When I entered Berkeley, I hoped to acquire a scholarship. Having been a Straight-A student, I believed I could 1 tough subjects and really learn something. One such course was World Literature given by Professor Jayne. I was extremely interested in the ideas he 2 in class.
When I took the first exam, I was 3 to find a 77, C-plus, on my test paper, 4
English was my best subject. I went to Professor Jayne, who listened to my arguments but remained 5 .
I decided to try harder, although I didn’t know what that 6 because school had always been easy for me. I read the books more carefully, but got another 77 Again, I 7 with Professor Jayne. Again, he listened patiently but wouldn’t change his 8 .
One more test before the final exam. One more 8 to improve my grade. So I redoubled my efforts and, for the first time, 10 the meaning of the word “thorough”, But my 11 did no good and everything 12 as before.
The last hurdle（障碍）was the final. No matter what 13 I got, it wouldn’t cancel three C-pluses. I might as well kiss the 14 goodbye.
I stopped working hard. I felt I knew the course material as well as I ever would. The night before the final, I even 15 myself to a movie. The next day I decided for once I’d have 16 with a test.
A week later, I was surprised to find I got an A. I hurried into Professor Jayne’s office. He 17 to be expecting me. “If I gave you the as you 18 , you wouldn’t continue to work as hard.”
I stared at him. 19 that his analysis and strategy（策略）were correct. I had worked my head 20 , as I had never done before.
I was speechless when my course grade arrived: A-plus. It was the only A-plus given. The next year I received my scholarship. I’ve always remembered Professor Jayne’s lesson: you alone must set your own standard of excellence.
1. A. take B. discuss C. cover D. get
2. A. sought B. presented C. exchanged D. obtained
3. A. shocked B. worried C. scared D. anxious
4. A. but B. so C. for D. or
5. A. unchanged B. unpleasant C. unfriendly D. unmoved
6. A. reflected B. meant C. improved D. affected
7. A. quarreled B. reasoned C. bargained D. chatted
8. A. attitude B. mind C. plan D. view
9. A. choice B. step C. chance D. measure
10. A. memorized B. considered C. accepted D. learned
11. A. ambition B. confidence C. effort D. method
12. A. stayed B. went C. worked D. changed
13. A. grade B. answer C. lesson D. comment
14. A. scholarship B. course C. degree D. subject
15. A. helped B. favored C. treated D. relaxed
16. A. fun B. luck C. problems D. tricks
17. A. happened B. proved C. pretended D. seemed
18. A. valued B. imagined C. expected D. welcomed
19. A. remembering B. guessing C. supposing D. realizing
20. A. out B. over C. on D. off