A

I grew up poor. We had little money, but plenty of love and attention. I understood that no matter how poor a person was, they could still afford a dream. My dream was athletics.

By the time I was sixteen, I was good at baseball and football. My high­school coach was Ollie Jarvis. He not only believed in me, but taught me the difference between havin g a dream and showing conviction (ÐÅÄî).

One summer a friend recommended me for a summer job. This meant a chance for money in my pocket — cash for dates with girls, certainly, money for a new bike and new clothes, and the start of savings for a house for my mother.

Then I realized I would have to give up summer baseball to handle the work schedule, and that meant I would have to tell Coach Jarvis I wouldn't be playing. I was dreading (º¦ÅÂ) this, but my mother said: “If you make your bed, you have to lie in it.”

When I told Coach Jarvis, he was as mad as I expected him to be. “Your playing days are limited. You can't afford to waste them,” he said.

I stood before him with my head hanging, trying to think of the words that would explain to him why I dreamed of buying my mom a house.

“How much are you going to make at this job, son?” he demanded.

“Three twenty­five an hour,” I replied.

“Well£¬” he asked, “is $3.25 an hour the price of a dream?”

That question laid bare for me the difference between wanting something right now and having a goal. I devoted myself to sports that summe r, and within the year I was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates to play rookie­league ball, and offered a $20,000 contract. I signed with the Denver Broncos in 1984 for $1.7 million, and bought my mother the house of my dream.

21£®The writer was grateful to Coach Jarvis, because Jarvis ________.

A£®made him set a goal                  B£®supplied him with new clothes

C£®gave him financial support           D£®helped him show conviction

22£®When the boy was offered a job, he wanted to ________.

A£®balance summer baseball and the work schedule

B£®refuse the job offer for summer baseball

C£®give up summer baseball for the job

D£®ask his coach Jarvis for advice

23£®Which of the following can replace “If you make your bed, you have to lie in it.”?

A£®You must eat the bitter fruit of your own making.

B£®Believe in yourself, but above all be patient.

C£®You must rely on yourself first, then others.

D£®A good beginning makes a good ending.

24£®The end of the story was that the writer ________.

A£®failed to buy his mother a house

B£®succeeded as a sportsman

C£®became a successful businessman

D£®made some money in the summer job