完形填空

　　The lake before me, blue and peaceful, in the evening 1 . On either side the mountains rose sharply (突出地) , surrounding it in a kind of bowl. A few sheep 2 their sides and here and there a cow was 3 eating on the lower slopes (斜坡). The place was so far away, so untouched by human work, that it seemed the very place to 4 . Even Higgs, I thought, wouldn't be able to find me here.

　　I sat down by the edge of the lake and, pulling 5 my shoes and socks, put my 6 in the water. It was cold, like ice. After a moment I 7 over and spread some of the 8 on my hot face. I could see myself unclearly in the water staring at me like a 9 .

　　I realized suddenly how 10 I was of running away. Surely, I thought I could live here for a few days, out of 11 of Higgs and his men. White I tried to 12 some plans for the future, I found a tiny wooden house on the far side of the 13 with sane smoke coming from its roof. I still had a little money. Perhaps they would give me a 14 and some food.

　　As I watched, a men came out of the house and down to a little 15 at the lake side. He got into it and began to move 16 towards my side. I could not see his 17 at first. He continued calmly 18 the lake and, when he was about halfway, he rested his oars (船桨) and the boat drifted into a patch of sunlight . He 19 a hand in a friendly way of greeting. I was about to raise mine in satisfaction 20 all at once I saw his face clearly: it was Higgs.

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The drug store was closing for the night and Alfred Higgins was about to go home when his new boss approached him.

“Empty your pockets please, Alfred,” Sam Carr demanded in a firm voice.

Alfred pretended to be shocked but he knew he’d been caught. From his coat he withdrew a make-up kit, a lipstick and two tubes of toothpaste.

“I’m disappointed in you, Alfred!” said the little gray-haired man.

“Sorry, sir. Please forgive me. It’s the first time I’ve ever done such a thing,” Alfred lied, hoping to gain the old man’s sympathy.

Mr Carr’s brow furrowed as he reached for the phone, “Do you take me for a fool? Let’s see what the police have to say. But first I’ll call your mother and let her know her son is heading to jail.”

“Do whatever you want,” Alfred shot back, trying to sound big. But deep down he felt like a child. He imagined his mother rushing in, eyes burning with anger, maybe in tears. Yet he wanted her to come quickly before Mr. Carr called the police.

Mr. Carr was surprised when Mrs Higgins finally arrived. She was very calm, quiet and friendly. “Is Alfred in trouble?” she asked.

“He’s been stealing from the store,” the old man coolly replied.

Mrs. Higgins put out her hand and touched Mr. Carr’s arm with great gentleness as if she knew just how he felt. She spoke as if she did not want to cause him any more trouble. “What do you want to do, Mr. Carr?”

The woman’s calm and gentle manner disarmed the once-angry store-owner. “I was going to get a cop. But I don’t want to be cruel. Tell your son not to come back here again, and I’ll let it go.” Then he warmly shook Mrs. Higgins’s hand.

Mrs. Higgins thanked the old man for his kindness, then mother and son left. They walked along the street in silence. When they arrived home his mother simply said, “Go to bed, you fool.”

In his bedroom, Alfred heard his mother in the kitchen. He felt no shame, only pride in his mother’s actions. “She was smooth!” he thought. He went to the kitchen to tell her how great she was, but was shocked by what he saw.

His mother’s face looked frightened, broken. Not the cool, bright face he saw earlier. Her lips moved nervously. She looked very old. There were tears in her eyes.

This picture of his mother made him want to cry. He felt his youth ending. He saw all the troubles he brought her and the deep lines of worry in her grey face. It seemed to him that this was the first time he had ever really seen his mother.

Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A. It was the first time Alfred had stolen anything.

B. Alfred tried to sound big to hide his fear.

C. Mr. Carr set a trap to catch Alfred stealing.

D. Mr. Carr had planned to forgive Alfred from the beginning.

What does the underlined word “disarmed” probably mean?

A. annoyed                   B. made less angry

C. convinced                 D. got over

What was the mother’s attitude toward Alfred?

A. She felt disappointed with him.

B. She was very strict with him.

C. She was supportive of him.

D. She was afraid of him.

What impressed Alfred most about his mother at the drugstore was ________.

A. how angry she was

B. that she didn’t cry

C. that she was able to save him

D. how effectively she handled Mr. Carr

From the last paragraph, we know that Alfred ________.

A. was no longer a youth

B. felt proud of his mother

C. wanted his mother to be happy

D. felt guilty and regretful for his deed