Until 1954 it was thought that no man could run one mile in less than four minutes. As years 16 , the record came closer and closer to four minutes and Roger Bannister, a young English 17 , began to believe he might 18 this almost magic barrier.
It was a cold afternoon on May 6th, 1954,when Bannister knew he had a 19 chance. Bannister had been 20 hard and was very fit, but the weather conditions were a real 21 to him. Describing the 22 later, Bannister said, “On the way to the track the wind blew strongly. As I 23 for the start I glanced at the flag. It moved 24 now. This was the moment when I made my decision.”
“The gun fried. My legs 25 to meet no resistance, as if I was 26 forward by some unknown force. The noise from the faithful 27 gave me greater strength. I felt the 28 of a lifetime had come.”
“I was driven on by a 29 of fear and pride. My body had long since used up all its energy 30 it went on running just the same. This was the critical moment when my legs were strong enough to carry me over the last few yards as they 31 could have done in previous years. When I leapt at(冲向) the 32 tape, I fell, almost 33 .”
“I know I had done it, ever before I 34 the time. The announcement came, ‘Result of the one mile… Time, three minutes…’ the rest was 35 in the noise of excitement.”
16. | A. passed along | B. passed down | C. went by | D. went over |
17. | A. coach | B. athlete | C. captain | D. judge |
18. | A. defeat | B. move | C. beat | D. break |
19. | A. real | B. lucky | C. serious | D. false |
20. | A. competing | B. training | C. fighting | D. attending |
21. | A. eagerness | B. pleasure | C. relief | D. worry |
22. | A. accident | B. event | C. issue | D. topic |
23. | A. did up | B. made up | C. put up | D. lined up |
24. | A. safely | B. heavily | C. thinly | D. gently |
25. | A. seemed | B. used | C. happened | D. had |
26. | A. dragged | B. drawn | C. pulled | D. pushed |
27. | A. mass | B. residents | C. crowd | D. team |
28. | A. moment | B. period | C. while | D. date |
29. | A. concentration | B. collection | C. combination | D. classification |
30. | A. so | B. but | C. or | D. as |
31. | A. never | B. ever | C. even | D. still |
32. | A. starting | B. lasting | C. finishing | D. running |
33. | A. unconcerned | B. unconscious | C. unknown | D. unnoticed |
34. | A. offered | B. told | C. announced | D. heard |
35. | A. stuck | B. involved | C. lost | D. spread |
As a teacher, we must the party’s cause of education.
A. insist on B. stick to C. lead to D. keep up