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When I was a girl of 10, I joined the school cross-country team and practiced twice a week, on the
1,8-km course I'd never really run before and I thought the course would be easy. It was a real shock I ran
out of breathe (喘气) within the first few minutes. I never realized how tiring running could be but I didn't
think about give up.
Over time, I did get a little bit faster. However, I was really slow. In races, I would finish close to last.
I'd always have to stop more than once, especially in the longer races, which were 2. 5 to 2. 8 km. After
every race, I'd go home and cry. But 1 still didn't stop running, holding onto that picture of crossing the
finishing line and finally doing well.
Then one of my friends joined the team, too. She could run easily and even came in the 18th in a big race!
I felt so slow and my confidence (自信) was lower than ever. I became so nervous when I thought of the
races that I wanted to give up badly.
Still. I refund to. Finally. I realized that the reason I was to nervous was that I was always worried that
I wasn't ready for them. So a few weeks before the next 2. 8-km race. I practiced running almost 3 km every
day. which helped me improve my pace (步伐).
When the time came for the big race, all that practicing really paid off. I stopped only once and my pace
was so much better.
I realized that I'd finally gotten happiness with running. But the funny thing was. It didn't come from
doing better, Instead, it came from the fact that I hid tried harder and never given up.
1. Before she took the 1.8-km course, the writer ________.
A. knew a lot about it
B. wanted to be a great runner
C. practiced running every day
D. never thought running so tired
2. The writer was nervous about the race because she _______.
A. had to stop to drink water
B. was worried she wasn't ready
C. run slower than anyone else
D. could find no coach to help her
3. The underlined phrase "paid off" probably mean "______".
A. brought good results
B. coat a lot
C. saved much time
D. came to fail
4. It can be inferred (推断) from the passage that the writer ______.
A. got angry with her friend
B. wasn't pleased with herself
C. was a person with a strong mind
D. had no Interest In running

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