WhenIwasthreeyearsoldmyparentsdiscoveredIwastotallydeaf.Afterconsultingwithmanydoctorstheymadea　21thatwouldforeverchangemyfuture.　22sendingmetoaprivateschoolforthedeaftheydecidedto“mainstream”me.Allofmyschoolmatesandteacherswouldhave　23hearing.

Iexperiencedgreat　24throughoutprimaryschoolbecausebesidestheeffortsof“25”withtheotherstudentsIalso　26withmostofmyschoolwork.ButMrs.Jordanmy5thgradeteacherchangedallofthatwitha　27three-wordphrase.

Onemorningsheaskedtheclassaquestion.I　28herlipsandimmediatelyraisedmyhand.AlthoughIfearedIfeltunusually　29becauseIwassureIhadtherightanswer.Itookadeepbreathand　30answeredMrs.Jordan’squestion.

Herresponse　31allofus.Mrs.Jordanenthusiastically　32herrightfootonthefloorandwavedherrightfingerinafullcircle　33itpointeddirectlyatme.Withshiningeyesshecried“THAT’SRIGHTSTEPHEN!”

ForthefirsttimeinmyyounglifeIwasaninstantstar.Myheartburstwith　34andIsatalittle　35inmychairandpuffedoutmychest.Myconfidence　36likeneverbefore.IdecidedrightthenandtherethatIwouldmakea　37formyselfinthisworld.Theverythree-wordphrasehadtotally　38myyounglife.

Fromthatdayforwardmy　39improvedfantastically.Myviewonlife　40acompleteturnabout.AnditallstartedwithMrs.Jordan.“THAT’SRIGHTSTEPHEN!”

21.A.planB.choiceC.promise　D.decision

22.A.InsteadofB.Apartfrom　C.Regardlessof　D.Farfrom

23.A.weakB.sharp　C.normal　D.different

24.A.anxietyB.honourC.sympathyD.excitement

25.A.gettingawayB.puttingupC.fittingin　D.comingup

26.A.handledB.struggledC.disagreedD.engaged

27.A.regularB.polite　C.simpleD.formal

28.A.foundB.understood　C.sawD.read

29.A.embarrassedB.frightenedC.confidentD.jealous

30.A.gentlyB.luckilyC.nervouslyD.carelessly

31.A.enjoyedB.surprisedC.delightedD.fooled

32.A.stampedB.placedC.stepped　D.knocked

33.A.ifB.unlessC.since　D.until

34.A.prideB.regret　C.courage　D.envy

35.A.tallerB.shorter　C.longerD.wider