Steve, a 12-year-old boy, has been failing since first grade. He generally went ___16___ ... until he joined Miss White’s class.

“You all did pretty well,” she told the ___17___ as she went over the test results, “___18___ one boy, and it breaks my heart to tell you this, but ...” She hesitated, looking at Steve. “The ___19___ boy in the seventh grade is failing my class.” Steve ___20___ his eyes and carefully examined his fingertips.

After that, Steve refused to do his ___21___. Miss white was very ___22___ and tried to encourage him to study. “Give yourself a(n) ___23___! Don’t give up on your life!” Miss White told him, yet it didn’t ___24___.

Then one day, she said, “Steve! Please! I care about you!”

____25____, Steve got it. Someone cared about him.

He spent the whole afternoon thinking about what he should do. Arriving at his house after school, feeling determined, he headed to his bedroom to ____26____.

Monday morning, Miss White gave a ____27____ on the weekend homework. Steve ____28____ through the test, and was the first to hand in his paper. Miss White looked it over in total ____29____. The smartest boy in the seventh grade had just ____30____ his first test.

From that moment, nothing was the same for Steve. He discovered that not only could he learn, but he was ____31____ it.

After high school, Steve joined the Nave. During his naval career, he ____32____ many young people who might not have believed in themselves to build up confidence.

Miss White saved one boy who ____33____ changing many lives.

You see, it’s simple, really. A(n) ____34____ can take place within the heart of one boy, all because of one teacher, who ____35____.

16. A. unchallenged       B. unaccompanied C. unnoticed   D. unpunished

17. A. class     B. staff    C. colleagues D. parents

18. A. besides B. except C. instead of   D. regardless of

19. A. laziest   B. richest C. happiest     D. smartest

20. A. opened B. closed C. raised D. dropped

21. A. research       B. homework C. housework D. report

22. A. impressed    B. surprised    C. anxious      D. embarrassed

23. A. chance B. excuse C. praise D. reward

24. A. stop      B. work   C. matter D. happen

25. A. Luckily B. Gradually   C. Naturally    D. Suddenly

26. A. study    B. sleep   C. cry     D. play

27. A. question       B. lesson C. quiz    D. result

28. A. hurried B. lived   C. broke D. saw

29. A. victory B. shock C. sadness       D. anger

30. A. attended       B. designed     C. passed D. failed

31. A. ready for     B. responsible for   C. tired of      D. good at

32. A. forced B. discouraged       C. met     D. inspired

33. A. put up B. gave up      C. ended up    D. took up

34. A. problem       B. change       C. recovery     D. improvement

35. A. cares    B. believes      C. understands       D. remembers