ThemostimportantlessonIlearnedinhighschoolhadnothingtodowithmathsorAmericanhistory.ItcameatgraduationseveralminutesbeforeIleftMiramonteHighSchool.Iwasrathershybackthencontentto1aroundwithmyfewfrie

Question

The most important lesson I learned in high school had nothing to do with maths or American history. It came at graduation several minutes before I left Miramonte High School.

I was rather shy back then content to  1  around with my few friends and to focus on my  2  I was doing so well that by the end of senior year I had perfect scores and enough  3  to go to college.

But my good record soon became a  4  to my well-being（幸福）. In early June of senior year the headmaster called me into his office. He asked me to give a leave-taking speech at graduation. I looked at him my heart  5  fast. This was the  6  for my hard work? I said something but not very clearly and hurried away from the office.

I was  7  about the decision finally agreeing to compromise（妥协；让步）. I wasn't the only speaker—I would  8  the honor with five other students. Still it was doubtful whether the task was  9   me. How in the world would I give a speech to hundreds of people?

Graduation day soon arrived and as  10 I was nervous. I'd been practicing my speech for days and I had it 11 _. But I had never been so  12  in my life. The first half hour of the ceremony（典礼） passed and then my  13  came. My name was announced. I managed to reach the platform without falling down. But within minutes I was __14 heading back to my seat.

Now I still have the  15  of that speech. My voice trembled（颤抖） a little but  16  it was clear and strong. I'm proud of that tape. I achieved something I'd never  17 — I spoke in front of hundreds of people.  18  I didn't realize it at the time the successful completion of that speech gave me the  19  to participate in class at college to give oral reports and to eventually break free of my  20 .

I never would have chosen to give a speech at graduation. But I'm glad I did. I know it may well turn out to be one of my shining moments.

1. A. hang     B. look   C. walk   D. run

2. A. characters   B. interests   C. games      D. subjects

3. A. money   B. credits      C. time   D. standards

4. A. luck       B. benefit      C. fear   D. solution

5. A. burning B. breaking   C. aching      D. beating

6. A. punishment  B. reward      C. arrangement   D. sympathy

7. A. doubtful       B. optimistic  C. generous  D. hesitant

8. A. share    B. bring  C. spare D. give

9. A. about    B. for      C. upon  D. beyond

10. A. known B. hoped       C. expected  D. planned

11. A. thrown B. printed      C. memorized       D. completed

12. A. interested  B. terrified     C. excited      D. disappointed

13. A. moment      B. day    C. chance     D. decision

14. A. defeated    B. stopped    C. done  D. stuck

15. A. picture       B. tape   C. paper       D. word

16. A. partially      B. immediately     C. frankly      D. mostly

17. A. dreamed    B. made C. decided    D. requested

18. A. Because    B. When C. Although   D. Unless

19. A. respect      B. confidence       C. freedom    D. excuse

20. A. shyness     B. pride  C. stupidity    D. courage

Answer 1

1-5ADBCD 6-10 BDADC 11-15CBACB  16-20DACBA