It all started a year before when my daughter Suzanne and I were shopping in Sydney. In the window of a sports shop I noticed a photo of a group of young people climbing the rock along a canyon. “That’s what I’m going to do next year,” I said. Suzanne laughed. “Sure, Mum! Don’t forget you’re 65 years old.”

I didn’t feel I was that age! I joined a club and trained weekly. Each day I felt my physical energy increase and, along with it, my confidence. Then Suzanne pointed out, “It’s good, but how can you clear away the fear of height?” “I’ve got it worked out.” I replied bravely. “We’re going to the indoor climbing center.”

While I was going up the high wall, I was afraid to look down as if a terrible animal was after me. Some time later, as I reached the ground, I sat down heavily on the floor. Later that night, as I lay in bed, I encouraged myself, “You’d climbed the wall! You’ll certainly make it!”

We set off with our packages to the Grand Canyon. When we reached it, I found the canyon was a huge black hole—far deeper than I had imagined. As the guide clipped(夹住) me onto the rope, my heart beat double-time and I wondered why I had got myself into this. Time lost all meaning as I pushed my body forward. Only the strong rope kept me from losing hope. I began to think it would never end when everyone had stopped. “This is as far as we go, and we can climb out after a few steps, “the guide said finally. Two and a half hours later, we returned to the car park at last. I began to shake, one hard step after another.

Getting onto the bus, I fell into the seat I had left so confidently a lifetime before. Then, while I was in the seat catching my breath, a feeling of happiness spread through me. I had done it, at 66 years of age.

46. When did the writer decided to climb the rock through a canyon?

A. After she joined a club and trained weekly.

B. When she went to the indoor climbing center.

C. After she went to the Grand Canyon.

D. When she noticed a photo of a group of young people climbing the rock along a canyon.

47. According to the second paragraph, what’s her daughter’s attitude towards her decision?

   A. supportive    B. doubted    C. confident    D. against

48. What did the writer find when she reached the Grand Canyon?

   A. She found it was very easy to climb it.

   B. She found that a terrible animal was after her and she was afraid..

   C. She found the canyon was far deeper than she had imagined.

   D. She found she began to shake, one hard step after another.

49. The underlined part suggested that the writer was feeling__________.

   A. angry    B. nervous    C. happy    D. excited

50. It can be learned from the passage that_________________________.

   A. Where there is a will, there is a way.

   B. One can’t believe its daughter.

   C. Old people shouldn’t have a dream.

   D. Climbing is the only way to keep health.