I played a racquetball game against my cousin Ed last week. It was one of the most ___1___ and tiring games I’ve ever had. When Ed first phoned and ___2___ we play, I laughed quietly, figuring on an ___3___ victory. After all, Ed’s idea of ___4___ has always been nothing more ___5___ than lifting a fork to his mouth. ___6___ I can remember, Ed’s been the least physically fit member in the family, and ___7___ proud of himself. His big stomach has always ballooned out between his T-shirt and trousers. Although the family often ___8___ about that, Ed refused to buy a ___9___ T-shirt or to lose weight. So when Ed ___10___ for our game not only with the bottom of his shirt gathered inside his trousers but also with a stomach you could hardly ___11___, I was so surprised that I was ___12___. My cousin must have made an effort to get himself into shape. ___13___, at the point in our game when I’d have predicted(预计) the score to be about 9 to 1 in my favor, it was ___14___ 7 to 9 — and Ed was ___15___. The sudden realization was painful. We ___16___ to play like two mad men. When the score was 16 up, I was having serious ___17___ about staying alive until 21 years old, let alone ___18___ that many points. When the game finally ended, both of us were lying flat on our backs, too tired to ___19___. In a way, I think we both won: I the game, but cousin Ed my ___20___.
1. A. encouraging   B. hopeless     C. surprising   D. regular
2. A. declared B. mentioned  C. persuaded   D. suggested
3. A. unforgettable B. unexpected C. easy    D. early
4. A. exercise  B. preparation C. joy     D. fitness
5. A. time-saving   B. comfortable       C. suitable      D. effort-making
6. A. As soon as     B. As long as  C. When  D. Since
7. A. strangely       B. personally  C. reasonably  D. eagerly
8. A. cared     B. forgot C. quarreled    D. joked
9. A. clean      B. larger  C. straight      D. darker
10. A. set out  B. got ready    C. arrived       D. returned
11. A. notice   B. admire       C. believe       D. measure
12. A. nervous       B. curious       C. careless      D. speechless
13. A. After all      B. As a result  C. Above all   D. At last
14. A. mistakenly   B. then    C. instead       D. naturally
15. A. leading B. coming      C. waiting      D. counting
16. A. pretended    B. stopped      C. continued   D. decided
17. A. thoughts      B. doubts C. situations    D. problems
18. A. scoring B. completing C. receiving    D. keeping
19. A. play     B. start    C. sleep   D. move
20. A. friendship    B. respect       C. support      D. favor