4 . When I entered Berkeley, I hoped to earn a scholarship. Having been a straight A student, I believed I could ________ tough subjects and really learn something. One such course was World Literature given by Professor Jayne. I was extremely interested in the ideas he ________ in class.

When I took the first exam, I was ________ to find a 77, C-plus, on my test paper, ________ English was my best subject. I went to Professor Jayne, who listened to my arguments but remained unmoved.

I decided to try harder, although I didn’t know what that ________ because school had always been easy for me. I read the books more carefully, but got another 77. Again, I ________ with Professor Jayne. Again, he listened patiently but wouldn’t change his mind.

One more test before the final exam, one more ________ to improve my grade. So I redoubled my efforts and, for the first time, ________ the meaning of the word “thorough”. But my ________ did no good and everything went as before.

The last hurdle (障碍) was the final. No matter what ________ I got, it wouldn’t cancel three C-pluses. I might as well kiss the ________ goodbye.

I stopped working hard. I felt I knew the course material as well as I ever would. The night before the final, I even ________ myself to a movie. The next day I decided for once I’d have fun with a test.

A week later, I was surprised to find I got an A. I hurried into Professor Jayne’s office. He seemed to be expecting me. “If I gave you the As you ________, you wouldn’t continue to work as hard.”

I stared at him, ________ that his analysis and strategy (策略) were correct. I had worked my head ________, as I had never done before.

I was speechless when my course grade arrived: A-plus. It was the only A-plus given. The next year I received my scholarship. I’ve always remembered Professor Jayne’s lesson: you alone must set your own standard of excellence.

7 . The world is full of opportunities. Ignoring them or seizing one depends on one’s attitude. Mike seized the chance and did what he wanted to do.

Mike used to be a janitor (看门人) at an elementary school. He collected and cleared away the ________ for the school too. This school has a ________ place in Mike’s heart. He went to this school as a young boy and was a teacher there for 19 years. However, before his career in teaching, he ________ in the same school as a janitor. He has always been good at ________ with students.

Seeing this the teachers ________ him to pursue a teaching career. After years of hard work and fierce ________, Mike finished his degree in 2003 and ________ a teaching job at the elementary school. Since then he has become a constant ________ in the school.

Mike found teaching a very rewarding job. For him it was important that the students grow up not just remembering the ________ but also how a teacher made them feel. Mike was excited to teach the children at the school and was ________ to teach the fifth grade. He was shocked when the directors offered him the ________ of principal a week before the school year started.

“I am ________ grateful. I don’t do anything special. I just ________ and try my best.” said Mike. He was also very excited to take on the challenges of being the new ________ of the school, assume new responsibilities and help ________ the school.

8 . My former teacher, Varga, was an amazing teacher. The first day I had her social studies class, I knew we would have a great________. Her style of teaching was so________ that almost every student in the class loved studying social studies.

My happiest________ was from our class about the American Civil War. Each student________ a person from the American Civil War to________ and then explained his or her findings in class. I chose Abraham Lincoln while other classmates chose other________ people of the time like Jefferson Davis. The students would walk around ________ the other students’ characters and their________ in the tragic ( 不幸的) time period. Mrs. Varga could always find useful ways to make her students well ________ while at the same time they had ________. Besides that, she always ________ us to explore new things.

To be honest, Mrs. Varga has a great ________ on me. I remember I behaved badly before. ________, I met Mrs. Varga who made me become the best student that I could be. I really appreciate her coming to our school. The last day of school was a ________ one for us, because she would no longer teach us. Both of us cried in each other’s arms.

Mrs. Varga is one of the best teachers that I have ever had. She pours everything she has into her ________. Thanks to Mrs. Varga, I had a great time at Conrad Schools of Science.

9 . Jenna, a popular girl from Westwood Middle School, had graduated first in her class and was ready for new _______ in high school.

_________, high school was different. In the first week, Jenna went to tryouts for cheerleaders. She was competing against very smart girls, and she knew it would be _________ for her to be selected. Two hours later, the judge read a list of the girls for a second tryout. Her heart _________ as the list ended without her name. Feeling unhappy, she walked home carrying her schoolbag full of homework.

Arriving home, she started with math. She had always been a good math student, but now she was struggling. She moved on to English and history, and was _________ to find that she didn’t have any trouble with those subjects. Feeling better, she decided not to _________ the math for the time being.

The next day Jenna went to see Mrs. Biden about being on the school _________. Mrs. Biden wasn’t as warm-hearted as Jenna. “I’m sorry, but we have enough _________ for the newspaper already. Come back next year and we’ll talk then.” Jenna smiled _________ and left. “Why is high school so __________?” She sighed.

Later in __________ class, Jenna spent more time figuring out the problems that had given her so much __________. By the end of the class, she understood how to get them right. As she gathered her books, Jenna decided she’d continue to try to fit in at her new school. She wasn’t sure if she’d succeed, but she knew she had to __________. High school was just as her mother had said, “You will feel like a small fish in a big pond __________ a big fish in a small pond. The challenge is to become the __________ fish you can be.”

10 . Jenna, a popular girl from Westwood Middle School, had graduated first in her class and was ready for new _______ in high school.

_______ , high school was different. In the first week, Jenna went to tryouts (选拔赛) for cheerleaders (啦啦队). She was competing (竞争) against very talented (天赋的) girls, and she knew it would be _______ for her to be selected (选拔). Two hours later, the _______ read a list of the girls for a second tryout. Her heart was _______ as the list ended without her name. Feeling _______ , she walked home carrying her schoolbag full of homework.

Arriving home, she started with math. She had always been a good _______ student, but now she was awful (糟糕的). She changed to English and history, and was relieved (带有安慰的) to find that she didn’t have any _______ with the two _______ . Feeling better, she decided not to ________ math for the time being.

Later in math class, Jenna devoted herself to figuring out (弄清楚，弄明白) the problems that had given her so much trouble. By the end of class, she ________ how to get them right. As she gathered her ________ and pens, Jenna decided she’d continue to try to fit in (适应) at her new school. She wasn’t sure ________ she’d succeed, but she knew she had to ________ . High school was just as her mom had said, “You will feel like a small fish in a big pond a big fish in a small pond. The challenge makes you become the ________ fish you can be.”