二、完形填空
When an NBA player is young he thinks he can win the champ
ionship by himself. It is only later when he has aged and been through many battles 36 he learns an important lesson: there is no “I” in “team”.
There is 37 better example of the value of teamwork than the Boston Celtics. Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett were all 38 on three different teams. Yet, none of them had any titles to show for it. 39 last season, they 40 to sacrifice money and individual statistics to play together. Garnett and Allen joined Pierce on the Celtics and 41 the NBA in the process.
It started in simple ways. Garnett and Allen are two of the most intense athletes in the world. They treat every second of every practice like it is the NBA 42 . If you want to play alongside them then you will have to do the same. So, the young guys on the Celtics started giving their full effort too.
Pierce had been the star of the Celtics for many years. He 43 shoot the ball many times a game. But with the addition of Allen and Garnett he shot less and 44 on defense. His 45 showed the young players that doing what made the team better was the only thing that 46 .
When the Celtics 47 and the game was almost over, Garnett, Pierce and Allen would come out of the game. But they wouldn’t just sit on the bench. 48 , they stood and cheered and 49 for their teammates. They wanted to support their friends and 50 .
Now, the guys who don’t play know they can still 51 the game by cheering so they scream and cheer when Garnet, Allen and Pierce are playing. The Celtics have developed a strong 52 . They are more 
than just teammates. They are 53 .
The result: the Boston Celtics won the 2008 NBA championship and are considered the favorites to 54 the Eastern Conference championship again this year.
There is a saying that 55 , “A successful team beats with one heart.” If that is the case, the Celtics may have the biggest heart in the NBA.
36. A. that B. when C. where D. which
37. A. not B. no C. never D. seldom
38. A. super stars B. film stars C. football stars D. known persons
39. A. Yet B. Though C. Then D. Finally
40. A. meant B. planned C. decided D. intended
41. A. created B. changed C. maintained D. altered
42. A. championship B. test C. practice D. drill
43. A. would B. used to C. could D. need
44. A. focused B. looked C. depended D. relied
45. A. selfishness B. selflessness C. heroism D. male chauvinist
46. A. happened B. took C. came D. mattered
47. A. were winning B. were failing C. were going D. were rising
48. A. However B. But C. Though D. Instead
49. A. shouted B. laughed C. screamed D. neighed
50. A. teammates B. relatives C. families D. audience
51. A. effort B. afford C. effect D. affect
52. A. teamship B. connection C. friendship D.relationship
53. A. friends B. brothers C. comrades D. teammates
54. A. beat B. defeat C. knock D. hit
55. A. writes B. goes C. speaks D.
talks
