请阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从36~55各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将选项的标号涂黑。
After winning a big game，athletes are often asked how they feel．Usually athletes say how  36  it is to win this big game．On the contrary，the fact is that losing a big game，or in my case，all the games，can be even harder．
From the spectators’ point of view，last year’s basketball  37  for my high school team was nothing  38  of an embarrassment．And  39  0 and 20 is certainly nothing to be proud of，that season had a bigger impact on me than any other．As a team captain，I knew it probably wouldn’t be the  40  year，but did I ever think we would lose every game？Of course not．Since six of our top players had graduated，it was clear that we were a (n)  41  team who would struggle．The struggle began earlier than expected，  42 ，as our team center was suspended (禁赛) for the season，and two key members decided to  43  for some reason．At this point，dropping out probably passed through every player’s mind，but in the end，we all stuck it out，  44  to work still harder．
Then there came a time when even our    45     had given up on us．Personally，I felt like it was  46  worthwhile giving my all．I thought，if even the coach doesn’t believe in us，why should I？But just as my hope began to  47 ，a teammate called a meeting．He said，“Nobody thinks we are going to win，but，as teammates and friends，we  48  it to each other to go all out every game．”
It was that moment that  49  me how to be a leader．It hit me that I certainly didn’t  50  the role．As a leader you can never quit  51  the team who looks up to you．It is one  52  to be named captain，feel great and go through the motions，but it is quite another to be a real captain and make sure everyone realizes their full  53  all the time．
I am sure it is great to go through without losing and bringing home awards．But in all honesty，I  54  the fact that my team lost every game last year．It may not help me to become a better basketball player，but it already has made me a better leader，and  55 ．
36．A．exciting                         B．pleasant                       C．tough                   D．significant
37．A．game                      B．event                      C．league                 D．season
38．A．short                       B．full                                  C．lacking                 D．sufficient
39．A．as                                   B．while                       C．since                    D．now that
40．A．most interesting        B．dullest                           C．most difficult     D．easiest
41．A．unique                           B．adventurous                C．young                   D．untrained
42．A．meanwhile                   B．though                          C．instead                D．somehow
43．A．quit                                B．stay                               C．resign                  D．rest
44．A．hoping                           B．swearing                      C．claiming              D．wishing
45．A．fans                               B．classmates                  C．sponsor               D．coach
46．A．only too                        B．more than             C．not a little     D．no longer
47．A．fade                               B．gain                               C．destroy                D．grow
48．A．owe                               B．think                        C．demand               D．recommend
49．A．reminded                     B．told                                C．taught                 D．guided
50．A．act                                 B．deserve                        C．play                      D．take
51．A．with                               B．alongside                     C．on                         D．for
52．A．matter                          B．aspect                           C．issue                    D．thing
53．A．potential                      B．goal                               C．enthusiasm        D．confidence
54．A．hate                               B．treasure                       C．admit                   D．recognize
55．A．character                     B．captain                         C．person                 D．figure