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It was the district sports meet . My foot still hadn’t healed（痊愈）from a（n） 36 injury .

I had 37 whether or not I should attend the meet . But there I was , 38 for the 3,000-meter run .

“ Ready … set … ” The gun popped and we were off . The other girls rushed 39 me . I felt 40 as I fell farther and farther behind .

“ Hooray ! ” shouted the crowd . It was the loudest 41 I had ever heard at a meet . The first-place runner was two laps（圈）ahead of me when she crossed the finish line .

“ Maybe I should 42 , ” I thought as I moved on . 43 , I decided to keep going . During the last two laps , I ran 44 and decided not to 45 in track next year . It wouldn’t be worth it , 46 my foot did heal .

When I finished , I heard a cheer— 47 than the one I’d heard earlier . I turned around and 48 , the boys were preparing for their race . “ They must be cheering for the boys . ”

I was leaving 49 several girls came up to me . “ Wow , you’ve got courage ! ” one of them told me .

“ Courage ? I just 50 a race ! ” I thought .

“ I would have given up on the first lap , ” said another girl . “ We were cheering for you . Did you hear us ? ”

Suddenly I regained 51 . I decided to 52 track next year . I realized strength and courage aren’t always 53 in medals and victories , but in the 54 we overcome（战胜）. The strongest people are not always the people who win , 55 the people who don’t give up when they lose .

36. A. slighter B. worse C. earlier D. heavier

37. A. expected B. supposed C. imagined D. doubted

38. A. late B. eager C. ready D. thirsty

39. A. from behind B. ahead of C. next to D. close to

40. A. ashamed B. astonished C. excited D. frightened

41. A. cheer B. shout C. cry D. noise

42. A. slow down B. drop out C. go on D. speed up

43. A. Therefore B. Otherwise C. Besides D. However

44. A. with delight B. with fear C. in pain D. in advance

45. A. play B. arrive C. race D. attend

46. A. even if B. only if C. unless D. until

47. A. weaker B. longer C. lower D. louder

48. A. well enough B. sure enough

C. surprisingly enough D. strangely enough

49. A. while B. when C. as D. since

50. A. finished B. won C. passed D. lost

51. A. cheer B. hope C. interest D. experience

52. A. hold on B. turn to C. begin with D. stick with

53. A. measured B. praised C. tested D. increased

54. A. sadness B. struggles C. diseases D. tiredness

55. A. or B. nor C. and D. but

36. C 37. D 38. C 39. B 40. A 41. A 42. B 43. D 44. C 45. C 46. A 47. D 48. B 49. B 50. D 51. B 52. D 53. A 54. B 55. D