I grew up poor – living with six brothers, my father and a wonderful mother．We had 16 money and few worldly goods, but plenty of love and attention．I was 17 and energetic．I understood that no matter how poor a person was, they could 18 afford a dream．
My dream was to be a 19 ．When I was sixteen, I could crush a baseball, throw a ninety – mile – per – hour fastball．I was also 20 : my high – school coach was Ollie Jarvis, who 21 me the difference between having a dream and showing strong belief．One particular 22 with him changed my life forever．
It was a summer and a friend recommended me for a summer 23 ．This meant a chance for my first income – cash for a new bike and new clothes, and the 24 of savings for a house for my mother．The opportunity was attracting, and I wanted to 25 at it．
Then I realized I would have to 26 summer baseball to handle the work schedule, and that meant I would have to tell Coach Jarvis I wouldn’t be playing．I was 27 about this．
When I told Coach Jarvis, he was as 28 as I expected him to be．“You have your whole life to work,” he said．“Your 29 days are limited．You can’t afford to waste them．”
I stood before him with my head 30 , trying to think of how to explain to him why my dream of buying my mom a house and having money in my pocket was worth 31 his disappointment in me．
“How much are you going to make at this job?” he demanded．
“$ 3．25 an hour,” I replied．
“Well, is $ 3．25 an hour the price of a 32 ?” he asked．
That 33 laid bare for me the difference between wanting something right now and having a goal．I devoted myself to 34 that summer, and within the year I was offered a $ 20,000 contract．I signed with the Denver Broncos in 1984 for $ 1．7 million, and bought my mother the 35 of my dreams．
16．A．some B．little C．no D．much
17．A．happy B．lovely C．angry D．noisy
18．A．only B．ever C．still D．almost
19．A．teacher B．coach C．doctor D．sportsman
20．A．lucky B．satisfied C．hopeful D．surprised
21．A．taught B．asked C．told D．trained
22．A．match B．story C．moment D．incident
23．A．job B．camp C．holiday D．course
24．A．cause B．start C．need D．amount
25．A．stand B．call C．look D．jump
26．A．take out B．cut off C．put on D．give up
27．A．excited B．curious C．anxious D．disappointed
28．A．mad B．puzzled C．regretful D．discouraged
29．A．working B．playing C．learning D．shining
30．A．shaking B．hanging C．holding D．nodding
31．A．feeling B．suffering C．facing D．expressing
32．A．dream B．game C．chance D．life
33．A．offer B．price C．question D．order
34．A．study B．sports C．homework D．business
35．A．clothes B．bike C．house D．goods