I told my friend Graham that I often cycle t miles to my company, but unfortunately there is a big hill on my way. He replied, “You are    1   .” He explained that I should be thankful for the extra exercise that the hill provided.

My attitude to the hill has now changed. I used to    2    as I approached it, but now I think that this hill will exercise my heart and lungs and it will    3    me to lose weight and get fit. This hill is my friend. I even feel sorry for those who    4    to go to a gym and sit on exercise bicycles    5    I can get the same value for free.

We cannot achieve anything with an easy life. Helen Keller was the first deaf and blind person to gain a university    6   . She wrote, “Character cannot be developed    7   . Only through experiences of trial and    8    can the soul be strengthened, ambition    9    and success achieved.”

One of the main factors of success in life is our attitude towards adversity (逆境).    10   we face hardships, problems and difficulties. We cannot    11    the adversity, but we can choose our attitude towards it. Douglas Bader was twenty-one when he had both legs cut off following a flying     12   . He was determined to fly again and became one of the leading    13    in Britain. He said, “Don’t listen to anyone    14    tells you that you can’t do this or that. That’s nonsense. Go to school, and join in all the games you can. Make up your mind, and you’ll succeed.”

Great people rise from adversity. Their common quality is that they did not become    15    in face of adversity. They chose to be positive. They took on the challenge and they won.

1.  A. unlucky          B. smart                C. lucky                D. brave

2. A. cry               B. smile                C. sing             D. complain

3. A. advise                B. persuade         C. help             D. expect

4. A. decide                B. manage           C. seem             D. pay

5. A. before                B. while                C. where                D. unless

6. A. degree                B. position         C. course               D. paper

7. A. with fear         B. at work          C. on purpose           D. in ease

8.  A. happiness            B. travel               C. learning         D. suffering

9.  A. inspired         B. developed            C. damaged          D. formed

10.     A. From time to time    B. Day and night        C. Around the clock D. For the time being

11. A. accept               B. recognize            C. stand                D. choose

12. A. accident         B. incident         C. experience           D. test

13. A. soldiers         B. doctors          C. pilots               D. writers

14. A. while                B. whose                C. whom             D. who

15. A. encouraged           B. puzzled          C. defeated         D. shocked