Monday morning is an important time at our school. All of the students go to the playground. We listen to music, and we   16  the national flag go up.
　  Usually, one student gives a talk on Monday mornings. One Monday last year, a boy gave the talk. He was   17  and excited! When I saw him, I wanted to have a try, too.
　  Can I really do it?
　  Last week, our teacher said our class should give the talk. My teacher   18  me, “I know you want to have a try. Next Monday, you can give the talk. Go and write something down.   19  for it, I’m sure you’ll do well.”
“Thank you,” I answered. It was such a great   20  for me! When I got home, I was excited. I wrote two pages for the talk. I read them again and again. When I read, I asked my parents  21 . I wanted to make my teacher happy.
　  Monday morning came. I began to feel   22 . When did I last give a talk to   23  many people? Never! This was my first time. Could I really   24  it ? Maybe I couldn’t finish the talk.
When I got to school, we all went out to playground. I  25 in front of everyone. I opened my mouth, but I couldn’t say anything.
“Take it easy,” I said to   26 . “Don’t be nervous. You can do it.”
Just then, I looked down at everyone. I saw about 1,000 eyes. They were all looking at me ! I couldn’t   27  stand up.
I looked at their eyes more carefully. Their eyes were saying, “You can do it! Don’t be afraid, just talk!”
I   28  a big breath. Then I began to talk. It wasn’t hard. It was easy.
I don’t know   29  I finished my talk. But I did it. I felt so good that day. I showed myself 30  everyone what I can do.

Perhaps　the　only　test　score　that　I　remember　is　the　55　when　I　was　in　high　school.
The　test　was　the　final　for　a　course.　I　remember　waiting　anxiously　as　my　teacher　Mr.　Right　passed　out　our　papers　one　by　one.　It　was　a　rather　difficult　test.　I　heard　my　classmates　groaning,　and　I　could　tel　by　the　groans　that　the　scores　weren’t　looking　good.
Mr.　Right　put　my　paper　on　my　desk.　There　in　big　red　numbers,　circled　to　draw　attention,　was　my　score,　55!
I　lowered　my　head,　and　covered　the　score　up　quickly.　A　55　is　not　something　that　you　wanted　your　classmates　to　see.“The　scores　were　not　very　good,　none　of　you　passed,”Mr.　Right　said.　“The　highest　score　in　the　class　was　a　55.”
A　55.　That’s　me!
Suddenly　my　sad　look　didn’t　look　so　bad.　I　had　the　highest　score.　I　felt　a　lot　better.
I　walked　home　alone　that　day　with　the　low　but　high　score.　My　father　knew　that　I　had　a　big　test　that　day　and　asked　me　as　soon　as　I　got　home,　“How　did　you　do　in　your　test？”“I　made　a　55,”I　said.
A　frown（皱眉）now　stood　on　my　father’s　face.　I　knew　I　had　to　explain　immediately.　“But　Dad,　I　had　the　highest　score　in　the　calss,”I　proudly　stated.　I　thought　that　explanation　would　make　a　difference.“You　failed!”my　father　replied.“But　it’s　the　highest!” I　insisted.“I　don’t　care　what　scores　others　had,　but　you　failed.　What　matters　is　what　you　do!”my　father　firmly　said.
For　years,　my　father　was　always　that　way.　It　didn’t　matter　what　others　did,　it　only　mattered　what　I　did　and　that　I　did　it　excelently.
We　often　don’t　understand　the　wisdom（智慧）of　good　parents　until　we　ourselves　stand　in　the　parents’shoes.　My　father’s　words　have　carried　me　throughout　life.
【小题1】　The　word　groaning　is　the　closest　in　meaning　to　_____.

选择符合短文的正确答案

1. The husband and the wife went shopping　　   .　　　　　　　　　　　　  

A. by bus　　　　 B. in their car    　　C. by bike　　  D. on foot

2. They spent　　   in the shop doing their shopping.　　　　　　　　 

A. half an hour　　 B. four hours　　    C. one hour　　 D. eight hours

3. The　　   opened the car door in the end.　　　　　　　　　　　　

A. husband 　　   B. wife　　　　    C. policeman　　 D. owner of the car

4. The owner of the car was very angry to see　　   .　　　　　　　　　　　　

A. some one had opened his car door　　    B. the policeman standing by the car

C. his car was not there　　　　  　　　　 D. that there was a trouble

5. They didn’t know it was the wrong car until they looked at the　　 of the car.

A. color　　　　 B. owner　　　　   C. door　　　　 D. number