1. A. prepared　　　 B. promised　　　 C. managed　　　 D. performed

20. A. badly　　　　 B. wisely　　　 C. early　 　 D. confidently 　　　　

第三篇 "How did you do it, Dad? How have you 　1　 to not take a drink for almost 20 years?" It took me almost 20 years to have the___ 2___to even ask my father this very personal question. When Dad first 　3　 　drinking, the whole family was on pins and needles every time he 4　 a situation that, in the past, would have 　5　 　him drinking again. For a few years we were afraid to bring it up 　6　 　the drinking would begin again.

"I had this little poem that I 　7　 recite to myself at least four to five times a day," was Dad's reply to my 18-year-old 　8 　question. "The words were an instant relief and constant 9　 　to me that things were never so 　10　 　that I could not handle them," Dad said. And then he11　 　the poem with me. The poem's simple, yet profound words immediately became part of my daily 12 　as well.

About a month after this talk with my father, I 　13 　a gift in the mail from a friend of mine. It was a book of daily affirmations (誓词)with one affirmation 　14 　for each day of the year.

It has been my experience that when you get 　15　 　with days of the year on it, you automatically turn to the 　16 　that lists your own birthday.

I 　17 　opened the book to November 10 to 　18　 　what words of wisdom this book had in store for me. I did a double-take and tears of 　19　 　and appreciation rolled down my face. There, on my birthday, was the 　20 　same poem that had helped my father for all these years! It is called the Serenity (安详)Prayer:

God, grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the Courage to change the things I can; and the Wisdom to know the difference.

19. A. learn　　　　　　　 B. take　　 　　　C. see　 　　 　　　D. make　　　　　　

18. A. attitude　　　 B. experience　　 C. skill　 　　　　　　　　 D. advantage　　　　　　

17. A. never　 　　　　　 B. again　　 　　C. once　　　　　　　　　 　 D. nearly 　　　　　

16. A. step forward　 B. go back　　　 C. come out　　　　　　 D. look around

15. A. realize　　 B. explain　　　　 C. think 　　　　　　　　 D. admit　　　　　　

14. A. worse　　　　 B. more　　　 C. rather　 　　　　　　　　　　　 D. less　 　　　　　　　　　 　

13. A. So　 　　　　　 B. Yet　　　　 C. As　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. Such 　　　　　　　　　

12. A. disappointment B. shame　　 C. pleasure　 　　　　　　 D. success