Growing up on a tobacco farm, Emma Avery was used to hard times. When she was seven, her family’s farmhouse burned to the ground. Her father made a temporary (临时的) shelter, where eight people had to sleep in two beds. As soon as Emma and her four brothers and two sisters were big enough, they were out in the fields.

     Emma would find her comfort in school, even as a C student, thanks to one teacher. When she moved on to middle school, Emma was alarmingly far behind her classmates. She kept her head down, trying not to be noticed, struggling to catch up, and feeling like an outsider.

     Then one day, when Emma was 16, a teacher named Mr. Potts changed everything. Looking his students in the eye, Mr. Potts said, "Being a C student does not mean you do not have a valuable contribution to make. Some of you have to work in the fields in the evening and do not have time to study. But if you do your best, you have a gift to give."

     The teacher’s words made Emma believe she could do well, and she worked harder. In the end she won a scholarship to St. Paul’s College, graduated with a degree in elementary education in 1967, and got a job in the public-school system. Then, at George Washington University, she received a master’s in education in 1970, and afterwards in the same year she married Ron Smothers.

     Over the next six years, Emma taught in public schools in Miami. In 1976, after saving $10,000, she opened her first restaurant in Los Angeles. Eventually Emma stopped teaching, and her business expanded (扩展) to six restaurants.

     In gratitude (感激) for what she has been able to achieve, Emma donates a lot. She has no idea how much money she’s given away. She says, "Those I want to help are the C students who just need help, direction and confidence."

1.The first paragraph serves to show that Emma ______.

A．was poor and had no time to study          B．was born on a tobacco farm C．was sad to lose her house D．was kind enough to help support the family

2.From the text we learn that Emma ______.  

A．won a scholarship to George Washington University                 B．was unsuccessful as a businesswoman C．was thankful to Mr. Potts             D．disliked teaching, and gave up the job

3.From the second paragraph we can infer that Emma was ______.

A．unintelligent       B．unconfident        C．hard-working       D．Considerate

4.The text mainly wants to tell us ______.

A．confidence is the first step to success        B．memory of the past is the teacher of the future C．something attempted, something done       D．nothing is impossible to a willing heart

 

第二节完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）

My first job was at a local diner, where I worked for seven years and learned so many lessons, especially from a fellow waitress.

Helen was in her 60s and had extraordinary self-respect, something I was really lacking. I looked up to Helen 41  she was doing what she loved---  42  people--and nobody did it  43  . She always made everyone, customers and co-workers,   44   and feel good.

Being a waitress changed my life. One of my 45 customers was Fred Hasbrook. He always ate an omelet, and when I saw him 46 , I tried to have it on his table as soon as he sat down.

Thanks to the newfound confidence I 47 from Helen, I dreamed of having my own 48 .But when I called my parents to ask for a loan (贷款), they said, "We just don't have the  49 ."

The next day, Fred saw me and asked, "What's up? You're not smiling today”. I 50 my dream with him and said, "Fred, I know I can do more if somebody would just have 51  in me."

Before long he handed me checks totaling $ 50,000--along with a  52  that read, "The only collateral(抵押) on this loan is my trust in your  53  as a person. Good people with a dream should have the 54 to realize that dream."

I took the checks to Merrill Lynch, where the money was provided for me. I 55 working at the diner, making 56 for the restaurant I would open. My plans failed, 57 , and I lost the money.

Later I decided to apply for a job at Merrill Lynch. Even though I had no experience, I was  58 and ended up becoming a pretty good agent.  59 I paid back Fred the $ 50,000, plus 14 percent annual interest. Five years later, I was able to 60 my own firm.

41. A. because          B. though                C. while                  D. unless

42. A. helping          B. respecting             C. serving                  D. praising

43. A. faster           B. better                 C. harder                 D. later

44. A. drink            B. digest                C. smile                  D. sing

45. A. regular          B. favorite              C. tough                         D. fresh

46. A. eating           B. greeting              C. ordering                D coming

47. A. found out        B. picked up            C. got back                D. took away

48. A. restaurant        B. confidence            C. house                  D. work

49. A. choice           B. way                  C. idea                   D. money

50. A. exchanged               B. discussed               C. shared                 D. analyzed

51. A. patience           B. pride                     C. faith                        D. interest

52. A. letter            B. sign                  C. notice                  D. note

53. A. honesty          B. responsibility         C. devotion              D. motivation

54. A. ability            B. luck                       C. time                 D. chance

55. A. loved                   B. practiced             C. continued           D. enjoyed

56. A. adjustments      B. plans                C. decisions             D. suggestions

57. A. instead                  B. therefore             C. though               D. meanwhile

58. A. hired             B. rejected              C. encouraged           D. determined

59. A. Fortunately       B. Excitedly             C. Personally                  D. Eventually

60. A. design            B. open                C. restart                  D. expand