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[2020·Ö£ÖÝÊеÚÈý´ÎÖÊÁ¿¼ì²â]    I was 11 years old when I asked my mom for piano lessons in 2010. We were in financial trouble, so she said politely, “Sorry, son, but we can't now.”

I searched the measurements on the Internet for a keyboard,  drew the keys on a piece of paper and stuck it on my desk. I would click notes on an online keyboard and “play” them back on my paper one — keeping the sound they made on the computer in my head. I spent six months playing without touching a real piano. Once my mom saw that I was serious, she borrowed money and bought me 10 lessons.

I still remember the first one. I was struck by how real the sound  of the piano was. I sat my Grade 1  after eight lessons. Once I started secondary school, we couldn't afford lessons again. I passed Grade 3, and then Grade 5, practicing only on my piece of paper. One evening, when I was about 13, my mom said she had a surprise for me — it was an electronic keyboard, bought with more borrowed money. It was the first time that I played for her and she was in shock.

My school didn't offer music A­level. I found The Purcell School for young musicians, but the tryouts were difficult. Some of the questions even involved an evaluation of the composer. I was at a loss. But to my amazement, I was offered a place. At Purcell, I spent two years working as hard as I could. I performed to raise money and saved enough to buy my first piano. When I left Purcell, I was awarded the senior piano prize and academic music prize. I'm now at the Guildhall School of Drama & Music in London. I feel proud £­ it's been 10 years since I drew my paper piano, and I'm at one of the world's leading music schools.

Surprisingly, I continue to do a lot of my practice away from the piano, which we call mental practice. The paper piano helped promote my curiosity about how music works.

1£®Why did the mother buy the author piano lessons?

A£®She believed he had a talent for piano.

B£®She found he was eager to learn piano.

C£®She was shocked by his first performance.

D£®She got out of her family's financial difficulties.

2£®Which of the following words best describes the author?

A£®Honest.       B£®Cautious.

C£®Clever.       D£®Determined.

3£®What might be the best title for the passage?

A£®Mental practice makes perfect

B£®Paper piano leads me to success

C£®Mother supports my music career

D£®Hard times make my dream come true