When I was 17, I read a quote: “If you live each day as if it were your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right.” It made a(n) 36 on me，and since then，for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: “If today were the 37 day of my life，would I want to do what I am about to do today?” And whenever the answer has been “No” for too many days in a row, I know I need to 38 something．
Remembering that I’ll be 39 soon is the most important tool to help me make the big choices in life, 40 almost everything—all expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure—just falls away in the face of death, 41 only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to 42 . You are already naked．There is no reason not to follow your heart.
No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to 43 don’t want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever 44 it, because Death is very likely to be the single best invention of Life. It clears out the old to 45 for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will 46 become the old and be cleared away.
Your time is 47 , so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice．Everything else is secondary.
36． A．surprise B．impression C．choice D．call
37． A．last B．first C．worst D．best
38． A．change B．supply C．provide D．achieve
39． A．dead B．fired C．murdered D．failed
40． A．despite B．because C．though D．if
41． A．including B．possessing C．leaving D．facing
42． A．value B．reach C．gain D．lose
43． A．sky B．space C．universe D．heaven
44． A．experienced B．encountered C．escaped D．observed
45． A．make good B．make up C．make way D．make clear
46． A．dramatically B．gradually C．regularly D．likely
47． A．important B．narrow C．perfect D．limited