It's 5: 00 in the morning when the alarm (闹钟) rings in my ears. I roll out of bed and walk blindly
through the dark into the bathroom. I turn on the light and put on my glasses. The house is still as I walk
downstairs while my husband and three kids sleep peacefully. Usually I go for a long run, but today I
choose my favorite exercise DVD, Insanity.Sweat pours down my face and into my eyes. My heart
races as I force my body to finish each movement. As I near the end of the exercise, I feel extremely
tired, but a smile is on my face. It's not a smile because the DVD is over, but a smile of success from
pushing my body to its extreme limit.
Some people enjoy shopping, smoking, food, work, or even chocolate. But I need exercise to get
through each day. Some shake heads when they see me run through the town. Others get hurt when I
refuse to try just one bite of their grandmother's chocolate cake. They raise their eyebrows, surprised
by my "no thank you," or by my choice to have a salad. Over the years, I have learned it's okay to
just say "no." I shouldn't feel sorry for refusing food that I don't want to eat.
So what drives me to roll out of bed at 5:00 a. m.? What gives me the reason to just say no to ice
cream? Commitment. A commitment to change my life with a way that reduces daily anxiety, increases
selfconfidence and energy, extends life and above all improves my body shape. This is the point where
a smile appears on my face as I look at myself in the mirror or try on my favorite pair of jeans that now
fit just right. It's through commitment and sweat that I can make a difference within myself inside and
out.
1. Why is there a smile on the author's face in the morning?
A. Because she sees her family sleeping peacefully.
B. Because she finishes her favorite exercise.
C. Because she enjoys the interesting DVD.
D. Because she feels a sense of achievement.
2. Which of the following is true according to Paragraph 2?
A. She doesn't treat others politely.
B. She likes to make others surprised.
C. Others don't understand what she does.
D. Others try to help her by offering her food.
3. What does the underlined word "commitment" in the last paragraph mean?
A. Good health.
B. Firm belief.
C. A strong power.
D. A regular habit.
4. What can we learn about the author from the text?
A. She acts in a strange way.
B. She wants to look different from others.
C. She aims to develop a good body shape.
D. She has difficulty getting along with others.
