The annual marathon in my town usually occurred during a heat wave. My job was to 1 behind the runners in an ambulance 2 any of them ended medical attention. The driver and I were in an air - conditioned ambulance behind approximately one hundred athletes 3 to hear the sharp crack of the starting gun.
“We’re supposed to stay behind the 4 runner, so take it slowly, ”I said to the driver, Doug, as we began to creep forward.
“ Let’s 5 hope all the runners are fast ! ”he laughed.
As they began to pace themselves, the front runners started to 6 . It was then that my 7 were drawn to the woman in blue silk running shorts and a baggy white T - shirt.
“Doug, look !”
We knew we were already watching our “last runner”. Her feet were turned in, yet her left knee was turned out. Her legs were so crippled and 8 that it seemed impossible for her to be able to walk, let alone run a marathon.
Doug and I watched in 9 as she slowly moved forward. We didn’t say a thing. We would move forward a little bit, then stop and wait for her to 10 some distance. Then we’d slowly move forward a little bit more.
Finally, she was the 11 runner left in sight. Tears streamed down my face as I sat on the edge of my seat and watched with awe, amazement and even reverence（敬意）as she 12 forward with sheer determination through the last miles.
When the 13 line came into sight, trash（垃圾）lay everywhere and the 14 crowds had long gone home. 15 , standing straight and ever so proud waited a man. He was 16 one end of a ribbon of crepe paper tied to a post. 17 slowly crossed through, leaving both ends of the paper fluttering behind her.
I do not 18 this woman’s name, but that day she became a part of my life - a part I often depend on. For her, it wasn’t about 19 the other runners or winning a trophy（奖品）, it was about finishing what she had set out to do, no matter 20 . When I think things are too difficult or too time - consuming, I get those “I - just - can’t - do - it”, I think of the last runner. Then I realize how easy the task before me really is.
1.A. interview B. watch C. follow D. fall
2.A. when B. even if C. because D. in case
3.A. searching B. sitting C. wishing D. waiting
4.A. slow B. last C. wounded D. helpless
5.A. just B. ever C. still D. however
6.A. run B. miss C. disappear D. lose
7.A. attention B. mind C. sights D. eyes
8.A. bent B. hurt C. soft D. painful
9.A. happiness B. silence C. disappointment D. trope
10.A. keep B. make C. gain D. shorten
11.A. single B. only C. last D. careful
12.A. pushed B. fought C. pulled D. jumped
13.A. close B. end C. match D. finish
14.A. seeing B. cheering C. standing D. interesting
15.A. Yet B. But C. Thus D. Therefore
16.A. catching B. handing C. holding D. bringing
17.A. He B. I C. they D. She
18.A. remember B. know C. understand D. forget
19.A. winning B. competing C. beating D. fighting
20.A. what B. where C. when D. why