阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从1--20题中所给的四个选项A、B、C、D中选出能填入相应空白处的最佳选项。

    On a cold winter day, I waited in line to see my hero, Jack Canfield, the author of The Success Principles. During his talk, Jack1 his wallet, pulled out a hundred-dollar bill, and said, “Who wants this?”2 shot up in the audience. People leaned forward to see whom Jack would3. But I jumped up, ran to the4, and caught the bill. As I turned and5 the audience, thoughts raced through my mind—was I about to be humiliated (羞辱) in front of 800 people? Would they6 security guards and take me away from the stage? 7 my desire for the money was louder than any8 voice. When I got the bill from his hand, he said, “That's it! We can't wait for the 9to come to us. We must take action to10 what we want!”

    After his talk, 1 managed to formally meet Jack and bravely asked for his11 email address. Over the next months, I sent him emails 12 my dreams to him. He kindly emailed back lots of encouragement. But I was13with other things. I stopped e-mailing Jack.

    A year later, my dreams were broken. I thought Jack would14 me to take action, like a huge arrow that would show me the way.

    I emailed him, and then again—but got no15. As I sat down at my computer to check my emails, I 16 woke up. What was I doing? I was waiting! Now I remembered the crowd17 the money, but they just sat on their chairs18.

    Usually we all have a “Jack” for whom we wait—whether it's a person, a place or a thing. We19 believe the gifts of life are just around the corner, and that everything will come in a(n) 20way. So we don't try. We give up. But as Jack said: “You'll always miss 100% of the opportunities you don't take!” So I stopped waiting and started my writing career. Now what are you waiting for?

    A Welcome Gift

    Dario and his mother loved their new apartment. The living room was large enough for their piano. That night, the two of them 1 side by side at the piano. They played jazz music to celebrate their new home. The loud 2 filled the room and made them feel very happy.

    The next morning,3, their happiness disappeared. Someone had left a 4 under their door during the night. One of their neighbors had written to complain about the sound of the piano. Dario's mother asked the building superintendent (管理员) if he knew anything about it. But he said that they were all 5 people and he couldn't imagine any of them had done that. Later that morning, Dario suggested that they write a letter to their 6 and apologize for their playing.

     “Maybe we could go and 7 everyone in person.” his mother said.

“What if we invited them to come here for a 8 instead?” Dario asked.

They both loved the 9. Over the next few days, they sent out invitations and prepared desserts 10 their guests. They decorated the apartment with streamers (彩带) and party lights.

    Finally, the day of the party 11. Some guests brought presents. Others brought flowers. Some even brought desserts to 12. One woman, Mrs. Gilbert,13 Dario's mother with a book of piano music by Chopin.

     “I heard you playing the other night,” she said. “The sounds woke me out of bed. I 14 that you might play like this every night. So I wrote a short note. I hope you don't think I disliked the playing.”

    Dario's mother smiled at Mrs. Gilbert. “I think maybe we 15 you an apology.” she said. “I didn't 16 how late it was when we were playing. Maybe we should play some quieter music at night.

     “You play, you play!” Mrs. Gilbert said. “I like what you play! Just not so loud at night.” She pointed to the book she had given them. “These songs are not such 17 music.”

     “These songs are beautiful music.” Dario's mother said. “We will be 18to play them in the evening.”

     “And we won't play so loud or late!” Dario said. He was already looking forward to 19 the new music. More than that, however, he was happy to see the big smile on his mother's face. It gave him a feeling of 20 and made him feel that they were home at last.

    My most rewarding experience throughout the past two years was volunteering at the swimming competition for Special Olympics where a disabled friend of my community took part. This had special1for me because experiencing it helped improve my leadership skills, develop my character, and support my community.

    Firstly, my 2skills developed when I independently directed each swimmer where to3 at the platform and4 each competitor when they needed to swim. I had to make sure that the swimmers were5 and ready to perform. This kept me on my feet at all times and6 of each event's time and location. I learned each swimmer's name7 many of them swam in more than one event.

    Secondly, my8was greatly influenced. When I saw the swimmers get their awards for winning each swimming event, I was deeply moved. I was 9that most swimmers could swim better than I. Their10attitudes astonished me, whether they won or lost. This also enlarged my view, offering me the opportunity to11people I would normally not run into. I went out of my12zone and did whatever was needed to be done, even if it was sometimes difficult to me. It was especially13when I saw the glowing faces of the competitors.

    Lastly, I was of14to my community by lending a hand to this organization. To be a part of it gave me a chance to improve my community and become15with the people living in this area.

    As Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living by what we do, but we make a(n)16 by what we give.” The importance of17should be stressed throughout your life18 through the many opportunities my community has offered I was privileged to be19in this exciting and important event in these competitors' lives. I hope to be a(n)20 again at this event in years to come.

Learn to Meet Challenges

    My classmates called me "the alien", and they avoided me like the  plague（瘟疫）. As a young boy, I1from a serious skin disease, which filled my arms with scars. The true2of my condition, however, was social: I lived a life of loneliness.

    Doctors predicted（预言）that I would never fully recover, but my parents encouraged me to hope for the future, teaching me that my difficulty could be overcome. I therefore took a/an 3 role in fighting against my disease, trying many medications and herbs, and my health 4 greatly before I graduated（毕业）. I realized that my personal5had led to this improvement. I regained self­confidence and made many friends at school.

    Years later, 6my personal battle against disease, I learned a great deal about7by overcoming difficulties.

    I joined the Culture Club as a Special Event Director. I8a group of six students in organizing various activities. I was the most advanced ESL student among the group. So I considered myself the most capable. But I quickly learned my9. While preparing for our first presentation, I was10with my team members and often rejected（拒绝）their11. I performed most of their tasks myself, allowing them to12me only with small details. As a result, the presentation was not very successful. The setback13me, and I spoke of it to the club's director. She responded that she14my ability to succeed in the future. This comment filled me with15, for I realized that I had never trusted my own team members. 16they were weak in English, they had many valuable talents. I immediately17my policy, allowing my team members to choose the tasks they desired and to complete them on their own. For our program, we had many meetings, which gave18to many good ideas. Most importantly, the atmosphere among us improved dramatically. We were19and eager to devote time to the program, and I learned what true leadership is.

    My experiences20improved my ability to handle challenging situations.

    Christmas 1940 makes me misty-eyed every time I think about it. In the hard times, people1one another. We2food, clothing, bedding and household items and gave them to the needy.

    That Christmas we students found ourselves3toys we collected and loading packages for4.As we presented the gifts, we saw5in many faces, especially those of the children. We had a few more6to make on Christmas morning. The air was heavy and frozen to the bone. For several hours, we knocked on doors. But as the cold hours passed, our7gradually faded. When we8headed home, someone9a small house down a canal bank. None of us knew who lived there,10we wondered if there were11.We still had a doll, two trucks, some small toys, chocolate Santas and a box of groceries. We decided to make one last visit. When we knocked on the door, a young woman answered it, looking at us12.Three small children watched from behind her skirt—a little girl of about 2, and boys perhaps 4 and 5 years old. “Merry Christmas,” we13as we bent down and handed the gift-wrapped packages to the children and the box of groceries to the 14, whose eyes widened15.She slowly smiled, then quickly said, “Come in.” The room was16as the children looked at their mother, wondering if the gifts were really for them. The little girl17her doll, and the boys grasped the trucks as they sought a(an)18.She put her arms19them and said in a20voice, “I told you Santa Claus would come.”

    "Mom, I don't like you," my two-year-old son said.

    "Okay… is that 1 you love me?" I asked.

    "No, you're not lovely."

    That night, as I washed my face, I 2 a little longer in the mirror—not because I was hurt by his 3, but because I noticed there was no light in my 4.

    I took out a pen and started writing a list—a list to 5 myself; a list to put sparkle（火花）back into my eyes. I once made many lists but 6 accomplished anything. This time would be 7!

    The first goal on my list I wanted to achieve was 8 a Polar Plunge to raise money for the Special Olympics. On that day, when I 9 into my 1980s workout clothes, Jack smiled, "Mom, you look 10." Maybe, just maybe some light 11 my eyes.

    When coming out of the cold lake I felt happy and proud. I kept screaming, "I 12 it !" But one of the most exciting parts of the day was when I stood in front of my 13, which was taped on the refrigerator door. I 14 item number one. With that, I began to take back my life.

    Everyone taking part in the Polar Plunge received a 15. Whenever I wore it, Jack asked, "Is that your Polar Plunge clothing?" I answered 16, "Yes!" "I want to do that too." I was happy he remembered I jumped into a 17 lake, and that he wanted to do activities with me.

    With each 18 crossed off（划掉） the list, a piece of myself is 19. Not only am I showing my family it's important to 20, but I'm showing myself that I'm worth it.