When I was 13 my only purpose was to become the star on our football team. That meant 41 Miller King, who was the best 42 at our school.
Football season started in September and all summer long I worked out. I carried my football everywhere for 43 .
Just before September, Miller was struck by a car and lost his right arm. I went to see him after he came back from 44 . He looked very 45 , but he didn’t cry.
That season, I 46 all of Miller’s records while he 47 the home games from the bench. We went 10-1 and I was named most valuable player, 48 I often had crazy dreams in which I was to blame for Miller’s 49 .
One afternoon, I was crossing the field to go home and saw Miller 50 going over a fence—which wasn’t 51 to climb if you had both arms. I’m sure I was the last person in the world he wanted to accept 52 from. But even that challenge he accepted. I 53 him move slowly over the fence. When we were finally 54 on the other side, he said to me, “You know, I didn’t tell you this during the season, but you did 55 .Thank you for filling in for 56 .”
His words freed me from my bad 57 . I thought to myself, how even without an arm he was more of a leader. Damaged but not defeated, he was 58 ahead of me. I was right to have 59 him. From that day on，I grew 60 and a little more real.
41. A. cheering for B. beating out C. relying on D. staying with
42. A. coach B. student C. teacher D. player
43. A. practice B. show C. comfort D. pleasure
44. A. school B. vacation C. hospital D. training
45. A. pale B. calm C. relaxed D. ashamed
46. A. held B. broke C. set D. tried
47. A. reported B. judged C. organized D. watched
48. A. and B. then C. but D. thus
49. A. decision B. mistake C. accident D. sacrifice
50. A. stuck B. hurt C. tired D. lost
51. A. steady B. hard C. fun D. fit
52. A. praise B. advice C. assistance D. apology
53. A. let B. helped C. had D. noticed
54. A. dropped B. ready C. trapped D. safe
55. A. fine B. wrong C. quickly D. normally
56. A. us B. yourself C. me D. them
57. A. memories B. ideas C. attitudes D. dreams
58. A. still B. also C. yet D. just
59. A. challenged B. cured C. invited D. admired
60. A. healthier B. bigger C. cleverer D. cooler