阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

    Harold had worked in an electrical company for over 40 years. He was ready to  36  soon. His wife Martha,  37  , was less enthusiastic. As she explained to a friend, “Harold has never done anything that  38  physical effort. He never played golf, mowed the lawn (修整草坪) or even washed the windows.  39  he retires, he will sit in his easy chair and  40  me to bring him his food.”

   But to Martha’s  41 , soon after he retired Harold joined a health club. And one night, when he arrived home from exercise class, he announced, “I  42  for the wrestling tournament (联赛). I am going to  43  on Friday night.”

   Martha was shocked. “Please don’t do it. Harold,” she begged. “ You’re not in  44 . You will be so beaten up that they will have to  45  you home!” However, he couldn’t be  46  and she told him that if he went through with his “lame idea”, she was not going to  47 .

   She stayed away that Friday evening as Harold wrestled. Then about 10:00 p.m., just as she predicted, two men  48  carried Harold home. He lay down on the couch, aches and pains. Before she could speak, he  49 , “Don’t say a word, Martha! This is not the worst of it. I  50  tonight. I have to wrestle again tomorrow night!”

   Harold worked hard for his  51 , but he may not have been ready to succeed! He proved, however, that when you combine  52  with the belief that you can do a certain thing, very great results will often follow.

   In fact, I believe Harold may have even  53  himself. As Dr. Norman Vincent Peale said, “People become really quite  54  when they start thinking that they can do things. When they believe in themselves they have the first  55  of success.”

36.    A. travel                B. rest                           C. work                      D. retire

37.    A. moreover           B. besides                      C. however                 D. still

38.    A. required             B. deserved                   C. wasted                    D. reduced

39.    A. Since                 B. Until                         C. When                     D. Before

40.    A. demand              B. expect                       C. need                       D. allow

41.    A. joy                    B. surprise                     C. sorrow                   D. regret

42.    A. pick out             B. took on                     C. signed up               D. put off

43.    A. wrestle              B. box                           C. swim                      D. shoot

44.    A. large                  B. shape                        C. line                         D. sight

45.    A. drive                  B. force                        C. pick                        D. carry

46.    A. allowed              B. bothered                    C. persuaded               D. advised

47.    A. watch                B. help                          C. cheer                      D. treat

48.    A. angrily               B. kindly                       C. heavily                    D. readily

49.    A. ordered              B. shouted                     C. screamed                D. said

50.    A. paid                   B. failed                        C. won                       D. tried

51.    A. fame                  B. wealth                       C. position                   D. success

52.    A. sweat                B. tear                           C. energy                    D. patience

53.    A. conducted          B. surprised                   C. scared                    D. enjoyed

54.    A. selfless              B. generous                   C. unusual                   D. smart

55.    A. enjoyment          B. way                          C. secret                     D. story