When I entered Berkeley, I hoped to earn a scholarship. Having been a Straight-A student, I believed I could (26)________tough subjects and really learn something. One such course was World Literature given by Professor Jayne. I was extremely interested in the ideas he (27)________in class.
When I took the first exam, I was (28)________to find a 77, C-plus, on my test paper, (29)________English was my best subject. I went to Professor Jayne, who listened to my arguments but remained (30)________.
I decided to try harder, although I didn't know what that (31)________because school had always been easy for me. I read the books more carefully, but got another 77. Again, I (32)________with Professor Jayne. Again, he listened patiently but wouldn't change his (33)________.
One more test before the final exam. One more (34)________to improve my grade. So I redoubled my efforts and, for the first time, (35)________the meaning of the word “thorough”. But my (36)________did no good and everything (37)________ as before.
The last hurdle(障碍) was the final. No matter what (38)________I got, it wouldn't cancel three C-pluses. I might as well kiss the (39)________goodbye.
I stopped working hard. I felt I knew the course material as well as I ever would. The night before the final, I even (40)________myself to a movie. The next day I decided for once I'd have (41)________with a test.
A week later, I was surprised to find I got an A. I hurried into Professor Jayne's office. He (42)________to be expecting me. “If I gave you the as you (43)________, you wouldn't continue to work as hard.”
I stared at him, (44)________that his analysis and strategy were correct. I had worked my head (45)________, as I had never done before.
I was speechless when my course grade arrived: A-plus. It was the only Aplus given. The next year I received my scholarship. I've always remembered Professor Jayne's lesson: you alone must set your own standard of excellence.
take subjects意为“上某一学科的课”，固定搭配，因此答案选A。
seek寻找。present提出；介绍；展现。exchange交换；交流。 obtain获得。空格所在句子是个定语从句，修饰先行词ideas，所以应该填present，意思是“他在课堂上所提出的观点”。故答案选B。
上文说他的学习成绩总是得A，然而这次考试，他得的是Cplus，所以他应该是感到很震惊，因此答案选A，shocked震惊的。
for表示原因。英语本来是他最好的科目，然而他的成绩是C-plus。故答案选C。
unchanged未改变的；unpleasant使人不愉快的；unfriendly不友好的；unmoved无动于衷的；不动摇的。这里应该选择unmoved，句子大意是：他与教授辩论，但老师无动于衷。因此答案选D。
根据上下文可知此处句意是：我不知道这是怎么一回事儿。 mean意思；意味着。因此答案选B。
空格处表达的意义应与上文arguments的意义一致，所以应该填 reason (理论)，句意是：我又去找教授理论。因此答案选B。
view指对事物的意见。mind主意；想法；思维方式。attitude指对事物的态度。plan意思是“计划”。这里应该选B，change one's mind 改变主意；改变想法。
上文提到“在期末考试前还有一次测验”，所以他还有一次机会提高他的成绩。空格处应填chance (机会)，因此答案选C。
句意：他加倍努力学习，所以他第一次学习到了“thorough”这个词的意思。因此答案选D。
ambition野心。confidence自信心。effort努力。method方法。这里表达的意思是：他努力也起到什么作用。故答案选C。
一切的进展和以前一样，go表示“进展”的意思。因此答案选 B。
句意：到期末的时候，无论我获得什么高分数，都不能去掉三个C-plus的分数。这里应填grade(分数)，因此答案选A。
本文第一句话就提到他希望得到奖学金，这里说的是他可能与奖学金擦肩而过。所以答案应该选A。
根据上下文可知句意是：他觉得此课程学得很好了，不用学了。在期末考试的前一天晚上，他看一部电影来款待自己。所以应该选动词treat (款待；犒劳)，答案选C。
空格处应填fun，句意：他决定把第二天的考试当作一次娱乐活动。与上文意义逻辑一致。因此答案选A。
一星期后，他惊讶地发现他获得了优秀成绩，立刻跑到教授的办公室。教授好像正盼望着他的到来。所以应填动词seem，答案选 D。
valued重要的；宝贵的。imagined想象的；构想的。expected预期的；预料的。welcomed受欢迎的。这里应该填expected。句意：教授说：“如果我以前给了你所期待的优秀成绩，你就不会像这样努力地学习了”。因此答案选C。
我盯着他，意识到他的分析和策略是正确的。这里填realize更加符合行文要求，因此答案选D。
work my head off 指“全身心投入”。work out做出；制定出。 work over打击；伤害。work on继续工作。答案应选D，固定搭配，句意是“我以前从来没有这样全身心投入到学习中过”。