I remember vividly the call that changed my life. It was Tuesday, February 18. When the 1 rang in the kitchen of my Los Angeles, the 2 was Marty Banderas, a literary agent to whom I had sent a draft( 草稿 )of my novel three weeks earlier. “I have a couple of 3 .” Banderas saiD. “First, how old are you?” “I'm 48,” I replieD. “Are you in good 4 ?” “Yes, excellent. What’s this about? ” “I’ve sold your novels 5 one and a half million dollars.” I sat down in 6 . I had written fourteen novels in twenty years, but each one had been 7 by the publishers. I suppose many people would have been 8 , but not me. Each time, I just 9 writing another one. My husband advised me to find something else to do, but I refused to 10 up. Seeing this book 11 was the best thing that has ever happened to me. It's a mystery story (like all the others) and it was on the best-seller 12 two weeks after publication! I got my first lesson in story 13 from my grandmother. She used to read my stories. She was the one who gave me a 14 of words. She sparked (激发) my 15 and she has been a 16 influence on me. I always had stories running through my 17 and as soon as I could write, I 18 them down on paper. I married young and I have three children, but I never stopped writing. 19 novels between doing the diapers(婴儿的尿布) and dishes. I'm writing another novel now. Yes, my 20 has changed my life.
1. A. phone B. bell C. clock D. alarm
2. A. line B. step C. outside D. doorway
3. A. novels B. things C. questions D. problems
4. A. wealth B. health C. condition D. order
5. A. to B. for C. on D. in
6. A. need B. joy C. settlements D. shock
7. A. rejected B. received C. decided D. lost
8. A. worried B. encouraged C. discouraged D. excited
9. A. couldn't help B. got down to C. got used to D. went on
10. A. hold B. look C. give D. set
11. A. sold B. published C. printed D. passed
12. A. books B. shops C. record D. list
13. A. writing B. organizing C. telling D. reading
14. A. use B. love C. meaning D. respect
15. A. hope B. efforts C. novels D. imagination
16. A. lasting B. normal C. careful D. general
17. A. head B. mouth C. voice D. work
18. A. took B. put C. broke D. added
19. A. writing B. reading C. developing D. translating
20. A. friend B. call C. success D. work
