I got my first real job when I was ten.My dad,Benjamin,injured his back when working in a cardboard-box factory and was retrained as a hairstylist.He 1 space in a little strip mall and gave his shop the fancy 2 of Mr.Ben’s Coiffure.The owner of the shopping center gave Dad a on his rent for cleaning the parking lot three 4 a week,which meant getting up at 3 am.To 5 rubbish,Dad used a little machine that looked like a lawn mower.Mom and I 6
garbage cans and picked up litter by hand. 7 took two to three hours to clean the lot.I’d 8
in the car on the way home.
I did this for two years, 9 the lessons I learned there have lasted a lifetime.I 10 discipline and a strong work ethic,and learned at an early age the importance of 11 life’s competing interests —in my case,school, homework and a job.This really 12 during my senior year of high school, 13 I worked 40 hours a week flipping (翻动) burgers at a fast-food joint while 14 a full load of college-prep courses.
The hard work 15 off.I attended the US Military Academy and went on to 16 graduate degrees in law and business from Harvard. Later,I 17 a big Los Angeles law firm and was elected to the California State Assembly.In these 18 and in everything else I’ve done,I have never forgotten those nights in the parking lot.The 19 taught me that there is dignity in all work and that if people are working to 20 for themselves and their families,that is something we should honor.
1. A.bought B.had C.rented D.built
2. A.sign B.mark C.name D.board
3. A.discount B.bill C.praise D.punishment
4. A.days B.hours C.mornings D.nights
5. A.make up B.fill up C.pick up D.take off
6. A.emptied B.collected C.carried D.filled
7. A.This B.That C.I D.It
8. A.cry B.laugh C.complain D.sleep
9. A.though B.but C.so D.then
10. A.acquired B.wanted C.liked D.called
11. A.gaining B.balancingC.avoiding D.abandoning
12. A.worked B.did C.happened D.helped
13. A.then B.when C.while D.as
14. A.having B.joining C.taking D.doing
15. A.paid B.took C.laid D.kicked
16. A.ask B.seek C.accept D.receive
17. A.went B.joined C.opened D.charged
18. A.ways B.jobs C.schools D.firms
19. A.lessons B.memoryC.experience D.teachers
20. A.support B.earn C.give D.provide
