When I was fifteen, I announced to my English class that I was going to write my own books. Half the students smiled unkindly,  36  nearly fell out of their chairs laughing. “Don’t be  37 , only geniuses can become writers,” the English teacher said, “And you are getting a D this term.” I was so ashamed I burst into  38 . That night I wrote a short sad poem about broken dreams and mailed it to the newspaper. To my  39 , they published it and sent me two dollars. I was a published and paid writer. I showed my teacher and fellow students. They laughed, “Just plain dumb luck,” the teacher said. I  40  success. I’d sold the first thing I’d  41  written. That was more than any of them had done and if it was just dumb luck that was fine with me.
During the next two years I sold dozens of poems and letters. By the time I graduated from high school, I had scrapbooks (剪贴簿)  42  my published works. I never  43  my writing to my teachers, friends or my family  44  because they were dream killers.
I had four children at the time.  45  the children slept, I typed on my ancient typewriter. I wrote what I felt. It took nine months. I chose a  46  and mailed it. A month later I received a contract, an advance on payments, and a request to start  47  another book. Crying Wind, became a best seller, was translated into fifteen languages and sold worldwide. My first book also became  48  reading in native American schools in Canada.
The  49  year I ever had as a writer I earned two dollars. In my best year I earned 36,000 dollars. People ask what college I  50 , what degrees I had and what qualifications I have to be a writer. The answer is: “None.” I just write. I’m not a genius. I use an electric typewriter that I paid a hundred and twenty nine dollars  51  six years ago. I do all the housework and  52  my writing in a few minutes here and there. I’ve written eight books. To all those who dream of writing, I’m shouting at you: “Yes, you can. Don’t listen to them.” I don’t write right  53  I’ve succeeded. Writing is  54 , it’s fun and anyone can do it.  55 , a little dumb luck doesn’t hurt.

A．other B．others C．the other D．the rest

A．silly B．curious C．excited D．depressed

A．laughter B．tears C．song D．cheers

A．puzzlement B．disappointment C．expectation D．astonishment

A．tasted B．met C．accepted D．considered

A．yet B．never C．even D．ever

A．crowdedwith B．filled with C．combined with D．linked with

A．remembered B．concluded C．mentioned D．described

A．again B．instead C．still D．merely

A．Though C．Until D．While

A．writer B．reporter C．publisher D．manager

A．working on B．going on C．turning on D．putting on

A．requested B．required C．demanded D．reminded

A．busiest B．worse C．worst D．highest

A．attended B．took C．admitted D．participated

A．out B．to C．by D．for

A．keep B．fit C．save D．hold

A．or B．so C．and D．but

A．easy B．hard C．convenient D．practical

A．On the contrary B．Of course C．As a result D．In this way