The annual marathon in my town usually took place in summer. My job was to 21behind the ru

The annual marathon in my town usually took place in summer. My job was to   21   behind the runners in an ambulance   22    any of them needed medical attention. The driver and I were in an air-conditioned ambulance behind nearly one hundred athletes    23   to hear the sharp crack of the starting gun.
“We’re supposed to stay behind the   24   runner, so take it slowly ,” I said to the driver , Doug , as we began to creep forward .
“Let’s just hope all the runners are fast!” he laughed.
As they began to pace themselves, the front runners started to   25   . It was then that my   26  were drawn to the woman in blue silk running shorts and a baggy white T-shirt.
“Doug, look!”
We knew we were already watching our “last runner”. Her feet were turned in, but her left knee was turned out. Her legs were so crippled and bent that it seemed impossible for her to be able to walk , let alone run a marathon .
Doug and I watched in   27   as she slowly moved forward. We didn’t say a thing. We would move forward a little bit, then stop and wait for her to gain some distance. Then we’d slowly move forward a little bit more.
Finally, she was the  28   runner left in sight. Tears streamed down my face as I sat on the edge of my seat and watched with amazement and even respect as she    29       forward with strong determination through the last miles.
When the    30   line came into sight, rubbishes lay everywhere and the cheering crowds had already gone home.    31  , a man waited proudly there. He was   32  one end of a ribbon (带子) tied to a post.   33  slowly crossed through, leaving both ends of the ribbon fluttering behind her.
I do not know this woman’s name, but that day she became a part of my life –a part I often depend on. For her, it wasn’t about   34   the other runners or winning a petition, it was about finishing what she had set out to do, no matter    35  . When I think things are too difficult or too time-consuming, I think of the last runner. Then I realize how easy the task before me really is.
【小题1】A．interview B．watch C．follow D．fall【小题2】A．when B．sinceC．because D．in case【小题3】A．searching B．sitting C．wishing D．waiting【小题4】A．slow B．last C．wounded D．helpless【小题5】A．runB．missC．disappearD．lose【小题6】 A．attentionB．mindC．eyesD．sight【小题7】 A．happinessB．silenceC．disappointmentD．hope【小题8】 A．singleB．onlyC．lastD．careful【小题9】 A．pushedB．foughtC．pulledD．jumped【小题10】 A．closeB．endC．matchD．finish【小题11】A．Yet B．But C．Thus D．Therefore【小题12】 A．catchingB．handing C．holdingD．bringing【小题13】 A．He B．SheC．I D．They【小题14】A．winning B．peting C．beating D．fighting【小题15】A．what B．where C．whenD．whyC