Don’t Take the Fun Out of Youth Sports
When I joined a private football league a few years ago, the sport meant everything to me. My coach(教练) said that I had lots of potential(潜力), and I became captain of my ___36___. That was before all the fun was taken out of ___37___.
At first, everyone on the team got ___38___ playing time. Then the team moved up to the top division after winning all its games, and the ___39___ started. Some parents, who had paid the coach extra so their daughters could have ___40___one-on-one training, got angry when she didn’t give them more playing time in our ___41___. The coach was replaced.
The new coach, however, took all the fun out of the game. All we did during practice was ___42___. I always wished to God that it would rain so we would not have the ___43___. Of course, all teams run drills; they are ___44___. But we ran so much that, afterwards, we had trouble ___45___. Younger people shouldn’t be doing exercises ___46___ for 18-year-olds.
I was very thin ___47___ I started football, but as a member of this team I wouldn’t eat much, because I was afraid of being too ___48___ to run. I feared making mistakes, and the added pressure caused me to make more than my usual ___49___.
Is all this pressure necessary? I ___50___ up leaving the football team. Four other girls did the same, and two of them stopped playing football completely. That’s ___51___, because they had so much potential. They were just burned-out with all the pressure they ___52___ from the coach or their parents.
I continued playing football at school and ___53___ my love for it. I joined a private team coached by my school coach. When I started playing ___54___ him, he told me I needed to relax because I looked nervous. After I ___55___ down, I played better. When you enjoy something, it’s a lot easier to do it well.
36. A. class B. club C. team D. board
37. A. playing B. living C. learning D. working
38. A. great B. equal C. right D. extra
39. A. business B. struggle C. attempt D. pressure
40. A. free B. private C. good D. basic
41. A. matches B. courses C. lessons D. programs
42. A. jump B. play C. run D. shoot
43. A. duty B. meeting C. operation D. training
44. A. necessary B. boring C. scientific D. practical
45. A. speaking B. moving C. sleeping D. breathing
46. A. used B. intended C. made D. described
47. A. till B. since C. before D. because
48. A. full B. tired C. lazy D. big
49. A. size B. share C. space D. state
50. A. gave B. kept C. ended D. picked
51. A. sad B. shameful C. silly D. serious
52. A. received B. suffered C. brought D. felt
53. A. reconsidered B. rediscovered C. reformed D. replaced
54. A. at B. by C. for D. around
55. A. fell B. stepped C. slowed D. calmed
第二节：完形填空(共20小题；每小题1分，满分20分)
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出最佳选项。
Mary had her own special kind of joy, and she knew exactly how to spread it around. She lifted children from 31 into laughter, love, and belonging. Each time she found a new 32 for a child, she gave the family one of her little homemade paper roses. It had become a 33 for her, and the families didn't ever forget it.
One evening, Mary was 34 a meeting for adoptive parents. One of the 35 fathers stood up to introduce himself. But before he spoke, he reached into his coat pocket and held up a 36 , red paper rose.
“Twenty years ago today, I felt alone and 37 . I didn't know the talents inside me or what was possible for me.
Then Mary 38 two wonderful people into my life. They taught me what it was like to feel 39 . They not only loved me 40 . They opened a world of 41 that I didn't know existed. My new parents told me, ‘Reach for your dreams!’
I did, and today I'm 42 to be giving that chance to a child who 43 just like me. My mother gave me this little rose. By now, all of you 44 where she got it so long ago.
Mary sent me a new rose just yesterday. And my new rose 45 a new spring, a beautiful new 46 for my own little girl. It 47 me to show her what unconditional love is, and to teach her to reach for her own beautiful dreams.
Thank you, Mary, for the special little things like roses that 48 our lives together. And thank you for all you've done for me and so many families over the years!”
One brief even can send our spirits soaring or 49 us in quiet to ponder a new beginning. 50 it is also the very small things, like Mary's roses, that tie together the meaningful things.
31.A. poverty B. loneliness C. misery D. suffering
32.A. home B. place C. school D. life
33.A. glory B. favor C. habit D. tradition
34.A. organizing B. planning C. hosting D. attending
35. A. new B. grateful C. kind D. active
36. A. broken B. faded C. treasured D. dried
37.A. tasteless B. powerless C. priceless D. worthless
38.A. directed B. introduced C. brought D. accepted
39.A. loved B. protected C. cared D. cheered
40.A. silently B. continuously C. unintentionally D. unconditionally
41.A. necessities B. possibilities C. beauties D. riches
42.A. eager B. willing C. proud D. lucky
43.A. started out B. came up C. turned out D. grew up
44.A. understand B. guess C. tell D. know
45.A. replaces B. symbolizes C. equals D. creates
46.A. chance B. mystery C. challenge D. beginning
47.A. reminds B. helps C. accompanies D. drives
48.A. fix B. close C. tie D. gather
49.A. cause B. push C. put D. leave
50.A. Yet B. Besides C. Otherwise D. Therefore
二、完形填空
Everybody knows Charlie Chaplin，a world-famous funny actor.People 21have laughed at Charlie Chaplin’s films 22 tears run down their faces.From his very first 23 they know what will happen. The little man is always with black moustache，wide-open eyes，round black hat and ___24 too large for his feet.He’ll25 through snow，and fall from windows.He’ll fight men who are twice his 26 ,fall in love with women，who 27 notice him and try to hug（拥抱)them.
The poor man that Charlie Chaplin 28 in dozens of films makes all kinds of stupid mistakes.He is always in 29 ,but he never 30 .He dreams of becoming a great man.Even people who 31 understand English can 32 Chaplin’s films，because they are mostly 33___.It isn’t what he 34 that makes people laugh.His comedy（喜剧)doesn’t depend on words.It depends on little 35 which mean the 36 thing to people all over the world.
Chaplin raises his thick eyebrows or rolls his eyes.He hides behind a fat lady or under a table to escape from his 37 .He dresses well and pretends to be a 38 and important man. It is all so hopeless and 39 that he makes us laugh.This is the 40 of Chaplin’s huge success.
21.A.here B.everywhere C.abroad D.who
22.A.if B.once C.because D.until
23.A.disappearance B.appearance C.words D.emotions
24.A.trousers B.stocks C.shoes D.hands
25.A.sleep B.sit C.play D.struggle
26.A.length B.size C.greatness D.width
27.A.hardly B.deeply C.widely D.luckily
28.A.played B.recognized C.loved D.fooled
29.A.joy B.excitement C.sorrow D.trouble
30.A.comes down B.gets away C.goes back D.gives up
31.A.don’t B.can C.do D.may
32.A.understand B.watch C.enjoy D.see
33.A.frightening B.silent C.pleasant D.moving
34.A.plays B.acts C.expects D.says
35.A.actions B.expressions C.stories D.words
36.A.some B.different C.same D.bitter
37.A.enimies B.own C.characters D.films
38.A.poor B.sad C.rich D.beautiful
39.A.possible B.impossible C.instructive D.tired
40.A.way B.beginning C.theory D.secret
第二节：完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）
阅读下面短文，从短文后所给各题的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
I was shopping in the supermarket when I heard the young voice.
“Mom, come here! There’s this lady here my ___31___!”
The mother rushed to her son; then she turned to me to ___32___.
I smiled and told her: “It’s okay.” Then I talked to the boy, “Hi, I’m Darryl Kramer. How are you?”
He ___33___ me from head to toe, and asked: “Are you a little ___34___?
“Yes, I have a son,” I answered.
“Why are you so little?” he asked.
“It’s the way I was ___35___,” I said. “Some people are little. Some are tall. I’m just not going to grow any bigger.” After I answered his other questions, I shook the boy’s hand, and left.
My life as a little person is filled with ___36___ like that. I enjoy talking to children and explaining why I look different from their parents.
It takes only one glance to see my ___37___. I stand 114 cm tall. I was born a dwarf（侏儒）. ___38___ this, I did all the things other kids did when I was growing up.
I didn’t ___39___ how short I was until I started school. Some kids picked on me, calling me names. Then I knew. I began to ___40___ the first day of school each year. New students would always stare at me as I ___41___ to climb the school bus stairs.
But I learned to smile and ___42___ the fact that I was going to be ___43___ my whole life. I decided to make my uniqueness an advantage rather than a disadvantage. What I lacked in height, I ___44___ in personality.
I’m 47 now, and the stares have not ___45___ as I’ve grown older. People are ___46___ when they see me driving. I try to keep a good attitude. When people are ___47___, I remind myself: “Look what else I have — a great family, nice friends.”
It’s the children’s questions that make my life ___48___. I enjoy answering their questions. My ___49___ is that people will accept their peers（同龄人）, whatever size and shape they come in, and treat them with ___50___.
31. A. weight B. size C. shape D. personality
32. A. scold B. explain C. apologize D. respond
33. A. studied B. identified C. inspected D. checked
34. A. lady B. mommy C. person D. kid
35. A. raised B. viewed C. treated D. born
36. A. excuses B. pains C. stares D. stories
37. A. shortcomings B. strangeness C. uniqueness D. shyness
38. A. Besides B. Despite C. Except D. Beyond
39. A. admit B. care C. fear D. realize
40. A. hate B. tolerate C. forget D. ignore
41. A. determined B. struggled C. managed D. learned
42. A. refuse B. enjoy C. consider D. accept
43. A. exposed B. pitied C. noticed D. avoided
44. A. made up for B. ended up with C. kept track of D. made use of
45. A. increased B. decreased C. accumulated D. changed
46. A. scared B. satisfied C. amazed D. puzzled
47. A. rude B. curious C. regretful D. cruel
48. A. fantastic B. meaningless C. embarrassing D. special
49. A. promise B. intention C. hope D. advantage
50. A. respect B. frankness C. sympathy D. emotion
第一节完形填空(共10小题；每小题2分，满分20分)
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从21—30各题所给的A、B、C和D项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
As a child, I got angry quite easily and was not good at communicating with others.
One day, as I was getting ready for school, my mother(21) handed me my father’s vest（背心） instead of mine. At that time, I was getting to have a larger(22) than my father, so when I(23) the vest, I felt as if I wasn’t able to breathe! I was very angry and(24) my mother without thinking much. I pulled it off my chest-----so wildly as to make a(25) in it.
Later, my mother(26) her bad feelings with my father. Instead of saying he would scold（责骂）or(27) me, my father calmly asked my mother to mend the vest. He then wore it to work.
When my mother told me about my father’s (28) -----much later, when I had recovered from my angry----I felt shame for my bad behavior. My father’s (29) kindness taught me a lesson which I would never forget.
On that day, I (30) not to let anger control me any longer. Of course, there are times when I get angry. However, whenever that happens, I will try to remember my father’s vest.
21. A. luckily B. secretly C. carelessly D. jokingly
22. A. size B. head C. number D. room
23. A. picked up B. took off C. talked about D. put on
24. A. shot at B. looked at C.pointed at D.shouted at
25. A. mark B.hole C. spot D.noise
26 A. treated B.shared C.experienced D.remained
27. A. praise B. correctC.control D.beat
28. A. sorrow B.advice C.incident D.response
29. A. careful B.gentle C.public D.interesting
30. A. agreed B.expected C.decided D.refused
Part two: Cloze (20 items, 20 pts.)
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项
Yesterday I was fortunate enough to find one more person in our world who is kind and caring. It was about 11:00 p.m. 21 my telephone rang. The caller ID showed the number of a Best Western Hotel. 22 , I would ignore this type of call. For some reason, 23 , I went ahead and answered.
The man on the other end asked if I knew Samual K. I 24 , as he is my 91 – year – old grandfather. Still not 25 why I was the one that had been called, the caller went on to tell me that I was the only 26 listed in the phone book. He said his name was Mason and that he was the 27 at the Best Western Hotel. The 28 was that grandpa had no money with him, and that he couldn’t 29 any phone numbers, so Mason called all over the state trying to get help.
Grandpa told me that he just wanted me to tell Mason that he is a (n) 30 guy and would pay the money once he got home. But the man in charge there was31 because my grandfather seemed to be 32 . He had been going somewhere else when he got on the wrong bus and 33 100 miles from home.
Not wanting to turn him away and not wanting the police to 34 him to the police station, Mason, 35 any normal duty, not only took the time to 36 me, but also charged just $ 39 so that grandpa could 37 safely and comfortably overnight. (The rooms normally rent for about $ 140!) Besides, he had the staff of that hotel all 38 him until my uncle was able to drive the 100 miles to pick him up!
So, it’s just one more piece of 39 that proves that there are still good people out there; wherever you go, there is always one who 40 .
21．A．while B．when C．after D．before
22．A．Obviously B．Personally C．Actually D．Generally
23．A．however B．besides C．otherwise D．therefore
24．A．was B．did C．had D．would
25．A．admitting B．accepting C．understanding D．recognizing
26．A．neighbor B．relative C．colleague D．friend
27．A．manager B．waiter C．leader D．guest
28．A．disadvantage B．question C．problem D．pity
29．A．write B．remember C．repeat D．keep
30．A．easy – going B．generous C．forgettable D．okay
31．A．concerned B．disappointed C．convinced D．surprised
32．A．hurt B．moved C．annoyed D．lost
33．A．went up B．added up C．ended up D．sent up
34．A．take B．bring C．invite D．carry
35．A．except B．against C．beyond D．from
36．A．contact B．persuade C．warn D．approach
37．A．leave B．live C．adapt D．stay
38．A．look for B．watch over C．care about D．adjust to
39．A．news B．information C．advice D．evidence
40．A．minds B．cares C．sees D．matters