When I entered Berkeley, I hoped to earn a scholarship．Having been a Straight A student, I believed I could___16___tough subjects and really learn something．One such course was World Literature given by Professor Jayne．I was extremely interested in the ideas he ___17 ___in class.
When l took the first exam, I was___ 18___ to find a 77, C-plus, on my test paper, ___19___ English was my best subject．I went to Professor Jayne, who listened to my arguments but remained___20 ___I decided to try harder, although I didn't know what that ___21___ because school had always been easy for me．I read the books more carefully, but got another 77．Again, I ___22___ with Professor Jayne．Again, he listened patiently but wouldn't change his ___23___ One more test before the final exam．One more ___24___ to improve my grade．So I redoubled my efforts and, for the first time, ___25 ___the meaning of the word "thorough", But my ___26___ did no good and everything ___27___ as before.
The last hurdle (障碍) was the final．No matter what___28___I got, it wouldn't cancel three C-pluses．I might as well kiss the ___29___ 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 ___30___ myself to a movie．The next day I decided for once I'd have ___31___ with a test.
A week later, I was surprised to find I got an A．I hurried into Professor Jayne's office．He ___32___ to be expecting me．"If I gave you the A as you ___33___ , you wouldn't continue to work as hard．"
I stared at him,___34___that his analysis and strategy (策略) were correct．I had worked my head ___35___ , as I had never done before.
I was speechless when my course grade arrived: A-plus．It was the only A-plus 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.
___21___
A.reflected
B.meant
C.improved
D.affected