“Kevin, we are getting a divorce,” said my mother. My heart plunged. I was 9 years old and I thought that my life was going to      . My brother and I were going to move with my mother to southern California. My dad was to      in New Jersey because of work. My family was splitting apart.
Now that my mom is a single parent, I do my own      , make dinner and do extra chores around the house.       it was hard at first, I now recognize the positive      that this responsibility had on me. My mother gave me these chores and duties so that I would learn to become       and trustworthy.
I strive to display these       in all aspects of my life, and have seen the benefits. When I was only 11 years old, my       told me that he was selecting me as soccer team captain because of my determination and ability to get my teammates to      themselves. We lost the championship, but I won the       play award for keeping my team together.
I am always       to be an individual and not participate in anything that I feel is wrong. I am, for example, extremely proud of my decision not to drink alcohol.       , I don’t feel the need to drink to have fun, and I stand by my decision even when others try to       me.
My mom and dad both found new       and happily remarried. I am       close to my father, even though he lives 4,800 km away. I thought my parents’ divorce was going to be the worst thing that       happened to me. Ironically (讽刺的是), it turned out to be the      . I wasn’t willing to let it ruin my life without putting up a fight, and       was my family.
At age 9, I struggled with the confusion and       of divorce. Today, at age 16, I understand that       can bring opportunity and success, and that hard work, determination and self-control can turn your worst time into your best time.

A．fall apart B．give away C．pick up D．take off

A．drop B．remain C．call D．break

A．housework B．farming C．cooking D．laundry

A．Although B．Because C．If D．Since

A．attitude B．experience C．effect D．situation

A．self-centered B．self-absorbed C．self-disciplined D．self-concerned

A．skills B．difficulties C．emotions D．qualities

A．father B．headmaster C．brother D．coach

A．enjoy B．teach C．prove D．push

A．fierce B．fair C．close D．decisive

A．determined B．reminded C．relieved D．amazed

A．Fortunately B．Surprisingly C．Personally D．Consequently

A．cheat B．pressure C．please D．delight

A．families B．jobs C．kids D．partners

A．still B．not C．rarely D．less

A．never B．even C．ever D．almost

A．best B．worst C．busiest D．first

A．so B．such C．as D．neither

A．pain B．memory C．significance D．emergency

A．barriers B．families C．parents D．routines