Take the First Step

本篇阅读材料的难度属中等，全文约400词，因此建议阅读时间（含做题）为15-17分钟。阅读要求：认真阅读短文，从短文后各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。

Before I went to senior high school, I never participated in any group discussion or stage program. Therefore, I never knew what stage fear was.

Then around four years ago, I1 a call from the principal of my senior high school. He asked me to come to the “Parents View” talk the next morning, which was a 2 activity in our school. He invited me to 3 the group.

After the call my whole body became feverish. I was 4 for the whole night, feeling nervous and upset. Many 5 thoughts were coming, one of which was to call the principal and give up. Finally, I gathered some courage. I thought, “If I 6 this opportunity, surely, the school will never invite me again to any of their activities.” So I decided to go and speak.

I reached the school 7 . Before my turn came, my whole body was 8 . When I started speaking, my heartbeat increased and my mouth went 9 . I was not aware of where I was standing. I was even unable to read the written speech 10 . That was the day when I realized my biggest weakness: public speaking.

After my speech, I 11 to the principal what happened to me. He told me it was very common. Even great speakers 12 the same things at the beginning. He suggested that I come again the next week.

I prepared a topic of talk for the next week. I practiced my 13 throughout the week. This time I was somewhat 14 but still not confident. Afterwards, I met with the principal again, who was kind enough to invite me again 15 this time to give a presentation for the teachers. This time I felt more comfortable. The presentation was appreciated by the principal 16 the teachers. After a few months, our school organized a principals’ conference wherein 120 17 participated. Our principal was kind enough to invite me as a guest speaker. My topic of the talk was relationships. With the grace of God, the speech 18 very well.

After delivering this presentation successfully, I became more confident. I started giving presentations on various 19 like self-motivation(自我激励), personality development, spoken English and presentation skills. I learned that everything is possible if we have the 20 to take the first step. The saying goes: A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

1. A. admitted B. achieved C. received D. replied

2. A. daily B. weekly C. monthly D. yearly

3. A. organize B. address C. deliver D. interview

4. A. excited B. sleepless C. pleasant D. joyful

5. A. active B. hopeless C. negative D. brave

6. A. seize B. emphasize C. remove D. miss

7. A. on time B. on times C. at time D. at times

8. A. aching B. moving C. exciting D. trembling

9. A. wet B. dry C. wide D. narrow

10. A. properly B. immediately C. eventually D. gradually

11. A. complained B. inquired C. required D. explained

12. A. accumulated B. confused C. realized D. faced

13. A. suggestion B. routine C. lines D. presentation

14. A. nervous B. excited C. comfortable D. pleased

15. A. therefore B. thus C. but D. though

16. A. as well as B. as long as C. as far as D. as soon as

17. A. teachers B. principals C. parents D. students

18. A. became B. went C. turned D. seemed

19. A. occasions B. levels C. topics D. curriculum

20. A. courage B. wish C. power D. desire

【文章大意】

本文作者援引亲身经历――作者通过一次次的尝试和训练从一个站在台上就紧张得发抖、对着讲演稿念都念不好的生手成长为一个演讲高手――告诉大家一个道理：只要你有勇气迈出第一步，成功离你就不会遥远。

【解析】

1. 考查动词搭配。receive a call 意为“接到电话”；admit承认；achieve取得（成就）；reply回应。

2. 考查情境。从第五段最后一句He suggested that I come again the next week.可知该活动可能是每周一次的。

3. 考查动词搭配及辨析。address sb.意为“对某些人做演讲”。deliver也有“发表演讲”之意，但其搭配是 deliver a speech to sb.。

5. 考查情境。根据下文中的give up可以推测作者那天晚上是很焦虑不安的，满脑子都是一些逃避的、消极的（negative）的想法。

6. 考查动词搭配。miss this opportunity错失机会；seize the opportunity抓住机会。根据上下文，可知作者是想：如果他错失这次机会，恐怕学校是不会再邀请他参加别的活动了。

9. 考查情境和常识。根据上文可知作者站在演讲台上很紧张，在根据常识，紧张会导致“口干舌燥”。

13. 考查名词辨析。presentation演讲；suggestion建议；routine日常活动；lines台词。

【词汇聚焦】

address

vt. 1. 在（信、包裹上）写收件人姓名地址

例如：I’m afraid I have addressed the parcel wrongly. 我恐怕将包裹上收件人的地址写错了。

2. 称呼

例如：Kate Middleton should now be addressed as “Duchess of Cambridge”. 凯特・米德尔顿现在应该被称为“剑桥公爵夫人”。

3. 致力于，处理

例如：He ignored the side issues and addressed himself to handling the main problems. 他没注意枝节问题，而是致力于解决主要问题。

4. 演说

例如：Professor Jonas will address the audience on the subject of energy resources. 乔纳斯教授将对听众做一个有关能源的演讲。（注意address后面直接接演讲的对象，不要加介词）

n. 地址；演讲，发言

deliver

vt. 1. 生产，接生

例如：She delivered a baby boy this morning. 今天早晨她生了个小男孩。

2. 递送，交付

例如：Tom bought a new bicycle with the money he earned by delivering newspapers in summer vacation. 汤姆用暑假期间送报纸赚的钱买了一辆新自行车。

The goods will be delivered immediately we receive your payment. 货物会在我们收到你的付款后立即交付。

3. 发表（一篇演说等）

例如：Professor Smith will deliver a lecture in New York University next week. 史密斯教授下星期将在纽约大学发表演讲。