I used to hate being called upon in class mainly because I didn’t like attention drawn to myself. And unless otherwise assigned（指定）a seat by the teacher, I always chose to sit at the 1　 of the classroom.

All this 2 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 3　 because I didn’t have a good sense of balance, nor did I have the 　4 in keeping pace with the others on the team and they would tease me. But for the teacher who kept insisting on my “　 5　 for it”, I wouldn’t have decided to give it a try.

Getting up the courage to go to the tryouts was only the 　 6　 of it! When I first started attending the practice sessions, I didn’t even know the rules of the game, much 　 7 what I was doing. Sometimes I’d get 　 8　 and take a shot at the wrong direction—which made me feel really stupid. 　9 , I wasn’t the only one “new” at the game, so I decided to 10 on learning the game, do my best at each practice session, and not be too hard on myself for the things I didn’t know “just yet”.

I practiced and practiced. Soon I knew the rules and the “moves”. Being part of a team was fun and 11 . Very soon the competitive part in me was winning over my lack of 　12 . With time, I learned how to play and made friends in the process. I never had so much fun!

With my　 13　 self-confidence comes more praise from teachers and classmates. I have gone from " 14　 " in the back of the classroom and not wanting to call attention to myself,to raising my hand — even when I sometimes wasn’t 100 percent 15　 I had the right answer. Now I have more self-confidence in myself.

1. A. front　 B. middle　　 　 C. corner　　 　 D. back

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

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

4. A. interest　　 B. chance　　 　　 C. competence 　 D. difficulty

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

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

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

8. A. committed B. inspired　 C. embarrassed 　 D. confused

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

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

11. A. puzzling　 B. confusing　 　　 C. motivating　 D. tiring

12. A. fun　　　 B. enthusiasm 　　 C. confidence　 D. interest

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

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

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

阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上涂黑。

My relationship with my father has an enormous impact on my life. Overall, I　 36　 a very great sense of love and well-being when I remember Dad. He was 37　 to providing the best he could for us.

When　 38 , I was a bit in awe of Dad. I loved him dearly but I was also a little afraid of him; I was afraid of 39　 him because I knew he could get angry and shout and this 40　 me.

Dad would scoop us up (抱起) and hug and 41　 us. He was loud and larger, in happiness as well as when　 42 . He had a great sense of humor. 43 he was not a great reader, I do remember him reading Tom Sharpe books and　 44　 raucously (嘶哑地) to himself in the process.

Dad was enormously 45　 of his family. He praised us to anyone who would listen and 46　 in front of us. “I can take my kids anywhere; they’re always well 47 .”

As an adult, I would turn to Dad 48　 advice and support and he was always there. The main　 49　 I recall is that whatever age I was, there was always a strong, powerful hug and kiss　 50　 I saw him.

It is over seven years since Dad died. I still 51　 his voice if I imagine certain things. But even without hearing his voice, the most 52　 thing is that he is still with me every day of my life. I do no have identical (相同的) 53　 to him, however, I know that from him, I learned strong values. Dad taught me to value and respect money, to be 54　 with it and not to want too much or be too 55　 for material things …

36. A. make　　　　　　　　 B. have　　　　　　　　 C. take　　　　　　　　 D. turn

37. A. eager　　　　　　　　 B. limited　　　　　　　 C. addicted　　　　　 D. devoted

38. A. young　　　　　　　　 B. old　　　　　　　　　 C. sick　　　　　　　　 D. weak

39. A. meeting　　　　　　　　　　 B. speaking to　　　 C. looking at　　　　 D. displeasing

40. A. impressed　　　　　 B. excited　　　　　　 C. scared　　　　　　　 D. surprised

41. A. tease　　　　　　　　 B. kiss　　　　　　　　　 C. miss　　　　　　　　 D. catch

42. A. occupied　　　　　　 B. satisfied　　　　　　 C. annoyed　　　　　 D. fresh

43. A. Although　　　　　　 B. Since　　　　　　　 C. Because　　　　　 D. Therefore

44. A. coughing　　　　　 B. scolding　　　　　 C. laughing　　　　　 D. crying

45. A. disappointed　　　 B. proud　　　　　　　 C. ambitious　　　　 D. certain

46. A. also　　　　　　　　　 B. never　　　　　　　 C. still　　　　　　　　　 D. secretly

47. A. dressed　　　　　　　 B. tended　　　　　　　 C. spoiled　　　　　　 D. behaved

48. A. for 　　　　　　　　　 B. with　　　　　　　　 C. to　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. about

49. A. reason　　　　　　　 B. cause　　　　　　　 C. thing　　　　　　　　 D. incident

50. A. however　　　　　　 B. whenever　　　　 C. whatever　　　　　 D. whichever

51. A. recognize　　　　　 B. realize　　　　　　　 C. record　　　　　　　 D. hear

52. A. amazing　　　　　　　　　　 B. strange　　　　　　 C. delicate　　　　　　 D. important

53. A. beliefs　　　　　　　 B. habits　　　　　　　 C. emotions　　　　　 D. attempts

54. A. economical　　　　 B. careful　　　　　　　　　　 C. familiar　　　　　　 D. mixed

55. A. sure　　　　　　　　　 B. ready　　　　　　　 C. greedy　　　　　　　　　　 D. anxious