When I was fifteen, I announced to my English class that I was going to write my own books. Half the students laughed at me, and the rest 36 fell out of their chairs laughing. “Don’t be silly. Only geniuses can become 37 ,” the English teacher said , “and you are getting a D this semester.” I was so ashamed that I burst into 38 _.
That night I wrote a short 39 poem about broken dreams and mailed it to the Capri’s Weekly newspaper. To my astonishment, they 40 it and sent me two dollars. I was a published and 41 writer. I told my teacher and 42 students. They 43 me again. But I had tasted 44 . I’d sold the first thing I’d ever written.
During the next two years, I sold 45 poems, letters, and jokes. By the time I graduated from high school, I had a 46 filled with my published work. I never 47 my writing to my teachers or my friends again. They were dream 48 and if people must choose between their friends and their dreams, they must always choose their dreams.
Several years later, I found myself married 49 four children, the oldest being only four. While the children slept, I typed on my ancient typewriter. I wrote 50 I felt. I chose a publisher and mailed my writing. The letter I enclosed read, “I wrote this book myself, and I hope you like it. Chapter six and twelve are my 51 . Thank you.”
A month later, I received a(n) 52 to start working on another book. Crying Wind, the _53 of my book, was translated into fifteen languages and sold worldwide. My first book also became 54 reading in native American schools in Canada. People ask what college I attended, what degrees I have and what qualifications I have to be a writer. The answer is: “None.” I just _55 .
| 36. | A. hardly | B. nearly | C. suddenly | D. probably | ||
| 37. | A. writers | B. educators | C. actors | D. inventors | ||
| 38. | A. quarrel | B. laughter | C. shout | D. tears | ||
| 39. | A. sad | B. nice | C. happy | D. terrible | ||
| 40. | A. refused | B. passed | C. published | D. read | ||
| 41. | A. student | B. successful | C. paid | D. great | ||
| 42. | A. friendly | B. cool | C. dear | D. fellow | ||
| 43. | A. laughed at | B. congratulated to | C. started at | D. joked about | ||
| 44. | A. failure | B. success | C. bitterness | D. unkindness | ||
| 45. | A. several | B. little | C. few | D. dozens of | ||
| 46. | A. topic | B. copy | C. book | D. poem | ||
| 47. | A. mentioned | B. showed | C. told | D. presented | ||
| 48. | A. makers | B. killers | C. supporters | D. admirers | ||
| 49. | A. to | B. around | C. on | D. with | ||
| 50. | A. whenever | B. what | C. how | D. if | ||
| 51. | A. life | B. experiences | C. favorites | D. stories | ||
| 52. | A. order | B. invitation | C. project | D. request | ||
| 53. | A. topic | B. title | C. subject | D. introduction | ||
| 54. | A. required | B. fast | C. critical | D. careful | ||
| 55. | A. practice | B. read | C. write | D. mail | ||