阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
Nowadays lots of students ask their parents for money to buy things they like. For me, to ask for money is like entering a(n) _36__. I learned this from  37 .
Last year my mother told me that the _ 38  way I would get a driver’s license before I turned eighteen depended on _ 39  I paid for the classes myself. “What?” I asked in _ 40  . But I knew _ 41  that my reasoning would have no_ 42  on the situation,  43__ by the look on my mother’s face.
Three weeks later, I started working _ 44  a hostess at a factory, twice a week. A month later I paid $ 270 for driving lessons, and then over $ 20 to _ 45  my permit test. My pockets were empty _ 46  as soon as they were filled.
My mother thought that I’d be _ 47  to do things without her help. The funny thing was that even though I was totally _ 48  in the beginning, I truly appreciated it, _ 49  if I had just been handed bills from her.
When I realized that my mother wasn’t going to _ 50  something like a driver’s license, at first, it seemed as if she had __51__ an immovable block before me and I would never _ 52  it. But my mother was __53 _. She knew that I wanted a luxury（奢侈品）but _ 54  me to get it. That is as _ 55  as this ---- if I really want it, I’ll find a way to get it myself.

I was in a rush as always, but this time it was for an important date I just couldn’t be late for! I found myself at a checkout counter behind an elderly woman seemingly in no hurry as she paid for her groceries.  Being a PhD student without a lot of money, I had hurried into the store to pick up some flowers. I was in a huge rush, thinking of my upcoming evening. I did not want to be late for this date
We were in Boston, a place not always known for small conversations between strangers. The woman stopped unloading her basket and looked up at me. She smiled. It was a nice smile—warm and reassuring(令人宽慰的)-and I returned her gift by smiling back.
“Must be a special lady, whoever it is that will be getting those beautiful flowers,” she said.
“Yes, she’s special,” I said, and then to my embarrassment, the words kept coming out. “It’s only our second date, but somehow I am just having the feeling she’s ‘the one,’” jokingly, I added, “The only problem is that I can’t figure out why she’d want to date a guy like me.”
“Well, I think she’s very lucky to have a boyfriend who brings her such lovely flowers and who is obviously in love with her,” the woman said .”My husband used to bring me flowers every week—even when times were tough and we didn’t have much money. Those were incredible days; he was very romantic and—of course— I miss him since he’s passed away.”
I paid for my flowers as she was gathering up her groceries. There was no doubt in my mind as I walked up to her. I touched her on the shoulder and said “You were right, you know. These flowers are indeed for a very special lady.” I handed the flowers and thanked her for such a nice conversation.
It took her a moment to realize that I was giving her the flowers I had just purchased. “May you have a wonderful evening ,”I said. I left het with a big smile and my heart warmed as I saw her smelling the beautiful flowers.
I remember being slightly late for my date that night and telling my girlfriend the above story. A couple of years later, when I finally worked up the courage to ask her to marry me, she told me that this story had helped to seal it for her—that was the night that I won her heart .
41．Why was the writer in a hurry that day?
A. He was to meet his girlfriend.         B. He had to go back to school soon.
C. He was delayed by an elderly lady.      D. He had to pick up some groceries.
42．What does the underlined phrase “her gift” (Paragraph 2 ) refer to?
A. Her words.            B. Her smile.     C. Her flowers.         D. Her politeness.
43．Why did the writer give his flowers to the elderly lady?
A. She told him a nice story.                B. She allowed him to pay first.
C. She gave him encouragement.             D. She liked flowers very much.
44．What is the message conveyed in the story?
A. Flowers are important for a date.      B. Small talk is helpful.
C. Love and kindness are rewarding.       D. Elderly people deserve respecting.

第二节完形填空（每小题1.5分，共30分）
Passing Your Love On
Waiting for the airplane to take off, I was happy to get a seat by myself. Just then, an air hostess approached me and asked, “Would you mind  16  your seat? A couple would like to sit together.” The only  17  seat was next to a girl with her arms in casts（石膏绷带）, a black-and-blue face, and a sad  18 . “No way am I going to sit there,” I thought immediately. But a soft voice spoke, “She needs help.” Finally, I  19  to move to that seat.
The girl was named Kathy. She had been in a car accident and  20  was on her way for  21 .
When the snack and juice arrived, it did not take me long to  22  that Kathy would not be able to  23  herself. I considered  24  to feed her but hesitated, as it seemed too  25  to offer a service to a  26 . But then I realized that Kathy’s need was more  27  than my discomfort. I offered to help her eat, and  28  she was uncomfortable to accept, she  29  as I expected. We became closer and closer in a short period of time. By the end of the five-hour trip, my heart had  30 , and the time was really  31  spent than if I had just sat by myself.
I was very glad I had reached  32  my comfort zone to sit next to Kathy and feed her. Love  33  flows beyond human borders and removes the fears that keep us  34 . When we stretch to serve another, we grow to live  35  a larger and more rewarding world.
16. A. leaving                        B. changing                  C. taking               D. giving
17. A. comfortable               B. suitable                   C. available           D. favorable
18. A. heart                      B. expression                  C. action               D. thought
19. A. decided                     B. wanted                    C. regretted           D. promised
20. A. immediately               B. lately                         C. recently            D. now
21. A. treatment                  B. travel                         C. pleasure            D. business
22. A. know                        B. say                          C. realize             D. recognize
23. A. eat                            B. feed                        C. choose              D. support
24. A. offering                    B. needing                   C. stopping           D. trying
25. A. impolite                    B. far                          C. close                D. fast
26. A. girl                           B. neighbor                  C. passenger          D. stranger
27. A. unusual                 B. direct                    C. important       D. shameful
28. A. when                        B. although                  C. since                D. as
29. A. refused                        B. wondered                C. cried                D. did
30. A. warmed                    B. jumped                    C. broken             D. cheered
31. A. good                         B. worse                      C. better                  D. bad
32. A. below                      B. through                   C. across               D. beyond
33. A. seldom                         B. never                      C. hardly              D. sometimes
34. A. separate                    B. independent             C. silent         D. upset
35. A. of                                B. in                           C. at              D. for

It was a cold winter’s night when I stopped for gas on my way home from work. I was tired and had a slight   36  .

I worked in a   37   doctor’s office and this was one of those days when the unexpected happened, making the schedule run   38   than usual. It seemed I was going to be late   39   home and my husband, being the   40   person, would be ready to pronounce me late once again. Maybe   41   I hurried, I could still make it home.

I was heading inside to   42   for my gas when I noticed an older couple at the counter. I heard them asking for   43   to the local hospital. It was the same hospital that I had just   44   a few minutes ago.

The young man at the counter was trying to be   45   in explaining how to get there, with two other people making   46  . One of them was   47   trying to give them a whole different route back. It was then that I walked over to the couple and said, “Would you like to follow me to the   48  ?”

A look of   49   crossed the woman’s face.

“I’m going right by there,” I said, which wasn’t a(an)   50   since I had just made up my mind to do   51   that.

I got in my car and began the journey back. I was trying to watch to be sure they were right   52   me. It took only fifteen minutes to get there as rush hour traffic was beginning to   53  . I felt better than I had all day and my headache was nearly gone.

Later, as I arrived home, my husband   54  , “So you aren’t ever late any more.”

I said, “Sometimes it’s   55   to be late.”

1.A. break      B. fever            C. cold         D. headache

2. A. foreign       B. common       C. busy         D. noisy

3.A. earlier        B. later            C. easier           D. simpler

4. A. getting       B. cooking      C. calling          D. working

5. A. tough     B. punctual     C. generous     D. careful

6.A. as         B. since            C. while            D. if 

7.A. pay        B. change           C. wait         D. search

8.A. opinions   B. trouble          C. directions       D. money

9.A. reached        B. visited          C. called           D. left

10.A. skilled       B. helpful          C. experienced      D. active     

11.A. comments  B. promises     C. jokes            D. offers

12. A. only     B. still            C. even         D. ever

13.A. station       B. office           C. hospital     D. hotel

14.A. panic     B. relief           C. sadness      D. peace

15.A. duty      B. fact         C. reason           D. lie 

16.A. partly        B. properly     C. exactly      D. perfectly

17.A. across        B. before           C. beside           D. behind

18.A. go up     B. die down     C. speed up     D. turn down

19.A. teased        B. shouted      C. burst            D. laughed

20.A. possible      B. usual            C. good         D. safe

In this age of Internet chat, videogames and reality television, there is no shortage of mindless activities to keep a child occupied. Yet, despite the competition, my 8-year-old daughter Rebecca wants to spend her free time writing short stories. She wants to enter one of her stories into a writing contest, a competition she won last year.

As a writer I know about winning contests, and about losing them. I know what it is like to work hard on a story only to receive a rejection slip (退稿条) from the publisher. I also know the pressures of trying to live up to a reputation created by previous victories. What if she doesn’t win the contest again? That’s the strange thing about being a parent. So many of our own past scars and ruined hopes can surface.

A revelation (启示) came last week when I asked her, “Don’t you want to win again?”

“No”, she replied, “I just want to tell the story of an angel going to first grade.”

I had just spent weeks correcting her stories as she spontaneously (自发地) told them. Telling myself that I was merely an experienced writer guiding the young writer across the hall, I offered suggestions for characters, conflicts and endings for her tales. The story about a fearful angel starting first grade was quickly “guided” by me into the tale of a little girl with a wild imagination taking her first music lesson. I had turned her contest into my contest without even realizing it.

Staying back and giving kids space to grow is not as easy as it looks. Because I know very little about farm animals who use tools or angels who go to first grade, I had to accept the fact that I was co-opting (借用) my daughter’s experience.

While stepping back was difficult for me, it was certainly a good first step that I will quickly follow with more steps, putting myself far enough away to give her room but close enough to help if asked. All the while I will be reminding myself that children need room to experiment, grow and find their own voices.

What do we learn form the first paragraph?

A. Now too many entertainments take up too much time.

B. Children do find lots of fun in many mindless activities.

C. Rebecca is much too occupied to enjoy her free time.

D. Rebecca draws on a lot of online materials for her writing.

What did the author say about her own writing experience?

A. She was constantly under pressure of writing more.

B. Most of her stories had been rejected by publishers.

C. She did not quite live up to her reputation as a writer.

D. Her way to success was full of pains and frustrations.

Why did Rebecca want to enter this year’s writing contest?

A. She had won a prize in the previous contest.

B. She wanted to share her stories with readers.

C. She was sure of winning with her mother’s help.

D. She believed she possessed real talent for writing.

What’s the author’s advice for parents?

A. Children should be given every chance to voice their opinions.

B. Parents should keep an eye on the activities their kids engage in.

C. Children should be allowed freedom to grow through experience.

D. A writing career, though attractive, is not for every child to pursue.