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
I always carry at least $3 in my car and also in my pocket. I save it for the person who asks if I can “spare some 36”. Smiling and making eye contact, I always 37 very cheerfully with a comment like, “Yes, I would love to” 38 “It would be my pleasure”. And I give them the 39 .
Then I 40 it with my next $3 for the next person. I 41 spend this money myself. I honor the idea that it belongs to the 42 of the next person who asks for it. Three dollars is a small 43 , yet it means a lot to the person who might only expect 25 cents, 44 when delivered with respect to them.
I have also formed the habit of carrying 45 I think the needy may be able to use. I carry hats, socks, gloves, and an umbrella. Recently I 46 some care packages for the homeless. It 47 to me that things like band-aids, toothpaste, aspirin, combs, as well as food would be of use. I imagined that they would need things that are not easy to 48 , so I chose plastic or paper containers. The folks who49 them were delighted.
But I think it’s not just that I give them things that 50 . It’s that I see them for the beautiful ray of lights that they are. I know that they are 51 expressions of God and that this is how they are at the current time, not who they are. I am 52 to also give a hug and a smile with the money. And I always remember it is they who bless me with the 53 to be kind! What a joy! I felt 54 good and proud of what I had done. See, that’s the added 55 about completing acts of kindness —you feel fantastic.
A．change B．energy C．time D．spare
A．represent B．respond C．show D．explain
A．and B．nor C．or D．otherwise
A．bill B．$3 C．cheque D．chance
A．select B．provide C．recall D．replace
A．ever B．almost C．never D．always
A．possession B．business C．account D．position
A．amount B．price C．count D．total
A．seriously B．specially C．especially D．slightly
A．tools B．clothes C．pictures D．items
A．sold out B．put together C．divided into D．looked for
A．appealed B．referred C．pointed D．occurred
A．pull B．combine C．break D．find
A．received B．accepted C．gave D．bought
A．uses B．minds C．cares D．matters
A．strange B．unique C．rare D．curious
A．sad B．regretful C．glad D．sure
A．opportunity B．trial C．possibility D．convenience
A．as B．not C．much D．so
A．disadvantage B．bonus C．dream D．voice
One Sunday, a picture in the newspaper touched me. A young woman stood in front of a totally destroyed home. A little boy stood beside her with his head 36 . Holding her skirt tightly was a tiny girl, eyes wide with 37 and fear.
With growing 38 I noticed that their sizes of each family member closely 39 ours. This would be a good opportunity to 40 my children, so I explained their difficult 41 to my seven-year-old twins and three-year-old Meghan.
“We have so much, but these poor people now have nothing,” I said, “we’ll 42 what we have with them.”
I brought three large boxes and placed them on the living room floor. Meghan watched seriously 43 the boys and I filled one box with canned food.
While I 44__ our clothes, I encouraged the boys to go through their toys and 45 some of their less favorite things. Meghan watched 46 as the boys piled up useless toys in the box.
“I’ll help you find something for the little girl,” I said to her.
The boys placed the toys they had 47 to donate into one of the boxes while I filled the third box with clothes. Meghan walked up with Lucy, her worn, faded, much-loved doll 48 tightly to her chest. She 49 in front of the box, pressed her little face into Lucy’s face, gave her a 50 kiss, then, laid her gently on top of the other toys.
“Oh, honey,” I said. “You 51 to give away Lucy. You love her so much.”
Meghan nodded, eyes shining with tears. “Lucy makes me happy, Mommy. 52 she’ll make that little girl happy, too.”
I stared at Meghan for a long moment, 53 how I could teach the boys the lesson she had just taught me.
It’s easy to give what we don’t want any more, but 54 to let go of things we cherish, isn’t it? 55 , the true spirit of giving is to give with your heart.
A．off B．up C．down D．round
A．smile B．confusion C．joy D．anger
A．happiness B．friendship C．puzzle D．interest
A．matched B．equaled C．compared D．suited
A．help B．complain C．change D．teach
A．experience B．problem C．situation D．process
A．give B．share C．send D．spare
A．as B．since C．though D．because
A．came through B．broke through C．sorted through D．got through
A．donate B．leave C．keep D．sell
A．hopefully B．anxiously C．depressingly D．quietly
A．separated B．chosen C．bought D．confirmed
A．hugged B．tied C．grasped D．caught
A．settled B．regretted C．paused D．cried
A．precious B．final C．hearty D．lovely
A．wouldn’t like B．ought not C．had better not D．don’t have
A．Also B．Yet C．Maybe D．Though
A．knowing B．wondering C．realizing D．expecting
A．available B．necessary C．important D．hard
A．However B．Therefore C．Otherwise D．Moreover
As a music teacher，I have always known that music touches the soul. It can 36 all kinds of barriers to reach students in a very special way.It can be the 37 for each child to find their light.I would like to38 a story about it.
For a few years I was 39 with the opportunity to teach disabled students.One of my most 40 students was a five-year-old girl called Vanessa，who had difficulty walking，and could not speak.We 41 sat on the floor for our music lessons and Vanessa liked to 42 on my lap．One of her favorite songs was John the Rabbit.It was a call and response song where I sang the call and the students 43 twice while singing the repeating phrase，“Oh，yes！” Vanessa liked to 44 her hands together with mine and clap with me.We probably performed that song during every class，Vanessa and I clapping together.But she 45 said or sang a word.
One day，when the song was finished，Vanessa turned around， 46 me in the eyes，clapped her tiny hands twice and said the words“Oh，yes！” I opened my mouth in 47 and for that moment I was the one who could not speak.When my heart 48 started beating again，I looked over at the assistant teacher to find her also 49 .Through music，we had made an awesome connection.
Several years later，I met Vanessa on the street in town.She waved with a big 50 on her face and then clapped her hands twice，imitating the song we had51 so many times in our music class.The little girl， 52 her connection with music，left an impression on me that will last forever. Every child has the53 to learn and grow. It is up to us to 54 the way to reach each and every one of our students.We all must find each child's 55 .
A．get across B．put away C．take over D．break through
A．means B．direction C．process D．effort
A．add B．talk C．share D．write
A．blessed B．tired C．covered D．filled
A．troublesome B．Hardworking C．memorable D．sensitive
A．most B．almost C．nearly D．mostly
A．stand B．sit C．lie D．jump
A．sang B．said C．followed D．clapped
A．strike B．put C．give D．shake
A．ever B．never C．still D．even
A．looked B．saw C．glared D．noticed
A．horror B．delight C．astonishment D．embarrassment
A．immediately B．fortunately C．slowly D．finally
A．happy B．grateful C．speechless D．hopeless
A．greeting B．smile C．expression D．sign
A．performed B．operated C．trained D．organized
A．upon B．through C．from D．beyond
A．standard B．ability C．plan D．freedom
A．discover B．invent C．test D．make
A．strength B．dream C．light D．weakness
My brother and I were alone in our apartment. My parents had gone for a party and had left me in 36.I was doing my homework while my younger brother was watching television. 37 the doorbell rang. My younger brother rushed to the door thinking that our parents had come home; he unlocked the door and 38 it.
Outside, stood a tall man wearing a black raincoat. He said that he was a salesman and asked 39 if our mother or father was at home.
Without 40 , my brother said, “No.” He asked if we would like to 41 some comic books, which he was selling. I quickly explained that we were not 42 to buy anything without our parents’ 43 .
Then, as I was about to close the door, he 44 his way into our house. He took out a 45 and forced me to 46 up my brother’s hands with some rope. I tied up his hands but I tied it in a 47 way so my brother could untie himself. The man then tied my hands up and 48 both of us in the kitchen
49 , he went upstairs to search the bedroom for 50 . I managed to teach my brother to untie the rope. He then united me. I 51 to the telephone to call the police， but the line was 52 . The doors were all locked from the outside .Luckily, the robber 53 to lock the kitchen window. My brother managed to get out of the house 54 the window.
My brother brought the police to our house and the robber was caught. The police 55 us for our good work.
A．danger B．charge C．surprise D．mess
A．Carefully B．Quietly C．Loudly D．Suddenly
A．opened B．shut C．fastened D．held
A．nervously B．rudely C．politely D．anxiously
A．thinking B．watching C．waiting D．questioning
A．read B．keep C．sell D．buy
A．planned B．supposed C．determined D．pleased
A．purpose B．money C．permission D．absence
A．forced B．fought C．felt D．doll
A．rope B．knife C．stick D．doll
A．break B．cover C．dress D．tie
A．fine B．careless C．special D．possible
A．locked B．left C．stationed D．beat
A．Anyway B．Soon C．Still D．Otherwise
A．Saving B．belongings C．nobles D．valuables
A．moved B．headed C．rushed D．knocked
A．dead B．stolen C．off D．short
A．tried B．forgot C．delayed D．preferred
A．over B．by C．through D．in
A．admitted B．rewarded C．admired D．thanked
It’s only after three weeks into a new job that I made a serious mistake. My boss called it “extremely embarrassing” in a company-wide e-mail — which, __36__, he wrote because he felt he needed to explain that what I did was something __37__ in the company should ever do.
I wish I __38__ give a good excuse for what I did. At the very least, I wish I could explain it somehow — __39__ it on youth, inexperience or ignorance. Unfortunately, I’m __40__, experienced and I know better.
__41__ I work with some very kind and compassionate(富于同情心的) people. For the past couple of days many of them have taken time to __42__ by my desk and offer comfort, encouragement and support. Some have shared with me similar __43__ they have made. Evidently I’m not the only “ __44__ ” person here.
One of the exchanges I had this week was with Lois, the much-honored, much-respected professional who __45__ the desk right next to mine. Lois was completely __46__ about her work, and to be honest I was a little nervous about how she would __47__ to such an extremely embarrassing incident.
As I expected, Lois didn’t pass over the __48__ when she saw me the next day. She mentioned it directly, __49__ with empathetic(体恤别人感受的) consideration. She listened to my __ 50__. Just as I was ready to express my regrets, she brought my self-pity partly to a(n) __51__.
“It happened”, she said, “There’s nothing you can do to __52__ that. It happened. But it’s over now. It’s __53__. It’s in the past. You need to let it go, and move on.” And with that she returned her __54__ to her work, as if to say, “We’re done here.”
I beat myself up for weeks. At such times I need to remember those __55__ words: It’s over. It’s done. Let it go. And mostly, move on.
A．to the way B．in the way C．by the way D．on the way
A．no one B．anyone C．someone D．the one
A．might B．could C．should D．will
A．rely B．blame C．put D．fix
A．old B．energetic C．cheerful D．outgoing
A．Hopefully B．Naturally C．Generally D．Thankfully
A．sit B．work C．stop D．watch
A．mistakes B．troubles C．attempts D．decisions
A．annoying B．embarrassing C．puzzling D．confusing
A．repairs B．occupies C．wants D．works
A．hopeful B．curious C．serious D．mad
A．turn B．agree C．react D．object
A．issue B．outcome C．criterion D．message
A．for B．therefore C．otherwise D．but
A．conclusion B．explanation C．challenge D．imagination
A．end B．key C．order D．process
A．forget B．change C．prevent D．ruin
A．broken B．done C．lost D．kept
A．patience B．skill C．attention D．interest
A．sweet B．pleasant C．meaningful D．colorful