1 . Being seventeen without money can be depressing. When the opportunity arrives to earn some needed cash, it would be foolish to pass it up. It is for this reason that when the opportunity to referee elementary basketball came my way, I jumped at the chance. I thought it would be a fun way to earn some “easy money”.

During the years I played on the court and watched the games, I often found myself criticizing the referees. I was completely convinced that I could do a much better job because of my love for basketball and my familiarity of the game. How difficult could it be, especially with a bunch of third graders?

I looked forward to my first night as a referee, but all of my fantasies wore off from the beginning of the game. These sweet and innocent third grade boys immediately transformed into horrible creatures right before me. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine the extent of competitiveness in the game. A battle was in progress on the court while the inhumane bystanders cheered and yelled from the stands. My only companion, the whistle, suffered from a severe case of stage fear, filling my head with doubt every time I wished to blow it. My lack of action fueled the heartless crowd. Even on the rare occasions when my whistle gained enough courage to pause the fighting, the pitiless bystanders still couldn't calm. The sense of failure flooded every inch of my soul. With only five minutes remaining, Michael, another referee, came in time, saving me from losing my mind. In a flash, I passed my whistle and quickly ran to the safety of the stands.

I realized just how difficult refereeing was. I could have let this heartbreaking evening ruin my future on the court, but instead it stimulated a sense of determination in me to do it better. I still hope to become a great referee someday. In order for this to become a reality, it will take many hours of practice and hard work. No matter how much I wish the cash would be handed to me without requiring any effort, I learned from this experience that there is no such thing as “easy money”.

1. What made the author accept the offer to serve as a basketball referee?

A．His desire for money.	B．His passion for basketball.
C．His poor family background.	D．His academic qualifications.

2. What did the author initially think of the third grade boys before refereeing the game?

A．Lovely.

B．Mature.

C．Impolite.

D．Competitive.

3. What happened to the author during the game?

A．He was too nervous to blow the whistle.

B．He was at a loss how to announce the results.

C．He couldn't avoid the bystanders' physical attack.

D．He couldn't handle the tough situation on the court.

4. What can we learn from the author's experience?

A．Lazy hands make for poverty.	B．Money does not grow on trees.
C．Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.	D．Nothing is impossible to a willing heart.