I was the youngest of five boys and also had four sisters who had to pull together and take care of each other. Dad wasn't around, so I never knew him well. He killed himself when I was three years old, leaving mom with the job of raising nine kids. She was a very hard worker, and in order to make ends meet, she hardly ever rested. With my mom as my example, I learned that hard work is the best way to get what you want.
Even as a little boy, I knew I was going to be successful. Regardless of what I chose, I wanted to make my brothers, sisters and mom proud of me—not only by being successful in what I chose to do, but also as a person who could be looked up to for the right reasons.
Surprising as it might seem, basketball wasn't in my plans. One day, my mom cut a rim(边缘) off an old water barrel(水桶) and then held it up for me to throw an old rubber ball through. By junior high, I started playing basketball on a team. I loved to compete. For me, it paid off. I always put the effort in, every day.
I am grateful for the life I've enjoyed as a basketball star. Basketball is not life. It can be exciting. But the most important thing about basketball is that it gives me a way to do good things for others as I move through this journey called life.
小题1:It can be inferred that the author's________.A．brothers were more famous than himB．mother had a great influence on his careerC．father loved his children and wife very much D．family was rich and happy when he was a child小题2:Why did the author's father kill himself?A．Because the family was poor.B．Because he often quarreled with his wife.C．Because he was seriously ill.D．The passage didn't tell us the reason.小题3:From the second paragraph, we can infer that________.A．the author was respected as a brave boyB．the author's family didn't like his careerC．the author got on well with his mother, brothers and sistersD．the author helped his brothers and sisters succeed小题4:What does the author get from basketball?A．How to do good things for others.B．Life is as hard as playing basketball.C．Cooperation with others is important.D．Two heads are wiser than one.