I grew up poor — living with six brothers, three sisters and my mother. We had little money, but plenty of love and36. I was happy and energetic. I understood that no matter how poor a person was, he could still37a dream.
My dream was38. By the time I was six, I could throw a ninety-mile-per-hour baseball and39anything that moved on the field. I was also40: my high school coach was John, who not only41me, but also taught me how to believe in myself. He42me the difference between having a dream and showing conviction (信念). One particular incident with coach John changed my life forever.
A friend43me for a summer job. This meant a chance for money in my pocket — money for a new bike, new clothes and the44of savings for a house for my mother. Then I realized I would have to45up summer baseball to handle the work schedule, and that meant I would have to tell John I wouldn’t be playing.
When I told John, he was as46as I expected him to be. “You have your whole life to work,” he said, “Your47days are limited. You can’t afford to waste them.” I stood before him with my head48, trying to think of the words that would49to him why my dream of buying my mom a house and having money in my pocket was worth facing his50in me.
“Well,” he asked, “is $3.5 an hour the51of a dream?”
That question made52to me the difference between53something right now and having a goal. I devoted myself in sports that summer and54the year I was chosen by the Pittsburgh Pirates to play baseball, and55a $ 20,000 contract（合同）. Later, I bought my mother the house of my dream!
小题1:A．attentionB．time C．patienceD．fashion小题2:A．bring B．continueC．make D．afford小题3:A．athletics B．music C．business D．money小题4:A．kick B．play C．hitD．pass小题5:A．right B．popular C．lucky D．confident小题6:A．believed in B．relied on C．called on D．dealt with小题7:A．gave B．taught C．brought D．asked小题8:A．called B．advised C．applied D．recommended小题9:A．aim B．idea C．start D．purpose小题10:A．keep B．end C．give D．pick小题11:A．happy B．madC．frightened D．excited小题12:A．living B．working C．playing D．dreaming小题13:A．moving B．hanging C．shaking D．nodding小题14:A．express B．announce C．apologiseD．explain小题15:A．belief B．pride C．fear D．disappointment小题16:A．lengthB．priceC．powerD．spirit小题17:A．clear B．direct C．straight D．attractive小题18:A．wanting B．changing C．dreaming D．enjoying小题19:A．by B．for C．beyond D．within小题20:A．paid B．found C．offered D．presented