16.
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The Hard Truth
One day,Marissa noticed a spiderweb,shining in the sunlight.A spider was spinning (36)A on it.The spider wasn't trying to be something else,like a butterfly or a bee,Marissa thought.It was happy to be exactly what it was and to do what it was good at.
What came naturally to Marissa was (37)B.She could paint or draw all day long and never get bored.However,a few weeks ago Marissa signed up for high jump.Because her mother had been a high jump (38)Din school,she thought it would make her mother happy.But now she (39)A that however hard she worked,she would never be a high jump star like her mother.
One night,halfway through her homework,Marissa fell (40)C.When she woke up,the clock read 1:00A.M.Marissa got into a panic.There was still so much (41)A to do,but she really needed her rest for track practice.Marissa had always been a good student,but now track was risking her (42)C.
Then a dark thought crossed Marissa's mind.If she (43)D some of her classes,she would be off the track team.That was one way to solve her problem.
After a week of (44)B her homework,letters had been mailed out to parents listing grades,and Marissa knew the letters would show that her grades had (45)C a lot.She walked home with slow heavy steps,knowing her (46)A plan had worked.
Just as Marissa had (47)B,her mother was waiting with the (48)D in her hand."What's happening to your grades?And more importantly,what's happening to you?"she asked.
With tears in her eyes,Marissa admitted her (49)C."I only joined the track team to make you proud of me.I hated it,(50)D I didn't want to disappoint you.I thought if I were failing in my classes,Coach would kick me off the team.What a (51)C I've made of everything."
Marissa watched her mother's face turn from anger to (52)B."Marissa,I was always proud of you.You didn't need to do the high jump to make me happy.Now you have a lot of hard work in front of you because you made a bad (53)D."
Marissa thought again about the spider.She realized she had lost sight of her (54)C and twisted her web.Now she had to go back and (55)A that web.
36.A.webs | B.clothes | C.balls | D.boxes |
37.A.music | B.art | C.sport | D.dance |
38.A.coach | B.fan | C.teacher | D.star |
39.A.realized | B.wondered | C.insisted | D.remembered |
40.A.ill | B.silent | C.asleep | D.apart |
41.A.homework | B.research | C.housework | D.practice |
42.A.health | B.life | C.grades | D.images |
43.A.gave | B.took | C.attended | D.failed |
44.A.completing | B.ignoring | C.preparing | D.copying |
45.A.risen | B.meant | C.dropped | D.improved |
46.A.ugly | B.perfect | C.simple | D.serious |
47.A.doubted | B.suspected | C.acted | D.said |
48.A.painting | B.clock | C.phone | D.letter |
49.A.feeling | B.weakness | C.secret | D.excuse |
50.A.and | B.so | C.or | D.but |
51.A.surprise | B.scare | C.mess | D.joke |
52.A.delight | B.concern | C.embarrassment | D.disappointment |
53.A.speech | B.stop | C.jump | D.choice |
54.A.balance | B.example | C.purpose | D.success |
55.A.rebuild | B.break | C.find | D.review |