I grew up in a small town in Alabama. I had to eat last at school ___16___ I was a welfare kid. I began to work at 8. But I didn’t ___17___. I felt safer working than being at home.
At 12, I came across Macy of Charm School. She said, “My, you are ___18___ for your age. Come to my school and I will train you.” ___19___ Mama didn’t approve. When Miss Macy told her I could come to her school ___20___, Mama let me go. Miss Macy would teach me how to ___21___ like a lady. She encouraged me to enter every beauty competition that came to Alabama.
One day, I got an opportunity to go to a modeling ___22___ in New York City! The trip was ___23___, but I had a year, so I started working three jobs. With the help of the town — money, a miniskirt, boots, a new ___24___ — we got to New York.
But when the competition started, I thought I didn’t ___25___ there, with my strange hair and boots. And I didn’t see one girl walk the way Miss Macy had taught me. I pretended to be ___26___, but I was really scared. Finally I didn’t ___27___ anything.
To my surprise, the next day Miss Macy told the governor of Alabama on the phone I had been signed with the world’s most famous model agency and that we were putting Alabama on the ___28___.
“Miss Macy, that isn’t ___29___.” I said. But Miss Macy just ___30___ my disagreement, because she had a better ___31___ of how poor my life was in Alabama.
Afterwards we found Wilhelmina, the top model agent, in her office. Miss Macy just told her I was becoming a model with her agency. I didn’t know whether Wilhelmina would burst out laughing or, ___32___ Miss Macy. Unexpectedly, Wilhelmina simply asked, “So tell me, what’s so ___33___ about you?”
I didn’t know the right thing to say, but one word popped into my head. “___34___, madam.” “Well, I’d like to see what you can do with that determination,” she said and handed me a ___35___, “But first, we have to do something about your hair.”
16. A. though B. unless C. because D. once
17. A. compromise B. mind C. struggle D. adapt
18. A. tall B. mature C. smart D. thin
19. A. Therefore B. Unfortunately C. Instead D. Thankfully
20. A. alone B. fairly C. anyway D. free
21. A. speak B. sit C. walk D. eat
22. A. organization B. training C. competition D. ceremony
23. A. meaningful B. expensive C. stressful D. impressive
24. A. suitcase B. necklace C. overcoat D. hairstyle
25. A. belong B. shine C. relate D. qualify
26. A. patient B. confident C. interested D. serious
27. A. deserve B. remember C. learn D. win
28. A. rise B. wall C. run D. map
29. A. clear B. modest C. true D. accurate
30. A. accepted B. ignored C. interrupted D. justified
31. A. understanding B. sense C. record D. command
32. A. encourage B. question C. applaud D. comfort
33. A. enthusiastic B. tough C. crazy D. special
34. A. Determination B. Ambition C. Motivation D. Affection
35. A. contract B. gift C. certificate D. tissue
【答案】16. C 17. B 18. A 19. B 20. D 21. C 22. C 23. B 24. D 25. A 26. B 27. D 28. D 29. C 30. B 31. A 32. C 33. D 34. A 35. A
