When Susan was a high school senior, her English teacher Mr. DiMeo gave the class a challenging task: Recite a poem in front of the whole class.“I had a mild stutter (结巴). I’d be 61 to get a word out that might begin with ‘D’ or ‘TH’, or I might say ‘the’ three times,” Susan said. The thought of getting up in front of her classmates and stuttering through the poem was too much to 62.Susan went home and 63 how scared she was to her mom, who agreed to write a note asking for her to be 64 from doing the task in front of the whole class.When the day of the recitation came, Susan recited the poem one-on-one to Mr. DiMeo. 65 she was done, Mr. DiMeo said something she’d never heard before: that he liked listening to her voice. For the first time, she considered the possibility that public speaking didn’t have to be a source of 66.Susan went on to graduate from high school and go to college. She never got to properly thank Mr. DiMeo. But sometime after college, she 67 a job as a corporate trainer. The new position made her realize how big a(n) 68 he had had on her confidence.“I stand up in front of people and speak, and I do it all the time. If I do stutter once in a while, no big deal,” she said. Susan recently found a way to 69 her former teacher, and plans on sending him a letter expressing her appreciation.In her mind, Mr. DiMeo is an unsung hero, because he’s a big reason why she has a successful career and life.“I don’t know where I would’ve gone if I felt like I had to keep my voice 70 because I was afraid of embarrassing myself. I’d like to thank him for that kindness.”61. A. continuing B. struggling C. pretending D. hoping62. A. share B. express C. find D. bear63. A. taught B. proved C. revealed D. promised64. A. excused B. prohibited C. corrected D. discouraged65. A. While B. Although C. Unless D. Once66. A. jealousy B. worry C. boredom D. loneliness67. A. wanted B. offered C. landed D. created68. A. impact B. idea C. choice D. stress69. A. judge B. contact C. study D. interview70. A. sweet B. loud C. quiet D. deep
二、文中高频单词&短语(中英对照)
1.high school senior 高中毕业生;高三学生2.challenging task 有挑战性的任务3.recite a poem 背诵诗歌4.mild stutter 轻微口吃5.struggle to do sth. 费力做某事;艰难地做某事6.get a word out 把话说出口;挤出话7.too much to bear 难以承受;不堪忍受8.reveal sth. to sb. 向某人吐露/倾诉某事9.be excused from 获准免除;免于(做某事)10.one-on-one 一对一地11.public speaking 公开演讲;当众发言12.a source of worry 烦恼的根源;焦虑的来源13.graduate from 从……毕业14.land a job 找到一份工作;谋得职位15.corporate trainer 企业培训师16.have an impact on 对……产生影响17.once in a while 偶尔;时不时18.no big deal 没什么大不了;小事一桩19.express appreciation 表达感激20.unsung hero 无名英雄;幕后英雄21.embarrass oneself 使自己难堪;当众出丑22.keep one’s voice quiet 保持沉默;不发声
三、熟词生义(高考高频)
1.bear(本义:熊;熟义:承受、忍受)too much to bear → 难以忍受(动词,承受痛苦、压力)2.excuse(熟义:n. 借口;生义:v. 免除、豁免)be excused from the task → 获准免于完成这项任务3.land(熟义:陆地;登陆;生义:v. 成功获得(工作、职位))land a job → 找到工作、谋得一份职业4.impact(熟义:撞击;生义:n. 影响)have a big impact on one’s confidence → 对某人的自信心产生巨大影响5.position(熟义:位置;生义:n. 职位、岗位)the new position → 新的工作岗位6.source(熟义:源头;水源;生义:n. (情绪、问题的)根源、来源)a source of worry → 焦虑的根源
原文:I had a mild stutter. I’d be ____ to get a word out that might begin with ‘D’ or ‘TH’…- struggle to do sth:费力、艰难地做某事(因为口吃,费劲说出单词)
- continue 继续;pretend 假装;hope 希望 均不符合语境。
✅选 B. struggling
62题
原文:The thought of getting up… and stuttering through the poem was too much to ____.- too much to bear:难以忍受、不堪承受(想到当众口吃背诗,压力太大无法承受)- share分享;express表达;find找到 不对。✅选 D. bear
63题
原文:Susan went home and ____ how scared she was to her mom…- reveal sth to sb:向某人吐露、倾诉心事(回家跟妈妈说出自己的恐惧)- teach教;prove证明;promise承诺 不符。✅选 C. revealed
64题
原文:mom agreed to write a note asking for her to be ____ from doing the task…- excuse sb from sth:免除某人做某事(妈妈写信申请让她免掉当众背诵的任务)- prohibit禁止;correct纠正;discourage劝阻 语义过重。✅选 A. excused
65题
原文:____ she was done, Mr. DiMeo said something…- once:一……就……(她一背完,老师就对她说了一番话)- while当……时(延续性动作);although虽然;unless除非 逻辑不对。✅选 D. Once
66题
原文:public speaking didn’t have to be a source of ____.- a source of worry:焦虑、担忧的来源(第一次意识到当众演讲不一定带来焦虑)- jealousy嫉妒;boredom无聊;loneliness孤独 不符合。✅选 B. worry
67题
原文:after college, she ____ a job as a corporate trainer.- land a job:固定搭配,成功找到、谋得一份工作。- want想要;offer(主语一般是公司);create创造 不对。✅选 C. landed
68题
原文:how big a(n) ____ he had had on her confidence.- have an impact on sb:对某人产生巨大影响(固定短语)- idea想法;choice选择;stress压力 搭配错误。✅选 A. impact
69题
原文:Susan recently found a way to ____ her former teacher…plans on sending him a letter- contact:联系(找到方式联系老师,准备写信)- judge评判;study学习;interview采访 不符。✅选 B. contact
70题
原文:keep my voice ____ because I was afraid of embarrassing myself.- keep one’s voice quiet:沉默、闭口不言(因为怕尴尬,一直不敢发声)- sweet甜的;loud大声的;deep低沉的 语义不通。✅选 C. quiet