A
My First Marathon（马拉松）
A month before my first marathon, one of my ankles was injured and this meant not running for two weeks, leaving me only two weeks to train. Yet, I was determined to go ahead.
I remember back to my 7th year in school. In my first P.E. class, the teacher required us to run laps and then hit a softball. I didn’t do either well. He later informed me that I was ＂not athletic＂.
The idea that I was ＂not athletic＂ stuck with me for years. When I started running in my 30s, I realized running was a battle against myself, not about competition or whether or not I was athletic. It was all about the battle against my own body and mind. A test of wills!
The night before my marathon, I dreamt that I couldn’t even find the finish line. I woke up sweating and nervous, but ready to prove something to myself.
Shortly after crossing the start line, my shoe laces(鞋带) became untied. So I stopped to readjust. Not the start I wanted!
At mile 3, I passed a sign: ＂GO FOR IT, RUNNERS!＂
By mile 17, I became out of breath and the once injured ankle hurt badly. Despite the pain, I stayed the course walking a bit and then running again.
By mile 21, I was starving!
As I approached mile 23, I could see my wife waving a sign. She is my biggest fan. She never minded the alarm clock sounding at 4 a.m. or questioned my expenses on running.
I was one of the final runners to finish. But I finished! And I got a medal. In fact, I got the same medal as the one that the guy who came in first place had.
Determined to be myself, move forward, free of shame and worldly labels(世俗标签), I can now call myself a ＂marathon winner＂.
1.A month before the marathon, the author ____________.
A. was well trained B. felt scared
C. made up his mind to run D. lost hope
2.Why did the author mention the P.E. class in his 7th year?
A. To acknowledge the support of his teacher.
B. To amuse the readers with a funny story.
C. To show he was not talented in sports.
D. To share a precious memory.
3.How was the author’s first marathon?
A. He made it. B. He quit halfway.
C. He got the first prize. D. He walked to the end.
4.What does the story mainly tell us?
A. A man owes his success to his family support.
B. A winner is one with a great effort of will.
C. Failure is the mother of success.
D. One is never too old to learn.
The Homeless Hero
For many, finding an unattended wallet filled with £400 in cash would be a source（来源）of temptation（诱惑）. But the ______ would no doubt be greater if you were living on the streets with little food and money. All of this makes the actions of the homeless Tom Smith ________ more remarkable.
After spotting a _______ on the front seat inside a parked car with its window down, he stood guard in the rain for about two hours waiting for the ________ to return.
After hours in the cold and wet, he _________ inside and pulled the wallet out hoping to find some ID so he could contact（联系）the driver, only to ________ it contained £400 in notes, with another £50 in spare change beside it.
He then took the wallet to a nearby police station after ________ a note behind to let the owner know it was safe. When the car’s owner John Anderson and his colleague Carol Lawrence returned to the car—which was itself worth £35, 000—in Glasgow city centre, they were ________ to find two policemen standing next to it. The policemen told them what Mr. Smith did and that the wallet was ________.
The pair were later able to thank Mr. Smith for his ________.
Mr. Anderson said：＂I couldn’t believe that the guy never took a penny. To think he is sleeping on the streets tonight ________ he could have stolen the money and paid for a place to stay in. This guy has nothing and
________ he didn’t take the wallet for himself；he thought about others ________. It’s unbelievable. It just proves there are ______ guys out there.＂
Mr. Smith’s act ________ much of the public’s attention. He also won praise from social media users after Mr. Anderson ________ about the act of kindness on Facebook.
Now Mr. Anderson has set up an online campaign to _________ money for Mr. Smith and other homeless people in the area, which by yesterday had received ￡8,000. ＂I think the faith that everyone has shown ________ him has touched him. People have been approaching him in the street; he’s had job ________ and all sorts,＂ Mr. Anderson commented.
For Mr. Smith, this is a possible life-changing ________. The story once again tells us that one good turn deserves another.
1.A. hope B. aim C. urge D. effort
2.A. still B. even C. ever D. once
3.A. wallet B. bag C. box D. parcel
4.A. partner B. colleague C. owner D. policeman
5.A. turned B. hid C. stepped D. reached
6.A. discover B. collect C. check D. believe
7.A. taking B. leaving C. reading D. writing
8.A. satisfied B. excited C. amused D. shocked
9.A. safe B. missing C. found D. seen
10.A. service B. support C. kindness D. encouragement
11.A. when B. if C. where D. because
12.A. rather B. yet C. already D. just
13.A. too B. though C. again D. instead
14.A. honest B. polite C. rich D. generous
15.A. gave B. paid C. cast D. drew
16.A. learned B. posted C. cared D. heard
17.A. borrow B. raise C. save D. earn
18.A. of B. at C. for D. in
19.A. details B. changes C. offers D. applications
20.A. lesson B. adventure C. chance D. challenge
This is _________ my father has taught me—to always face difficulties and hope for the best.
A. how B. which C. that D. what
—Good morning, Mr. Lee’s office.
—Good morning. I’d like to make an appointment _________ next Wednesday afternoon.
A. for B. on C. in D. at
They might have found a better hotel if they _________ a few more kilometers.
A. drove B. would drive C. were to drive D. had driven
In today’s information age, the loss of data _________ cause serious problems for a company.
A. need B. should C. can D. must
