I was successful at my job. I worked very hard, but it 36  me and my family a fabulous (极好的) lifestyle. I’d worked for the same company for twenty years and had worked my way up to department director.  37 , one afternoon last May, I was called to the office, and it was  38  explained to me that they were letting me go. I just sat there  39  they talked on and all I could think was, “I’ve  40 .”  I’d been so well respected, but  41  I was of no value.
For six weeks, I was in a very  42  place. I wandered around my house like a zombie (僵尸). I could 43 things needed doing, but would not do anything. My beliefs in looking forward and seeing the positive (积极的) in everything  44  me.
Then, in late June, my youngest son’s football team made the city cup final. The year before, he’d been very sad when I  45  the same final, so he was  46  when I told him I’d go. Not only did they win, but the look on his face as he saw me  47  him on was unbelievable, From then on, I spent the summer enjoying my some and their passions (激情). I attended match after match and performances of my elder son’s band — I  48  went to another city to watch him play. These moments were so  49 . My life had been so much devoted to  50  for so long, and I felt  51  that my sons were happy to welcome me into their world.
 52 , being unemployed gave me back a sense of purpose --- I was someone’s mum! I felt a sense of being  53  Again. Now I feel more positive about my professional  54  and I’m getting on better with my family than I ever have. Losing my job made me realize just how  55  it is to achieve real balance in life.

I was successful at my job. I worked very hard, but it 36  me and my family a fabulous (极好的) lifestyle. I’d worked for the same company for twenty years and had worked my way up to department director.  37 , one afternoon last May, I was called to the office, and it was  38  explained to me that they were letting me go. I just sat there  39  they talked on and all I could think was, “I’ve  40 .”  I’d been so well respected, but  41  I was of no value.

For six weeks, I was in a very  42  place. I wandered around my house like a zombie (僵尸). I could 43 things needed doing, but would not do anything. My beliefs in looking forward and seeing the positive (积极的) in everything  44  me.

Then, in late June, my youngest son’s football team made the city cup final. The year before, he’d been very sad when I  45  the same final, so he was  46  when I told him I’d go. Not only did they win, but the look on his face as he saw me  47  him on was unbelievable, From then on, I spent the summer enjoying my some and their passions (激情). I attended match after match and performances of my elder son’s band — I  48  went to another city to watch him play. These moments were so  49 . My life had been so much devoted to  50  for so long, and I felt  51  that my sons were happy to welcome me into their world.

 52 , being unemployed gave me back a sense of purpose --- I was someone’s mum! I felt a sense of being  53  Again. Now I feel more positive about my professional  54  and I’m getting on better with my family than I ever have. Losing my job made me realize just how  55  it is to achieve real balance in life.

I was successful at my job. I worked very hard, but it1me and my family a fabulous (极好的) lifestyle. I’d worked for the same company for twenty years and had worked my way up to department director.2, one afternoon last May, I was called to the office, and it was 3explained to me that they were letting me go. I just sat there 4they talked on and all I could think was, “I’ve 5.” I’d been so well respected, but 6I was of no value.
For six weeks, I was in a very 7place. I wandered around my house like a zombie (僵尸). I could 8things needed doing, but would not do anything. My beliefs in looking forward and seeing the positive (积极的) in everything 9me.
Then, in late June, my youngest son’s football team made the city cup final. The year before, he’d been very sad when I10the same final, so he was 11when I told him I’d go. Not only did they win, but the look on his face as he saw me 12him on was unbelievable, From then on, I spent the summer enjoying my some and their passions (激情). I attended match after match and performances of my elder son’s band — I 13went to another city to watch him play. These moments were so 14. My life had been so much devoted to 15for so long, and I felt 16that my sons were happy to welcome me into their world.
17, being unemployed gave me back a sense of purpose --- I was someone’s mum! I felt a sense of being 18Again. Now I feel more positive about my professional 19and I’m getting on better with my family than I ever have. Losing my job made me realize just how 20it is to achieve real balance in life.

1. 1.
   1. A.
      promised
   2. B.
      afforded
   3. C.
      showed
   4. D.
      left
2. 2.
   1. A.
      Therefore
   2. B.
      Anyhow
   3. C.
      Otherwise
   4. D.
      However
3. 3.
   1. A.
      quickly
   2. B.
      gently
   3. C.
      partly
   4. D.
      easily
4. 4.
   1. A.
      until
   2. B.
      after
   3. C.
      as
   4. D.
      so
5. 5.
   1. A.
      failed
   2. B.
      finished
   3. C.
      tried
   4. D.
      changed
6. 6.
   1. A.
      suddenly
   2. B.
      finally
   3. C.
      immediately
   4. D.
      shortly
7. 7.
   1. A.
      secret
   2. B.
      quiet
   3. C.
      lonely
   4. D.
      dark
8. 8.
   1. A.
      see
   2. B.
      get
   3. C.
      suggest
   4. D.
      understand
9. 9.
   1. A.
      defended
   2. B.
      directed
   3. C.
      deserted
   4. D.
      disturbed
10. 10.
    1. A.
       watched
    2. B.
       missed
    3. C.
       lost
    4. D.
       won
11. 11.
    1. A.
       disappointed
    2. B.
       worried
    3. C.
       honored
    4. D.
       delighted
12. 12.
    1. A.
       cheering
    2. B.
       taking
    3. C.
       leading
    4. D.
       passing
13. 13.
    1. A.
       just
    2. B.
       even
    3. C.
       still
    4. D.
       almost
14. 14.
    1. A.
       hopeful
    2. B.
       meaningful
    3. C.
       difficult
    4. D.
       strange
15. 15.
    1. A.
       work
    2. B.
       family
    3. C.
       matches
    4. D.
       performances
16. 16.
    1. A.
       successful
    2. B.
       thoughtful
    3. C.
       thankful
    4. D.
       peaceful
17. 17.
    1. A.
       Naturally
    2. B.
       Doubtfully
    3. C.
       Disagreeably
    4. D.
       Unexpectedly
18. 18.
    1. A.
       employed
    2. B.
       comforted
    3. C.
       valued
    4. D.
       encouraged
19. 19.
    1. A.
       education
    2. B.
       experience
    3. C.
       relationship
    4. D.
       future
20. 20.
    1. A.
       important
    2. B.
       interesting
    3. C.
       simple
    4. D.
       surprising

   I really love my job because I enjoy working with small children and like the challenges and awards from the job. I also think my work is important. There was a time when I thought I would never have that sort of career（职业）.

   I wasn’t an excellent student because I didn’t do much schoolwork. In my final term I started thinking what I might do and found I didn’t have much to offer. I just accepted that I wasn’t the type to have a career.

   I then found myself a job, looking after two little girls. It wasn’t too bad at first. But the problems began when I agreed to live in, so that I would be there if my boss had to go out for business in the evening. We agreed that if I had to work extra hours one week, she’d give me time off the next. But unfortunately, it didn’t often work out. I was getting very tired and fed up, because I had too many late nights and early mornings with the children.

   One Sunday, I was in the park with the children, and met Megan who used to go to school with me. I told her about my situation. She suggested that I should do a course and get a qualification（资格证书）if I wanted to work with children. I didn’t think I would be accepted because I didn’t take many exams in school. She persuaded me to phone the local college and they were really helpful. My experience counted for a lot and I got on a part-time course. I had to leave my job with the family, and got work helping out at a kindergarten.

   Now I’ve got a full-time job there. I shall always be thankful to Megan. I wish I had known earlier that you could have a career, even if you aren’t top of the class at school.

1.When staying with the two girls’ family，the author ________.

  A. was paid for extra work            B. often worked long hours

  C. got much help from her boss        D. took a day off every other week

2.Why did the author leave her first job？

A. She found a full-time job.                

B. She was fed up with children.

C. She decided to attend a part-time course. 

D. She needed a rest after working extra hours.

3.What has the author learned from her own experiences？

  A. Less successful students can still have a career.

  B. Qualifications are necessary for a career.

  C. Hard work makes an excellent student.

  D. One must choose the job she likes.