I break off a piece of candy and take pleasure in its sweet outside and the bitter, dark chocolate inside, thinking of my own life. Being raised by a single parent was a bitter-sweet 36 , which gave me motivation and ambition.
There were several years that have left a(n) 37 bitter taste in my mouth —those when my mother married a man and moved my sister, Emily, and me several states away from our hometown. The first few months were 38 : baseball games, family trips to the mall, dinners and movies together. Then things changed. Baseball became too expensive, and trips to the mall were 39 by days Emily and I spent isolated (孤立的) in our rooms under our stepfather’s 40 . Moreover, screaming matches between him and our mother always 41 dinner. We spent five years living in a family that had 42 a war zone. Emily and I almost grew used to this situation . Then one evening, after another argument had erupted , we left home. I was 14, my sister 11, and we were 43 .A friend of my mother let us stay with her.
Instead of focusing on our economic instability, my mother selflessly pushed me to struggle for success. She wanted me to lead a more 44 life than hers. She worked long hours every night to pay her bills. 45 , she would find time to read and play with Emily and me. Mom taught me the 46 of perseverance (坚持不懈) and education. We finally settled in Texas. And now, writing this essay with my favorite candy close at hand, I realize my family and I are at the best points of our lives. I haven’t let the trying times stop me from making 47 , both academically and personally. I know that a bitter environment can provide good learning experiences, and that success, even more than candy, is the sweetest treat of all.
36. A. behavior B. habit C. activity D. experience
37. A. hardly B. extremely C. potentially D. Gently
38. A. sweet B. bitter C. boring D. terrible
39. A. concerned B. associated C. accompanied D. replaced
40 A. sympathy B. reminder C. orders D. requests
41. A. separated B. interrupted C. harmed D. Adjusted
42. A. turned into B. turned up C. turned down D. turned on
43. A. homeless B. lucky C. educated D. wealthy
44. A. interesting B. comfortable C. simple D. typical
45. A. Instead B. Otherwise C. Meanwhile D. Therefore
46. A. value B. cost C. price D. theme
47. A. emotions B. expectations C. fortunes D. achievements