I grew up poor — living with six brothers, three sisters and my mother. We had little money, but plenty of love and 36 . I was happy and energetic. I understood that no matter how poor a person was, he could still 37 a dream.
My dream was 38 . By the time I was sixteen, I could throw a ninety-mile-per-hour baseball and 39 anything that moved on the field. I was also 40 : my high school coach was John, who not only 41 me, but also taught me how to believe in myself. He 42 me the difference between having a dream and showing conviction (信念). One particular incident with coach John changed my life forever.
A friend 43 me for a summer job. This meant a chance for money in my pocket — money for a new bike, new clothes and the 44 of savings for a house for my mother. Then I realized I would have to 45 up summer baseball to handle the work schedule, and that meant I would have to tell John I wouldn’t be playing.
When I told John, he was as 46 as I expected him to be. “You have your whole life to work,” he said, “Your 47 days are limited. You can’t afford to waste them.” I stood before him with my head 48 , trying to think of the words that would 49 to him why my dream of buying my mom a house and having money in my pocket was worth facing his 50 in me.
“Well,” he asked, “is $3.5 an hour the 51 of a dream?”
That simple question made 52 to me the difference between 53 something right now and having a goal. I devoted myself in sports that summer and 54 the year I was chosen by the Pittsburgh Pirates to play baseball, and 55 a $ 20,000 contract(合同). Later, I bought my mother the house of my dream!
A.attention B.time C.patience D.fashion
A.bring B.continue C.make D.afford
A.athletics B.music C.business D.money
A.kick B.play C.hit D.pass
A.right B.popular C.lucky D.confident
A.believed in B.relied on C.called on D.dealt with
A.gave B.taught C.brought D.asked
A.called B.advised C.applied D.recommended
A.aim B.idea C.start D.purpose
A.keep B.end C.give D.pick
A.happy B.mad C.frightened D.excited
A.living B.working C.playing D.dreaming
A.moving B.hanging C.shaking D.nodding
A.express B.announce C.apologise D.explain
A.belief B.pride C.fear D.disappointment
A.length B.price C.power D.spirit
A.clear B.direct C.straight D.attractive
A.wanting B.changing C.dreaming D.enjoying
A.by B.for C.beyond D.within
A.paid B.found C.offered D.presented