Since I have been in my new neighborhood, I have had the pleasure of meeting a few of my neighbors. My 　 gift 36 was to make small fruit baskets and leave them on each of my neighbors’ front gate the night of Christmas Eve for them to find. I 　37 the cards: “Happy Holidays from 5104 Northumberland Road.”

I saved the friendly lady for last, since I was still not exactly 38 where she lived. I 　39 decided upon a house nearby where I 　40 her each morning and felt relatively sure that it was hers.

This morning I noticed a small 　41 inside the mailbox. It was addressed simply — Resident, 5104 Northumberland Road. I opened the 　42 and took out a Thank You card. The 　43　 said, “Thank you for the lovely fruit basket you 　44 on the gate of Richard Kelly. It was very 　45 　of you. Richard Kelly passed away half a month ago. He never stopped 　46 　about how nice it was that someone remembered him in his time of 　47 . He really appreciated it.”

I was sincerely 　48 . I had no idea who Richard Kelly was or that he had been 49 ill. I had left that 　nice lady’s basket on Mr Kelly’s porch by 　50 . I wanted to say by mistake, but that would be wrong. I believe that Richard Kelly was 　51 to have that basket. I hate that the lady did not 　52 a fruit basket from me, but I believe that 　53 she knew what had happened, she would not have had the outcome any other way.

I feel blessed to have made Richard Kelly’s last days more 　54 . This just further strengthen my belief that there are never any 　55 in life.

36．A．thought　　　　　　　　　 B．idea　 　　　 　　　 C．expectation　　　　　　 D．opinion

37．A．made　　　　 　 　　　 B．signed　　　　　　 　　　 C．wrote　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D．posted

38．A．certain　　　　　　　　　　 B．aware　 　　　 　　　 C．forgetful　　　　　　　　 D．sure

39．A．eventually 　　　 B．immediately　　 　　　 C．honestly　　　　　　　　 D．terribly

40．A．greeted　　　　　　　　　 B．walked　　　　　　 　　　 C．discovered　　　　　　　　　　 D．met

41．A．basket　　　　　　　　　　 　　　 B．note　　　　 　 　　　 C．present　　　　　　　　　 D．cheque

42．A．mailbox　　　　　　　　　 B．window　　　　　 　　　 C．envelop　　　　　　　　　 D．book

43．A．author　　　　　　　　　　 　　　 B．owner　　　　　　 　　　 C．card　　　　　　　　　　　 D．picture

44．A．designed　　　　　　　　 B．made　　　 　 　　　 C．provided　　　　　　　　 D．left

45．A．considerate　　　　　　 　　　 B．attractive　　　　 　　　 C．valuable　　　　　　　　 D．practical

46．A．talking　　　　　　　　　　 B．asking 　　　　　 　　　 C．wondering　　　　　　　　　　 D．worrying

47．A．poverty　　　　　　　　　 B．trouble　　　　　　 　　　 C．illness　　　　　　 　 D．danger

48．A．excited　　　　　　　　　 B．interested　　　　 　　　 C．astonished　　　 　 D．inspired

49．A．hardly　　　　　　　 　　　 B．seriously　　　　 　　　 C．hopefully　　　　　　　 D．probably

50．A．hand　　　　　　　　　　　 B．chance　　　　　　 　　　 C．day　　　　　　　　　　　 D．turn

51．A．meant　　　　　　　 　　　 B．allowed　　　　　 　　　 C．advised　　　　　　　　　 D．forbidden

52．A．find　　　　　　　　　　　　 B．hide　　　　　　　　 　　　 C．buy　　　　　　　　　　　 D．receive

53．A．unless　　　　　　　 　　　 B．because　　　　　 　　　 C．though　　　　　　　　　 D．if

54．A．cheerful　　　　　　　　　 B．hopeful　　　　　 　　　 C．wonderful　　　　　　　 D．meaningful

55．A．mistakes　　　　　　　　 B．regrets　　　　　　 　　　 C．changes　　　　　　　　 D．secrets

The Channel Islands are a group of British-owned islands lying in the English Channel, 10 to 30 miles off the French coast, and 70 to 90 miles from the English coast. There are ten islands with a total land area of 75 square miles and a total population of 123,000. The three largest islands, Jersey, Guernsey, and Alderney, have long been known for the fine breeds (品种) of cattle that are raised on them and named after them.

　　In earliest known history the islands were considered part of Normandy, which was part of France, but the ruler of Normandy became king of England in 1066, and from then on the islands were looked upon as British land. English control was unbroken until World War II, when the Germans held the islands for five years.

　　Although people on the islands speak both languages and they are considered English, their customs are more French than English.

1.Which of the following maps gives the right position of the Channel Islands?

　　Br = Britain 　　 　　Fr = France 　　　　Ch = Channel Islands

2.Jersey, Guernsey, and Alderney breeds of cattle are __________.

　　A. considered best in England

　　B. named after their birthplaces

　　C. brought to the islands by the Germans

　　D. raised on well-known farms by the French

3. The Channel Islands have been continuously under British rule since__________.

　　A. earliest known history         B. 1066

　　C. 1930s                      D. the end of World War II

4.Why do people on the Channel Islands follow French way of living?

　　A. Their islands used to be part of France.

　　B. Their islands are often visited by the French.

　　C. They came from France.

D. They speak French.