9. 常州市武进4校2006-2007年度高三四校联考质量检测

He must have been completely lost in something he was reading because I had to tap on the windshield to get his attention.

“Is your taxi 　36 　?” I asked when he finally looked 　37 　at me. He nodded, then said 　38 　as I settled into the back seat, “I'm sorry, but I was reading a 　39 　.” He 　40 　as if he had a cold .

“I am not in a hurry,” I told him. “Go ahead and finish your letter.” He 　41 　his head. “I've read it several times already. I guess I 　42 　know it by heart.”

“Letters from home always mean a lot,” I said. “From a child?”

“This isn't 　43 　,” he replied. “Although it 　44 　just as well have been family. Old Ed was my oldest friend. In fact, we used to call each other 'Old Friend' when we'd meet. I'm not much good at 　45 .”

“I don't think any of us keep 　46 　our correspondence (通信) too well,” I said. “I know I don't. But I take it he's someone you've 　47 　quite a while?”

“All my life. We were kids together, went to school together and all the 　48 　through high school.”

“There are not too many people who've had such a long friendship,” I said.

“ 49 ,” the driver went on, “I hadn't seen him more than once or twice a year over the past 25 or 30 years because I 　50 　away from the old neighborhood and you kind of lose touch 　51 　you never forget.”

“You said 'was'. Does that mean-?” He nodded. “ 52 　a couple of weeks ago.”

“I'm sorry,” I said. “It's no fun to lose any friend-and losing a real old one is 　53 　tougher.”

He didn't 　54 　to that, and we rode on in silence for a few minutes. But I realized that Old Ed was still on his mind when he spoke again, almost more to himself than to me: “I should have kept in touch.”

“Well,” I agreed, “we should all keep in touch with old friends more than we do. But things 　55 　and we just don't seem to find the time.”

When I got to my hotel room I didn't unpack right away. First I had to write a letter and mail it.

55．A．talks　　　　　　　　　 B．says　　　　　　　　　　 C．speaks　　　　　　　　 D．tells

[ key 36~40 BDCAD，41~45 CAABD　　　 46~50 CCDDA 51~53 DBACAC ]

54．A．observation 　　　　 B．recognition　　　　　 C．conclusion　　　　　 D．question

53．A．In addition　　　　　 B．In all　　　　　　　　　 C．In fact　　　　　　　　 D．In general

52．A．Somehow　　　　　　 B．Anyhow　　　　　　　 C．Thus　　　　　　　　　 D．Therefore

51．A．completed　　　　　 B．stopped　　　　　　　 C．succeeded　　　　　　 D．ended

50．A．couldn’t　　　　　　　 B．mustn’t　　　　　　　 C．shouldn’t　　　　　　 D．needn’t

49．A．wished　　　　　　　　 B．asked　　　　　　　　　 C．hoped　　　　　　　　 D．meant

48．A．free　　　　　　　　　　 B．lonely　　　　　　　　 C．terrible　　　　　　　　 D．perfect

47．A．However　　　　　　 B．Therefore　　　　　　 C．Instead　　　　　　　　 D．Besides