Today I am known for my voice. Perhaps the greatest honor came when I was asked to read a book on tape.

But it   1   a long time to believe such good things could happen to me. When I was a youngster I stuttered(口吃)   2   badly that I was completely   3   to speak in public.

  4  , when I was 14, Professor Donald Crouch came to our school. He was a retired college professor. English was his   5   subject; poetry was his deepest love. He held a book of poems   6   it were a diamond necklace, turning pages as if uncovering treasures. When he heard our school was teaching Shakespeare and other classics, he could no longer   7   not being a part of our school.

When he   8   that I not only loved poetry but was   9   it, we became closer. There was, however, one   10   between us－Professor Crouch could not stand the   11   that I refused to read my poems to the class.

“Jim, poetry is   12   to be read aloud,” he said. “You should be able to speak those beautiful words.” I shook my head and   13  .

Then he tricked me. After handing in a poem, I waited for his   14  . It didn’t come. Instead, one day as the students gathered together, he challenged me.” Jim, I don’t think you wrote this.”

I   15   him in disbelief. “Why,” I started, anger flooding me. “of course I   16  !” “Well, then,” he said, “you’ve got to prove it by getting up and reciting it   17   memory.”

By then the other students had settled at their desks. With knees shaking, I walked up. For a moment I stood   18  . Then I began, and kept going. I recited my poem all the way through!

Afterwards, Professor Crouch congratulated me and 19   me to read other writers’ poetry before public.

Before long I discovered I did have a(n)   20   and found my fellow students actually looked forward to hearing me recite.

1．A．lasted                    B．took                    C．spent                  D．wasted

2．A．so                        B．fairly                   C．such                   D．rather

3．A．uncertain               B．unlikely               C．unbelievable         D．unable

4．A．So                        B．Besides                C．Then                   D．Therefore

5．A．good                     B．important             C．selected               D．favourite

6．A．even if                  B．so that                 C．as though            D．if only

7．A．protect                  B．help                    C．keep                   D．stand

8．A．learned                  B．recognized           C．decided               D．proved

2,4,6

9．A．writing                  B．reading                C．reciting               D．saving

10．A．difference            B．difficulty             C．promise               D．similarity

11．A．truth                   B．idea                     C．fact                    D．belief

12．A．said                    B．meant                  C．taught                 D．prepared

13．A．answered back     B．turned up             C．turned away        D．stuck to

14．A．correction           B．praise                  C．return                 D．comment

15．A．replied to             B．laughed at            C．pointed to            D．stared at

16．A．could                  B．did                      C．should                 D．had

17．A．with                    B．of                       C．from                   D．in

18．A．changeless           B．hopeless              C．careless               D．breathless

19．A．enabled               B．persuaded            C．encouraged          D．supported

20．A．voice                 B．sound                  C．appearance         D．interest

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