Until a few years ago, I had what most people would call a good life.I had a __1__ job that paid the bills; I had a good family I was close to, and I had a place to live and money in the bank for trips and __2__， and there was nothing much wrong in my life. However, I was bored.
I wanted more.I wanted to live __3__ and loudly and make sharp memories instead of the __4__ones of everyday life. But I was afraid.I had never had any __5__ in myself.As a child, even buying something in a shop caused me a great deal of __6__， and even though I did get better as I got older, I never quite __7__ that childhood shyness.
And I tried everything to become confident. I also took tiny steps leading to my goals. But none of them really __8__.
So I __9__ that the small steps weren't enough.I signed up for an internship (实习期的工作) of teaching English in Vietnam, an __10__ huge step, one that __11__ me as much as it excited me.
During my stay in Vietnam, I'd learned to __12__ myself, my skills, my abilities and my decisions.I returned home __13__， even to myself, let alone to others.The __14__ that had controlled my life and the selfdoubt were __15__.
That one big chance changed everything for me，and in me.
语篇解读：本文是一篇记叙文，主要讲述了作者通过去异国他乡支教从而改变人生的励志故事。
1．A.stable B．temporary
C．difficult D．demanding
解析：选A 根据上文中的“Until a few years ago, I had what most people would call a good life.”可推知，之前作者的生活过得不错，有收入稳定的工作，故选A。stable“稳定的”；temporary“暂时的”；demanding“要求高的”。
2．A.tips B．rewards
C．treats D．fines
解析：选C 根据空前的“money in the bank for trips”可推知，作者生活舒适，有出去旅游和款待他人的资金。treat在此作名词，意为“款待”。tip“小费，窍门”；reward“奖赏，回报”；fine“罚款”。
3．A.easily B．brightly
C．peacefully D．modestly
解析：选B 根据空后的“loudly”可推知，作者对之前的美好生活并不满足，想生活得更加充满活力(brightly)。
4．A.bitter B．clear
C．grey D．sweet
解析：选C 根据上文中的“I was bored”可推知，作者厌倦了之前单调乏味的(grey)生活，希望生活更加丰富多彩一些，与上文中的“make sharp memories”相呼应。
5．A.pride B．confidence
C．interest D．shame
解析：选B 根据下文中的“even buying something in a shop caused me a great deal of __6___”和“childhood shyness”可推知，作者一直以来对自己都缺乏信心(confidence)，与下文中的“And I tried everything to become confident.”相呼应。
6．A.stress B．excitement
C．confusion D．surprise
解析：选A 根据空后的“even though I did get better as I got older”可推知，在孩童时期，去商店买东西都会给作者带来很多心理负担(stress)。
7．A.added to B．talked about
C．got over D．suffered from
解析：选C 根据空前的“never”可推知，作者一直都没有克服(got over)自己孩童时期的害羞。
8．A.continued B．survived
C．failed D．helped
解析：选D 根据句中的“But”可推知，作者尽管尝试了很多方法让自己变得自信，但是都无济于事(helped)。
9．A.figured B．promised
C．predicted D．disagreed
解析：选A 根据空前的“So”可推知，作者认为(figured)小的措施是不够的。
10．A.equally B．impossibly
C．unnecessarily D．occasionally
解析：选B 去越南支教对于一向缺乏自信的作者来讲的确是跨出了不可思议的一大步，故选B。
11．A.ignored B．impressed
C．annoyed D．terrified
解析：选D 此处与上文作者孩童时期的害羞以及尝试多种方法增强自信相呼应，故这样的决定让作者害怕(terrified)，同时又使作者激动万分。
12．A.trust B．enjoy
C．excuse D．forgive
解析：选A 与上文中的“And I tried everything to become confident.”形成对比可推知，作者在越南支教期间学会了自信。
13．A.unconcerned B．unsatisfied
C．unchangeable D．unrecognizable
解析：选D 根据语境可推知，作者从越南回来之后，发生了巨大的变化，几乎让人认不出了。unconcerned“不关心的”；unsatisfied“不满意的”；unchangeable“不可改变的”；unrecognizable“认不出来的”。
14．A.fear B．respect
C．courage D．anger
解析：选A 由空后的“controlled my life”和“the selfdoubt”可推知，作者之前的生活被害怕(fear)控制，与上文中的“that childhood shyness”呼应。
15．A.picked up B．forgotten about
C．worn off D．put off
解析：选C 作者从越南回来之后，发生了巨大的变化，以前的害怕和自我怀疑逐渐消失(worn off)。
