You'll do much better ________ you're more careful with your spelling．

1. A.
   if
2. B.
   before
3. C.
   although
4. D.
   unless

Monday morning is an important time at our school. All of the students go to the playground. We listen to music, and we   16  the national flag go up.
　  Usually, one student gives a talk on Monday mornings. One Monday last year, a boy gave the talk. He was   17  and excited! When I saw him, I wanted to have a try, too.
　  Can I really do it?
　  Last week, our teacher said our class should give the talk. My teacher   18  me, “I know you want to have a try. Next Monday, you can give the talk. Go and write something down.   19  for it, I’m sure you’ll do well.”
“Thank you,” I answered. It was such a great   20  for me! When I got home, I was excited. I wrote two pages for the talk. I read them again and again. When I read, I asked my parents  21 . I wanted to make my teacher happy.
　  Monday morning came. I began to feel   22 . When did I last give a talk to   23  many people? Never! This was my first time. Could I really   24  it ? Maybe I couldn’t finish the talk.
When I got to school, we all went out to playground. I  25 in front of everyone. I opened my mouth, but I couldn’t say anything.
“Take it easy,” I said to   26 . “Don’t be nervous. You can do it.”
Just then, I looked down at everyone. I saw about 1,000 eyes. They were all looking at me ! I couldn’t   27  stand up.
I looked at their eyes more carefully. Their eyes were saying, “You can do it! Don’t be afraid, just talk!”
I   28  a big breath. Then I began to talk. It wasn’t hard. It was easy.
I don’t know   29  I finished my talk. But I did it. I felt so good that day. I showed myself 30  everyone what I can do.

Aunt Polly had told Tom to paint the whole fence (柵欄)in front of the house. He thought of the other boys out for the day enjoying themselves and he felt very unhappy. Then he had an idea! He picked up the brush and started painting slowly and carefully. Soon, his friend Ben Rogers appeared, eating an apple. Tom pretended (假裝) not to see him.
“Tom!” Ben said. “Why are you working?”
“Oh, it’s you, Ben,”Tom said, “I didn’t notice you.”
“I’m gong for a swim,” Ben said, “but you don’t’ want to come. You want to work, don’t you? It’s much nicer!” Ben laughed loudly. Tom looked seriously at Ben and said. “What is work? What do you call work?”
“Isn’t that work?” Ben asked.
“Well, no. Does a boy get the opportunity to paint a fence every day? You’ve never painted a fence, have you? Auntie says I have to do it with great care!’
“Pleas, Tom. Let me do a little,” said Ben.
“No, Ben. If you do, you’ll do it wrong. You can’t paint very well. If it was the back fence wouldn’t mind, but it isn’t.”
“I won’t do it wrong. I’ll be really careful. I’ll give you my apple.” Tom gave him the brush and paint with a sad face, but in his heart he was glad, His trick had worked.
After Ben got tired and left, other boys came along and Tom said the same things to them. Soon, the whole fence was painted white, but not by Tom. He felt very clever because he had discovered something important about the way people are. People only want what they can’t have or want to do what they shouldn’t do.
【小題1】Which of the following has the closest meaning to the underlined word “opportunity” on this passage?