Today I am known for my voice. Perhaps the greatest honor came when I was asked to read The New Testament（《新约全书》）on tape .
But it 21 a long time to believe such good things could happen to me. When I was a child, I stuttered（结巴）so badly that I was completely 22 to speak in public.
23 when I was 14, Professor Donald Crouch came to my school. He was a retired college professor. English was his favorite subject and 24 was his deepest love. He held a book of poems as if it were a crystal, 25 pages as if uncovering treasures. When he heard that our school was teaching Shakespeare and other classics, he felt 26 for not being a part of our school sooner.
When he 27 that I not only loved poetry but was 28 it, we became closer. There was, however, one 29 -- Professor Crouch could not stand the 30 that I refused to read my poems to the class.
“Jim, poetry is 31 to be read aloud,” he said. “You should be able to speak those beautiful words.” I shook my head and 32 .
One day he 33 me .
After handing in a poem, I waited for his 34 . It didn’t come. Instead one day as the students had gathered together, he 35 me , “Jim, I don’t think you wrote this poem.”
I stared at him in disbelief. “Why,” I started, 36 flooding me. “of course I did !” “Well, then,” he said, “you’ve got to prove it by getting up and reciting it from 37 .”
By then the other students had settled at their desks. With knees shaking, I walked up to the front. For a moment I stood there 38 Then I began, and kept going. I recited my poem all the way 39 !
Afterwards, Professor Crouch encouraged me to read other writers’ poetry before the public. I discovered I did have a(n) 40 and found my classmates actually looked forward to hearing me recite.
1.A．lasted B．took C．spent D．wasted
2.A．impatient B．disabled C．unable D．impossible
3.A．But B．Then C．Besides D．However
4.A．archaeology B．art C．architecture D．poetry
5.A．drawing B．turning C．writing D．finding
6.A．regretful B．thankful C．relieved D．annoyed
7.A．decided B．recognized C．learned D．proved
8.A．reading B．reciting C．publishing D．writing
9.A．problem B．promise C．agreement D．difference
10.A．matter B．fact C．idea D．belief
11.A．said B．found C．prepared D．meant
12.A．turned away B．sat down C．talked back D．gave in
13.A．greeted B．scolded C．tricked D．comforted
14.A．help B．idea C．reward D．comment
15.A．challenged B．attracted C．noticed D．talked
16.A．pride B．anger C．excitement D．joy
17.A．heart B．beginning C．mind D．memory
18.A．panic B．disappointed C．breathless D．aimless
19.A．down B．up C．around D．through
20.A．voice B．sound C．appearance D．interest
---I’m terribly sorry for having hurt your dog.
--- _________ You didn’t mean it.
A. Don’t mention it . B. You are welcome.
C. Just forget it. D. You should have been more careful.
“If you are to succeed, you must put your shoulder to the wheel." my head teacher _______ says to the class.
A. curiously B. consequently C. confidently D. constantly
To make China _________ the USA in science and technology, we need more talents.
A. as a strong country as B. strong as a country as
C. as strong a country as D. as stronger as
Mrs. Smith has _________ all the shampoo, so she’ll have to buy some more.
A. run out B. used up C. given out D. sped up
—Did your dad fix the brakes on the BMW himself?
—He , because he doesn’t know much about cars.
A. has it fixed B. had fixed it C. fixed it D. had it fixed
