I am sitting in an empty football field after my last high school football game that finished a few hours ago. I’m the mid-field player on my team. But in fact that’s not　 1　 now. I was the mid-field player because, as I said, this was my 2　 game. That’s a good way to end a high school football career (生涯), especially if you win, but even though you don’t, it’s　 3　 to leave at a high point.

　 I was eight when I first started playing football. My dad　 4　 football, and he used to practise with me at home – passing, catching, running. We used to practise almost every evening 5　 it got too dark. He tried to teach me everything he knew about the ₆ . “Just remember: don’t ever 7 .” “Stay in the game. Don’t lose your concentration (专注).” “Go out there and give 110 percent every time.” Well, that was a long time ago, but I still hear his words　 8　 in my ears.

　 I had a lot on my mind　 9　 the game today. I don’t like things to end, I guess, and this was the last game. I was talking to myself and warning myself about what to do and not to do. I didn’t sleep at all　 10 , and when the sun came up this morning, I reached the point where　 11　 just wanted it all to be over, finished, done. But then when the game started, my mind became　 12 . I just lived in this game, this moment. I didn’t hear the crowd, I didn’t feel the cold or the pain, I never felt tired. I just kept my eyes on the 13 , and it was just me and the ball and, inside, a soft, white light 14　 me the way to the goal. It was a beautiful, empty feeling.

　 It’s all over now, and it’s really getting cold here. It’s starting to snow. The sun’s almost gone, and I can　 15　 see the goal. Now it’s dark and I’m sitting here all alone. Well, I guess it’s time to say good-bye and move on.

(1)　 A. true　　　　　　　 B. wrong　　　　　　　 C. strange　　　　　 D. clear

(2)　 A. first　　　　　　　 B. last　　　　　　 C. worst　　　　　　　 D. favourite

(3)　 A. good　　　　　　　 B. bad　　　　　　　 C. lucky　　　　 　　　 D. painful

(4)　 A. needed　　　　　 B. hated　　　　　　　　 C. missed　　　　　 D. loved

(5)　 A. until　　　　　　　　 B. when　　　　　　　　　　　 C. unless　　　　　　　 D. although

(6)　 A. football　　　　　 B. game　　　　　　　 C. goal 　　　　　　　　D. score

(7)　 A. grow up　　　　　　 B. catch up　　　　　 C. give up　　　　　　 D. hurry up

(8)　 A. ringing　　　　 B. saying　　　　　　 C. falling　　　　　　 D. coming

(9)　 A. from　　　　　　　 B. before　　　　　　　　 C. through　　　　　 D. after

(10) A. tonight　　　　　　　 B. yesterday　　　　　 C. today　　　　　　　 D. last night

(11) A. we　　　　　　　　　 B. they　　　　　　　　　　 C. I　　　　　　　　 D. he

(12) A. empty　　　　　　　 B. full　　　　　　　　　 C. rough　　　　　　 D. awake

(13) A. way　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. field　　　　　　　　　 C. ball　　　　　　　 D. match

(14) A. sending　　　　　　　 B. teaching　　　　　 C. pointing　　　　　　 D. showing

(15) A. already　　　　　　　　　　 B. hardly　　　　　　 C. never　　　　　　 D. clearly