．decided               D．proved

10．A．difference            B．difficulty             C．promise               D．similarity

11．A．truth                   B．idea                     C．fact                    D．belief

12．A．said                    B．meant                  C．taught                 D．prepared

13．A．answered back     B．turned up             C．turned away        D．stuck to

14．A．correction           B．praise                  C．return                 D．comment

15．A．replied to             B．laughed at            C．pointed to            D．stared at

16．A．could                  B．did                      C．should                 D．had

17．A．with                    B．of                       C．from                   D．in

18．A．changeless           B．hopeless              C．careless               D．breathless

19．A．enabled               B．persuaded            C．encouraged          D．supported

20．A．voice                 B．sound                  C．appearance         D．interest