Another person's enthusiasm was what set me moving toward the success I have achieved.That person was my stepmother.
I was nine years old when she entered our home in rural Virginia.My father__36__me to her with these words：“I would like you to meet the fellow who is__37__for being the worst boy in this county and will probably start throwing rocks at you no__38__than tomorrow morning.”
My stepmother walked over to me，__39__my head slightly upward，and looked me right in the eye.Then she looked at my father and replied，“You are__40__.This is not the worst boy at all，__41__the smartest one who hasn't yet found an outlet(释放的途径)for his enthusiasm.”
That statement began a(n)__42__between us.No one had ever called me smart.My family and neighbors had built me up in my__43__as a bad boy.My stepmother changed all that.
She changed many things.She__44__my father to go to a dental school，from which he graduated with honors.She moved our family into the county seat，where my father's career could be more__45__and my brothers and I could be better__46__.
When I turned fourteen，she bought me a secondhand__47__and told me that she believed that I could become a writer.I knew her enthusiasm，I __48__it，and I saw how it had already improved our lives.I accepted her__49__and began to write for local newspapers.I was doing the same kind of__50__that great day I went to interview Andrew Carnegie and received the task which became my life's work later.I wasn't the__51__beneficiary(受益者)．My father became the __52__man in town.My brothers and stepbrothers became a physician，a dentist，a lawyer，and a college president.
What power__53__has！When that power is released to support the certainty of one's purpose and is__54__strengthened by faith，it becomes an irresistible(不可抗拒的)force which poverty and temporary defeat can never__55__.
You can communicate that power to anyone who needs it.This is probably the greatest work you can do with your enthusiasm.
文章大意：继母的到来，竟改变了我们全家人的命运。我们都是继母热情的受益者。作者字里行间流露出对继母的爱和赞美。
36．A.rushed B．sent
C．carried D．introduced
答案：D introduce sb. to sb.把某人介绍给某人。
37．A.distinguished B．favored
C．mistaken D．rewarded
答案：A be distinguished for此处表示“因……出名；具有……特征”。
38．A.sooner B．later
C．longer D．earlier
答案：B 此处父亲说这个孩子可能不到明天早上就会朝继母扔石头。
39．A.dragged B．shook
C．raised D．bent
答案：C 此处指继母捧起我的头，raise为及物动词，“使升高”。其它选项意思不对。
40．A.perfect B．right
C．wrong D．impolite
答案：C 根据下文“This is not the worst boy at all”来看，继母认为父亲说得不对。
41．A.but B．so
C．and D．or
答案：A not...but...不是……而是……。
42．A.agreement B．friendship
C．gap D．relationship
答案：B 根据上下文，此处指“这段话开启了我们之间的友谊”。
43．A.opinion B．image
C．expectation D．mind
答案：D 在我心里，大家都把我当作a bad boy。
44．A.begged B．persuaded
C．ordered D．invited
答案：B persuade sb. to do sth.说服某人干某事。继母说服了父亲。
45．A.successful B．meaningful
C．helpful D．useful
答案：A 事业会更成功，故用successful。
46．A.treated B．entertained
C．educated D．respected
答案：C 我的兄弟们和我会接受到更好的教育。
47．A.camera B．radio
C．bicycle D．typewriter
答案：D 根据下文的writer提示，此处应为打字机。
48．A.considered B．suspected
C．ignored D．appreciated
答案：D 此处作者表示“我”了解了继母的热情，感激这份热情，看到了这份热情给“我们家”带来的巨变。
49．A.belief B．request
C．criticism D．description
答案：A 接受了这份信任。
50．A.teaching B．writing
C．studying D．reading
答案：B 作者从事的是写作。
51．A.next B．same
C．only D．real
答案：C “我”不是唯一的受益者，父亲也是。
52．A.cleverest B．wealthiest
C．strongest D．healthiest
答案：B 上文提到事业成功，此处与之呼应的是“富有的”一词。
53．A.enthusiasm B．sympathy
C．fortune D．confidence
答案：A 点出文章主题，就是enthusiasm的影响和作用。
54．A.deliberately B．happily
C．traditionally D．constantly
答案：D 此处表示“连续地，持续地，不断地”。
55．A.win B．match
C．reach D．doubt
答案：B 此处的match有“较量，抗衡”之意。这种力量是贫穷和暂时的失败所不能抗衡的。
