1ThejourneymydaughterCathyhashadwithherswimmingisaslongasitisbeautiful.Cathysufferedsometerrible16inherearlychildhood.Afteryearsofregulartreatment,she17becamehealthy.Twoyearsago,whileCathywaswatchingtheOlympics,adreamcameintohersweetlittlehead—tobeaswimmer.Lastsummer,shewantedto18ourlocalswimteam.Shepracticedhardandfinally19it.Theteampractice,20,wasaroughstart.Shecoughedandchokedandcouldhardly21herfirstfewweeks.Hearinghercoughingbitterlyonenight,Idecidedto22herfromitall.ButCathywokemeupearlynextmorning,wearingherswimsuit23togo!Itoldhersheshouldn’tswimafterawholenight’scoughing,butsherefusedto24andinsistedshego.Fromthatdayon,Cathykeptswimminganddidn’t25asinglepractice.Shehada26intentionwithinherselftobethebestshecouldbe.Myten-year-oldwasgrowingandchangingrightbeforemyeyes,intothis27humanbeingwithapassionandamission.Thereweremomentsof28ofcourse:oftenshewouldbethelastswimmerintherace.ItwasdifficultforCathytoacceptthatshewasn’ta29---ever.Butthatdidn’tstopherfromtrying.Thencamethefinalawardsceremonyattheendoftheyear.Cathydidn’texpectanyawardbutwasstillthereto30herfriendsandpraisetheiraccomplishments.Astheceremonywasnearingtheend,Isuddenlyheardtheheadcoach31,“ThehighesthonorgoestoCathy!”Lookingaround,hecontinued,“Cathyhasinspireduswithher32andenthusiasm.33skillsandtalentsbringgreatsuccess,themostvaluableasset(财富)onecanholdistheheart.”Itwasthegreatest34ofmydaughter’slife.Withallshehadbeen35inhertenyears,thiswasthehouroftruetriumph(成功).16.A.failureB.pressureC.lossD.illness17.A.usuallyB.finallyC.firstlyD.frequently18.A.improveB.trainC.joinD.contact19.A.increasedB.foundC.createdD.made20.A.howeverB.thereforeC.otherwiseD.instead21.A.useB.surviveC.saveD.waste22.A.pullB.tellC.hideD.fire23.A.afraidB.nervousC.readyD.free24.A.takeoffB.setoffC.giveupD.showup25.A.attendB.missC.banD.Start26.A.richB.weakC.firmD.kind27.A.trustedB.determinedC.experiencedD.embarrassed28.A.frustrationB.delightC.excitementD.surprise29.A.beginnerB.learnerC.partnerD.winner30.A.cheeronB.competewithC.respondtoD.runafter31.A.admittingB.explainingC.announcingD.whispering32.A.humorB.willC.honestyD.wisdom33.A.AlthoughB.SinceC.OnceD.Because34.A.discoveryB.choiceC.influenceD.moment35.A.throughB.underC.acrossD.aroundMyfiance(未婚夫)andIwereexcitedaboutshoppingforourfirsthome.Butourfundswere16,andnoneofthehousesinourpricerangeseemedsatisfactory.Oneagent17ahouseinparticular.Althoughherdescriptionsoundedwonderful,thepricewas18ourrange,sowedeclined.Butshekepturgingustohavealook19.Wefinallydidanditwas20atfirstsight.ItwasOurHome,smallandcharming,overlookingaquietlake.Walkingthroughtheroomsandtalkingwiththeowners,aniceelderlycouple,wefeltthewarmthand21ofthemarriagewithinthathome.Asperfectasitwas,thepriceremainedtoohighforus.Buteveryday,wewouldsitbythelake,lookingatthehouseanddreamingof22itwouldbeliketolivethere.2Dayslater,wemadea(n)23—farbelowtheaskingprice.Surprisingly,theydidn’t24us.Theyrenewedtheiroffer25.Itwasalsomuchmorethanwecouldafford,butfar26thantheoriginalaskingprice.Thenextday,wegota27messagethatanotherbuyerhadofferedamuchhigherprice.Evenso,wedecidedtotalkwiththe28directly.Wemadeourfinaloffer,which29wasthousandsofdollarslessthantheotherbuyer’sbid.Weknewit,30wehadtotry.“Sold!”saidtheowner.Thenhe31:He’dseenussittingbythelakeallthosetimes;heknewhowmuchwelovedtheplaceandthatwe’d32theyearsofworktheyhadputintotheirhome;herealizedhewouldtakea33bysellingittous,butitwasworthwhile;wewerethepeopletheywantedtolivethere.Hetoldustoconsiderthe34intheprice“anearlyweddingpresent.”That’showwefoundourhomeandhowIlearnedthatwhenpeopleare35theyarenotstrangers,onlyfriendswehaven’tyetmet.16.A.neededB.limitedC.enoughD.large17.A.recommendedB.decoratedC.soldD.rented18.A.belowB.withinC.beyondD.between19.A.atleastB.atmostC.attimesD.athand20.A.reliefB.concernC.loveD.curiosity21.A.prideB.happinessC.challengeD.desire22.A.whichB.whyC.thatD.what23.A.effortB.offerC.promiseD.profit24.A.comeacrossB.lookafterC.dependonD.laughat25.A.insteadB.indeedC.asideD.apart26.A.worseB.betterC.lessD.higher27.A.relaxingB.disappointingC.pleasantD.regular28.A.agentsB.buyersC.managersD.owners29.A.alreadyB.stillC.generallyD.ever30.A.soB.orC.forD.but31.A.apologizedB.complainedC.criticizedD.explained32.A.checkB.analyzeC.appreciateD.ignore33.A.lossB.riskC.chanceD.lead34.A.increaseB.differenceC.interestD.average35.A.kindB.politeC.smartD.energeticOnenight,whenIwaseight,mymothergentlyaskedmeaquestionIwouldneverforget.Sweetie,mycompanywantsto16mebutneedsmetoworkinBrazil.Thisislikeyourteachertellingyouthatyou'vedone17andallowingyoutoskipagrade(跳级),butyou'llhaveto18yourfriends.Wouldyousayyestoyourteacher?Shegavemeahugandaskedmetothinkaboutit.Iwaspuzzled.Thequestionkeptme19fortherestofthenight.Ihadsaidyesbutforthefirsttime,Irealizedthe20decisionsadultshadtomake.Foralmostfouryears,mymotherwouldcallusfromBrazileveryday.EveryeveningI’d21waitforthephonetoringandthentellhereverydetailofmyday.Aphonecall,however,couldneverreplaceher22anditwasdifficultnottofeellonelyattimes.Duringmyfourth-gradeChristmasbreak,weflewtoRiotovisither.Lo