Roger Miller had a difficult childhood. Most of his days were spent working on his uncle’s farm, __26__ cotton. He was a lonely and unhappy child. Roger began writing songs __27__ he loved the music he heard on the radio. He also learned to play the guitar and the violin. Much __28__, he learned to play the drums. Music helped the young Roger __29__ the hard work on his uncle’s cotton farm.
Roger left the farm when he was still very young. He __30__from town to town in the west. He worked at any job he could find __31__ the day. At night, he went to music __32__ and drinking places where country and western bands __33__. These places provided him with a music __34__. Roger Miller __35__ the United States Army at the age of seventeen. He was __36__ to an army base near Atlanta, Georgia.
In Atlanta, he played with a music __37__ called The Circle “A” Wranglers. When he left the Army, Roger moved to the __38__ of country music in Nashville, Tennessee.
At first, he worked in a hotel. __39__ say he would sing there for __40__ who would listen. He soon got several jobs playing his violin. And he began __41__ songs for other singers.
Roger liked writing songs. He also wanted to__42__ his own songs on the stage. He recorded several records, but they were not __43__ and did not sell many copies.
In 1960, Roger recorded a __44__ called You Don’t Want My Love. Today, the song is better__45__ as In the Summer Time. It is the first song he wrote and sang that became popular.
26. A. getting B. picking C. raising D. watering
27. A. because B. though C. when D. as if
28. A. early B. earlier C. late D. later
29. A. escape B. focus C. enjoy D. strike
30. A. looked for B. ran C. travelled D. worked
31. A. over B. from C. during D. within
32. A. concerts B. classrooms C. halls D. clubs
33. A. formed B. trained C. played D. focused
34. A. condition B. education C. situation D. position
35. A. entered B. joined in C. took part in D. served
36. A. forced B. organized C. sent D. set
37. A. copy B. group C. unit D. recorder
38. A. family B. founder C. group D. home
39. A. Stories B. Newspapers C. News D. Magazines
40. A. one B. anyone C. someone D. guest
41. A. playing B. singing C. performing D. writing
42. A. perform B. show C. write D. act
43. A. exciting B. familiar C. valuable D. popular
44. A. record B. music C. song D. play
45. A. known B. regarded C. thought D. considered