阅读下面短文，从短文后所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出能填入相应空白处的最佳选项。

    A teenager lived with his father. He loved playing football and was a member of the school football team. He was always on the bench (替补席), but his 1 came to watch every match and encouraged him. The son 2 missed a practice, but he was far from a good player and was a bench warmer almost all through high school.

    One day, the young man got a 3and he became silent after reading it. Then he said to the coach, “My father died this morning. Is it all right if I miss the 4 today?” The coach gently said, “Go back home, young man. And you don't need to come back to the game on Saturday.” There would be an important match on Saturday.

    Saturday arrived, and the game was not going well. In the second half, when the team was two points behind, the young man 5 ran to the coach. The coach and his players were 6 to see him back. “Coach, please let me play. I must play today.” the young man insisted (坚持), and finally the coach 7. Before long, no one could believe their eyes. This little unknown was doing so well that 8could stop him. He ran, he passed, and he kicked like a star. His team won.

    When the game was over, the coach said to the young man, “Kid, I can't believe it. You were fantastic! Tell me how you did it.” With tears in his eyes, the young man said, “Well, you know my dad died, but do you know my dad was 9? Dad came to all my games, but today was the 10 time he could see me play. I could feel his eyes on me, and I wanted to show him I can do it! ”

    Last Saturday, Tony went to see Benny. But he didn't know1Benny lived. On the way, he2in front of a yellow house, and asked an old woman the3to Benny's house. “His house is not far from my house,” said the woman. “It's behind the trees. But you can't get there 4.You can go there by bus. It'll5you hours to get there6foot.” “What's wrong with her?” Tony 7.“I can see Benny's house from here now. It's behind the8.” Then Tony walked to the other side of the trees. He found the old woman was9. There was a river in front of him, and he couldn't see a boat. The house was on the other side of the10.

    "Tumbling(翻跟头) time!" I called out. My group of children stood up before the blue mats (垫子). Megan walked 1 into the back of the line (队伍). She didn't talk with anyone. The other children had learned tumbling moves months ago, 2  Megan was still working on them.

    One day before class, Megan's father told me, "I'm thinking about taking Megan out of class." " 3 ?" I asked. He said, "She isn't doing as well as the other children. I don't want her to hold them back (妨碍进展)."

    "I don't think you're right," I said. "Megan 4 this class, maybe more than the other children. I didn't start out as a winner. I started to practice tumbling at age 8, just like Megan. When I look at Megan, I see 5 . she works hard. Sir, your daughter may 6 win a competition, but I think there's something more 7 than becoming a winner. That is her self-respect (自尊). I think if she keeps 8 she can do the tumbling moves well."

    As I said these words, Megan looked at me. 9 eyes were full of tears. Her father also said in tears, "Thank you so much." He turned to Megan and said, "Honey, it's time for your 10 . I'm sure you can do pretty well."

    Later, Megan did really well in tumbling. More importantly, she never stood at the back again.

    John worked in an office in a small town. One day his boss1him, "John, I want you to go to London, and to2Mr. Black. Here's the address. His office is near the station. "

    John went to London3train. He left the station and thought, "The office isn't 4the station. I'll find it5. "

    But after an hour he was still looking for it, so he stopped and asked an old woman. She said, "Just go along this street, and turn left6the end, and it's the  7building on the right. " John went and found it.

    8days later, John went to the same city,9again he couldn't find the office, so he asked someone the way. It was10old woman! She was very surprised and said, "Are you still looking for that place?"

    "What you want," she said," isn't always what you need." My mother always told me.

    1my husband and I were talking 2Christmas. "I want a real tree," I said.

    "Why?" he asked. "What's wrong with our fake(假的)one?" "A real 3makes a perfect Christmas." "Fine," he muttered(咕). So we4one home and set it up. Then I poured a bottle of water in the tree.

    "That's plenty," said my husband. "No," I said, "a little more." I began pouring again. Then suddenly, the tree started to swim. We5 the water with every towel(毛巾)in the house. "Sorry," I said. He didn't reply. 6later the floor was dry and he was7to me again. "The tree smells good," he said. I 8. Then we finished the lights and put the angel on top.

    Still, it wasn't quite…9So the next day I added snowflakes10the tree. It's still not perfect, but it's done. And I'm done, 11. But it's still not perfect. The lights on the tree are in a mess. The top snowflakes are showing their age. The berries are falling on the floor. 12at least it smells good. I will always remember that lovely 13 and the look my husband gave me.

    My mother was 14. What we want isn't always15we need. I don't need a perfect Christmas. I only need the perfect gifts that Christmas brings: joy and laughter with family.

    Linda was staring at herself in the mirror. She'd decided she didn't like " the mole (痣) to the left of her nose." It's so 1 . She felt sad. Her mom, folding laundry (叠衣服) in the hallway, overheard her and poked her head into the room. "What's so ugly?" "This ugly mark on my face." Linda 2 and pointed at it.

    Mom came in, setting the laundry aside. She lowered her head and looked close at the mole. 3 she gave her daughter a kiss on the cheek and said," I like it, because it gives your face character." Linda pushed her mother away half-heartedly. "You would think that. Besides, character is a nice way to say ugly." Linda smiled though and she liked her mother's 4 to cheer her up.

    "I have a couple of my own. You tend to get more as you get older." Mom sighed and looked into the 5"You still have beautiful eyes. Though. Mine are boring brown, like most everyone else in the world," Linda said. She'd always loved her mother's green eyes.

    "You have warm, chocolate brown eyes. They are like hot cocoa, and they are pretty," Mom smiled." Linda turned back to the mirror, touching her face." What about my nose?" she said.

    "It 6 your face. Why are you running yourself down? You have a unique (独特), beautiful set of features. Stop feeling painful about little details and enjoy your youth and 7 already."

    "I just wish I was pettier. Some of my friends are so beautiful, and I feel ordinary next to them."

    "We can't all be super models, dear. Even so, you are uniquely you- there is no one else in the world that looks like you. You have a nice mixture of dad and me in you, and I don't like hearing you knocking your looks. You are amazing," said Mom.

    "Alright, mom. I won't complain anymore," said Linda.

Mom left the room, "I'm done trying to8 you up! Now it's your turn to finish the laundry." Mom called over her shoulder.