完形填空（共12分，每小题1分）
阅读下面的短文，掌握其大意，然后从短文后各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选择最佳选项
　　I had my first job at the age of thirteen, when a friend of my mother’s who owned a book shop hired（雇佣） me for six hours a week to help her in the shop. I was very 　1　 　to earn my own pocket money and my parents 　2　 　interfered（干涉）with how I spent it, even when I was spending it foolishly. They believed that by earning money, spending it, and learning from the 　3　 , I would become more mature（成熟的） and responsible about how to handle work, relationships with others, and money.
　　Like many American parents, my parents also let me and my brothers do things over which they 　4 　　a great deal. When I was sixteen, for example, after I finished high school and before I entered university, I wanted to spend the summer months traveling around Europe. My mother was against the idea of my traveling alone at such a young age, but my father felt that it would be a great 　5　 　for me. In the end, my father won the argument（争论） on the 　6　 　that I limited（限定）my traveling to France, my mother’s home, where I had many uncles, aunts and cousins spread out through the country who could 　7　 　shelter（住处）and help if I needed them.
　　Three years later, my younger brother decided to 　8　 　a year off after his first year in university and travel through the United States and the Caribbean. Again my mother was very worried and not eager to see my brother leave school, but my father encouraged him and my brother had a(n) 　9　 　year working his way on trains and ships to 　10 　　passage to different ports and cities, and discovering many fascinating places and people.
　　These kinds of experiences are probably rare（稀少的）for children in many countries but in the US they are fairly common. Most parents start 　11　 　their children at a young age to do small things by themselves. By the time they have finished high school, many American kids have already had part-time jobs, traveled around the US or other countries on their own, have selected the university they plan to attend and maybe even 　12　 　on their future career, and so on.

The lady with the white fence（篱笆）taught me to leave the gale to life open.. .

My husband died in an accident and I became very angry. I hated being alone. One day, as I was　 43　 down a busy street, I suddenly noticed a new fence around a house. I pulled off to really watch it. It was such a good 　44　 that I was deeply touched. I could not send 　45 away. The fence still smelled of fresh paint.

“Hello!" I came up and said to a lady in the back garden, “I came to see the fence. It's so beautiful!"

“Oh! The fence is not there for me," the lady explained to me in a calm voice, “I live alone. _ 46_ so many people pass by every day, and I think they may be pleased to see something really attractive. 　　47　 stop like you and come up to have a chat. "

"But weren't you sad when they expanded (拓宽) the road and everything changed so much?"

"Change is part of life and takes part in 　 48　 us who we are. When something we do not

like happens to us, we have two choices—to become a 　 49　 person or to become a better person."

Her reply changed my life. I carefully left the gate open and drove on 　50 a new feeling inside me. I could not tell 　51 it was, but I could feel the thick stone wall around my angry heart breaking off. And 　52 a pretty white fence was built. I decided that I would keep the gate open for everything and everyone that came my way.

(　　　 ) 43. A. walking B. riding C. driving D. running

(　　　 ) 44. A. street B. paint C. house D. job

(　　　 ) 45. A. it B. them C. myself D. her

(　　　 ) 46. A. But B. Thus C. And D. As

(　　　 ) 47. A. Few B. A few C. Everyone D. None

{　 　　) 48. A. finding B. telling C. catching D. making

(　　　 ) 49. A. fitter B. bitter C. smarter D. sweeter

(　　　 ) 50. A. with B. for C. to D. by

(　　　 ) 51. A. when B. where C. who D. what

(　　　 ) 52. A. beyond B. once C. instead D. though

If it had been possible, I would have helped him, but I ______ too busy.

A. had been 　 B. would be 　 C. were 　 D. was