I started to love running at a young age. I loved to race my father and my sister around the backyard. I wished I could run in the Olympics and win lots of medals.

One day my mother 　41 an advertisement for a race in a newspaper. “Would you be 　42 in taking part in this race ? ” she asked me, pointing to the advertisement.

　 “Yes, of course.” I answered.

　　 I ____43___ the next few days practicing for my big race. My sister set up a table in the backyard so she could offer me water and 　44　 me.

　　 On the day of the race, just before the race , my father said to me , “ Don’t 　 45　 up all your energy(能量)at the beginning of the race. You need to have energy ___46____ you can run much faster at the end. ”

　 The race ____47___ . Following Dad’ s words, I didn’t run as fast as I could. Then the other runners started 　 48　 me, which made me feel nervous. I began to feel tired, and I started slowing down and breathing __49__ .

　 Just at that moment I heard, “ __50___, Kelly! You can do it ! Don’t give up . keep running!” Out of the comer of my eye I saw Dad running beside me around the outside or the track .

　 I took a deep breath and tried my best to 　51　 on running. I didn’t win the race. I came fifth, but I 　 52　 like a winner. I tried my best, and I hadn’t given up.

　 Later, as I thought about the race, I felt thankful that my dad had _53__ left my side. He always encourages(鼓励) me when I __54___ giving up. He runs along side me through my life. I’ll remember my dad’s words forever, “Never give up. You can be a winner even if you 　55 .”

(　 )41.A. met　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. Found　　　　　　　　　　 C. got　　　　　　　　　 　　　 D. saw

(　 )42.A. surprised B. excited C. interested D. worried

(　 )43.A. spend B. cost C. paid D. took

(　 )44.A. see　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. watch　　　　　 　 C. date　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. time

(　 )45.A. keep　　　　 B. get　　　　　　 　 C. use　　 　　　　 D.put

(　 )46.A. because　　　 　　　 B. so　　　　　　 　 C. since　　 　　　 D. but

(　 )47.A. began　　　　 　　　 B. finished　　　　 　 C. reached　　　 D. stopped

(　 )48.A. pushing　 　　　 B. pulling　　　　 　 C. passing 　　　　　　　　　 D. kicking

(　 )49.A. easier　　 　　　　　　 B. harder　 　　　　　　　　　　　 C. shorter　　 　　　　 D. longer

(　 )50.A. Come down　 B. Come on　　　 　 C. Come out　 　　　　　 D. Come back

(　 )51.A. go　　　　 　　　　　　 B. get　　　　　　 　 C. turn　　 　　　 D. put

(　 )52. A. looked 　　　 　 B. felt 　　　　　　 　 C. ran 　　　　　　　　　　　 D. sounded

(　 )53. A. already　　　　　 B. yet　　　　　　　　 　　 C. once　　　　　　　　 D. never

(　 )54.A. think over　　　 B. keep on　　　　 C. feel like　 　　　 D. decide on

(　 )55.A. fail　　 　　　　　　　　　 B. lose　　 　　　　　　　　 C. drop　　 　　　　　　 D. win

When people want to know about the weather, they usually go to their radios, TVs, newspapers, or to the Internet. However, you can also find many weather signs among wildlife, because of their highly developed senses. Drops in air pressure produce an effect on small animals in many ways. Mice and deer are good weather indicators. People who spend a lot of time outdoors have observed that, before a storm, field mice come out of their holes and run around. Deer leave high ground and come down from the mountains.
Birds are especially good weather indicators because they also show the effect of a pressure drop in many ways. For example, some birds become irritable(暴躁) and quarrelsome and will fight over a piece of bread. Other birds chirp and sing just before a storm. It seems they know they won’t get another chance for an hour or two. Birds also look for safe places before a storm. You will sometimes see birds settling in trees or gathering together on a wire close to a building. Pre-storm low pressure make the air so thin that birds have difficulty flying.
It is unusual to see many birds flying overhead in the summertime, rather than during the periods in the spring or autumn. Watch for other weather signs if you see this. If they fly in the wrong direction, they may be flying ahead of a storm.
By paying closer attention to some important signs in nature, we can become better prepared for any kind of weather.
【小题1】The word “indicators” in paragraph 1 probably means          .

When people want to know about the weather, they usually go to their radios, TVs, newspapers, or to the Internet. However, you can also find many weather signs among wildlife, because of their highly developed senses. Drops in air pressure produce an effect on small animals in many ways. Mice and deer are good weather indicators. People who spend a lot of time outdoors have observed that, before a storm, field mice come out of their holes and run around. Deer leave high ground and come down from the mountains.

Birds are especially good weather indicators because they also show the effect of a pressure drop in many ways. For example, some birds become irritable(暴躁) and quarrelsome and will fight over a piece of bread. Other birds chirp and sing just before a storm. It seems they know they won’t get another chance for an hour or two. Birds also look for safe places before a storm. You will sometimes see birds settling in trees or gathering together on a wire close to a building. Pre-storm low pressure make the air so thin that birds have difficulty flying.

It is unusual to see many birds flying overhead in the summertime, rather than during the periods in the spring or autumn. Watch for other weather signs if you see this. If they fly in the wrong direction, they may be flying ahead of a storm.

By paying closer attention to some important signs in nature, we can become better prepared for any kind of weather.

【小题 1】The word “indicators” in paragraph 1 probably means          .

A. maps                 B. services             C. signs        D. stations

【小题 2】How can birds sense the coming of a storm?

A. By feeling a drop in air temperature.

B. By noticing the change of wind directions.

C. By feeling a drop in air pressure.

D. By noticing the movements of other animals.

【小题3 】The best title for the text would be         .

  A. Signs of a Storm                           B. Drops in Air Pressure

  C. Animals’ Sharp Senses                     D. Nature’s Weather Signs