My wood-shop teacher, Mr. August J. Bachmann, was the most influential teacher I ever had.
I had gotten into21 in his class: Another student had pushed me into a wood lathe (车床), and I became 22 and began to hit him. Mr. Bachmann stopped the 23 , but instead of sending me to the office, he sat me down and asked a simple question: “Penna, why are you24 your life? Why aren’t you going to college?”
I didn’t know anything about 25. No one had ever considered that a fatherless boy from the poorest neighborhood had a 26 . That day, instead of rushing off for 27 , he stayed and explained possible 28 options to me. At the end of our29, he sent me to see a secretary who had a child at a state college. This was in 1962.
Well, 53 years have passed, and what have I done with the 30 he gave me? I gained a PhD from Fordham University when I was only 29. I31 English and social studies and then 32 the chain of command from teacher to principal.
I’ve sat on the board for Magnet Schools of America and 33 that organization at the United Nations. I’ve won a number of prestigious (声望很高的) educational awards.
34 where would I be if a truly35 teacher had not taken the time out of his lunch period to speak to me? It was 56 only his confidence in me that pushed me forward.
I have 37 his kindness hundreds of times by encouraging misguided youngsters to ___38 higher. If I have___39___ any children, it is because of him. If I have been a 40 educator, it is because I had a great role model in Mr. Bachmann.
21. A. debt B. water C. prison D. trouble
22. A. afraid B. angry C. brave D. curious
23. A. play B. game C. fight D. quarrel
24. A. wasting B. ending C. changing D. living
25. A. schools B. colleges C. friendship D. teamwork
26. A. role B. try C. job D. future
27. A. work B. rest C. lunch D. emergency
28. A. education B. interest C. exercise D. career
29. A. talk B. class C. trip D. silence
30. A. money B. knowledge C. luck D. experience
31. A. chose B. quitted C. taught D. learned
32. A. set up B. moved up C. gave up D. took up
33. A. founded B. supported C. helped D. represented
34. A. So B.Or C.But D. And
35. A. caring B. honest C. clever D. humorous
36. A. after all B. without question C. in reality D. beyond expectation
37. A. repaid B. shown C. recognized D. received
38. A. jump B. climb C. aim D. feel
39. A. praised B. surprised C. understood D. saved
40. A. successful B. confident C. strict D. special