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B
It was no wonder I was not looking forward to entering ninth grade. High school is well-known for being a battleground, where everyone seems to be 46 through physical changes, emotional mood swings, and low self-respect. For me 47 was my punishment.
I had always felt insecure and out of 48 as one of the 49 members of my class, standing a head above the other girls and bending at the back of the line to avoid sticking 50 .
I especially hate being around large groups of people, like during the social hour after services at my church. 51 the prayers were finished, I would leave as quickly as possible so I could avoid other well-meaning congratulations, “Ruthie! Look how tall you’re getting!”
My grandfather would watch me 52 increasingly uncomfortable, but he did not 53 at my self-consciousness or try to comfort me. 54 , he would remind me. “Stand straight and tall,” he would say, as I unsuccessfully tried to shrink(使缩小) myself. Moreover, each time, I would embarrassedly( 尴尬地) obey. Even at age 15, I understood that his advice was about 55 than just feet and inches.
My grandfather grew up in war-torn Europe. When German soldiers occupied his hometown, he wound up joining the Soviet army to fight 56 his country’s freedom. “Stand straight, stand tall,” meant something else back then.
57 the war, he boarded a boat for America, and on January 27, 1947, he stepped onto the dock in Manhattan. He was hungry and 58 from seasickness. All alone in a new country, he was 59 about his future, Still, he marched head-on into the streets of New York. Soon he met other European immigrants(移民), each of them trying to find his or her own way. If they could do it, why couldn’t he? “Stand straight, stand tall,” he would remind himself. He felt his faith 60 . When he walked into the church that first time, he walked in proudly.
46. A. going B. getting C. looking D. putting
47. A. age B. sex C. height D. face
48. A. place B. order C. control D. date
49. A. younger B. shorter C. fatter D. taller
50. A. to B. out C. with D. off
51. A. Until B. Unless C. Once D. Before
52. A. change B. grow C. sense D. make
53. A. look B. stare C. stay D. laugh
54. A. Instead B. Besides C. However D. Therefore
55. A. other B. more C. less D. rather
56. A. against B. for C. with D. to
57. A. Before B. During C. Without D. After
58. A. coming B. learning C. suffering D. differing
59. A. frightened B. excited C. serious D. sorrowful
60. A. increasing B. returning C. gaining D. disappearing |