Today I am known for my voice. Perhaps the greatest honor came when I was asked to read The New Testament(《新约全书》)on tape .
But it 21 a long time to believe such good things could happen to me. When I was a child, I stuttered(结巴)so badly that I was completely 22 to speak in public.
23 when I was 14, Professor Donald Crouch came to my school. He was a retired college professor. English was his favorite subject and 24 was his deepest love. He held a book of poems as if it were a crystal, 25 pages as if uncovering treasures. When he heard that our school was teaching Shakespeare and other classics, he felt 26 for not being a part of our school sooner.
When he 27 that I not only loved poetry but was 28 it, we became closer. There was, however, one 29 -- Professor Crouch could not stand the 30 that I refused to read my poems to the class.
“Jim, poetry is 31 to be read aloud,” he said. “You should be able to speak those beautiful words.” I shook my head and 32 .
One day he 33 me .
After handing in a poem, I waited for his 34 . It didn’t come. Instead one day as the students had gathered together, he 35 me , “Jim, I don’t think you wrote this poem.”
I stared at him in disbelief. “Why,” I started, 36 flooding me. “of course I did !” “Well, then,” he said, “you’ve got to prove it by getting up and reciting it from 37 .”
By then the other students had settled at their desks. With knees shaking, I walked up to the front. For a moment I stood there, 38 . Then I began, and kept going. I recited my poem all the way 39 !
Afterwards, Professor Crouch encouraged me to read other writers’ poetry before the public. I discovered I did have a (n) 40 and found my classmates actually looked forward to hearing me recite.
21.A.lasted | B.took | C.cost | D.wasted |
22.A.impatient | B.unlikely | C.unable | D.impossible |
23.A.But | B.Then | C.Besides | D.However |
24.A.archaeology | B.art | C.architecture | D.poetry |
25.A.drawing | B.turning | C.writing | D.finding |
26.A.regretful | B.thankful | C.relieved | D.annoyed |
27.A.decided | B.recognized | C.learned | D.proved |
28.A.reading | B.reciting | C.publishing | D.writing |
29.A.difficulty | B.promise | C.agreement | D.difference |
30.A.matter | B.fact | C.idea | D.belief |
31.A.said | B.found | C.prepared | D.meant |
32.A.turned away | B.sat down | C.talked back | D.gave in |
33.A.greeted | B.scolded | C.tricked | D.comforted |
34.A.help | B.idea | C.reward | D.comment |
35.A.challenged | B.attacked | C.noticed | D.told |
36.A.pride | B.anger | C.excitement | D.joy |
37.A.heart | B.beginning | C.mind | D.memory |
38.A.terrified | B.disappointed | C.breathless | D.aimless |
39.A.down | B.up | C.around | D.through |
40.A.voice | B.sound | C.appearance | D.interest |