Angels

My friend Heather mentioned that she had never seen an Angel. Then I remembered the 36  I had with my sister Sandra earlier this week.

This will be Sandra’s first Christmas without her husband. This summer he died in her arms. On Thursday, she was in the store 　37　 for an ideal card for her two sons and daughter. Time passed by quickly as she 　38  the many choices. She wanted a card that sent something special to each of them, 　39  she knew they would have a(n) 　40  place in their heart this holiday season.

Finally! She found the one that expressed the 　41 feeling. The words expressed the feelings that she wished to share. However, a sharp pain pierced(穿透) her heart when she realized that the card was 　42 “mom and dad.” She stood there, 　43  it close for a long time, unable to move from the 　44  . Tears began to run down her cheeks.

“Is there something I can do for you?” a 　45  voice asked. She 　46  to face a stranger, a woman, who was looking at her with 　47  and concern. “Uh…oh...OH!” Sandra responded, “I can’t give this card to my children because…because my husband died and this is the 　48  card.”

Hearing this, the stranger’s face softened with sympathy(同情) and love. She reached out and　49  my sister into her arms, giving her unspoken permission to cry in the protection of her embrace(擁抱). She 　50  held my sister until her calmness　51  . “Thank you for listening to me cry on,” was what my sister said when all was better. “You are welcome, and I am so sorry for your 　52 ,” the stranger answered and said goodbye to her.

During her telling of this event I was feeling 　53  that I hadn’t been there. My sister needed me and a stranger had to do my 　54  .  “You know,” she went on, “a friend suggested that it was like meeting with an Angel.” My 　55  disappeared in an instant. My sister required an Angel, and I think that is exactly what she got.

“Hey, Dad, are you going to come to my award ceremony tonight?” I   36   asked my father.

“I have to work late tonight. I doubt I’ll be able to   37   it on time. I am just too busy right now,” he replied.

    My mind could not   38   the idea that he would be too busy working late. He was also too busy to   39   my horse show and the 15th birthday party. He always used the same   40  . Why had I even bothered to ask?   41  , there was always a slight hope that tonight would be   42  .

    As my mother and I arrived at school, two friends   43   me. “Jill, meet my dad. Dad, this is my friend Jill.” I shook the hand of a tall man. Camera flashes lit up the room, and claps filled the   44   as students accepted their awards. My name was finally called,   45   three others. I followed my classmates to the   46  . When I reached out my hand to shake the   47  , a big smile lit up her face. The blinding flash from my mother’s camera   48   my eyes and I knew my dad wasn’t there. I walked back to my seat   49  .

    Back at home, seeing my dad’s car in the garage, I told myself he would not be   50  . But the strong smell of alcohol hit me as soon as I  51   inside, and I could feel my tears   52  . I followed the sound of his drunken words and saw him   53   on the couch.

      54   did father lie to me? I threw my award on the floor, walked to my bedroom, and shut the door. Tears rolled down my face. I wondered if I would ever be more   55   than his whiskey bottle.

1.A. confidently            B. eagerly              C. proudly             D. casually

2.A. reach                    B. keep                 C. take                  D. make

3.A. create                    B. support             C. appreciate          D. accept

4.A. watch                    B. avoid                C. attend               D. speed

5.A. excuse                   B. problem            C. promise             D. trick

6.A. Besides                 B. Thus                 C. Otherwise          D. However

7.A. active                    B. formal                     C. different            D. serious

8.A. recognized             B. greeted              C. encouraged        D. showed

9.A. air                        B. audience            C. school               D. playground

10.A. up to                   B. other than          C. out of               D. along with

11.A. stage                   B. position             C. office                D. exit

12.A. Jill’s                          B. teacher’s           C. mother’s           D. father’s

13.A. fixed                   B. touched             C. hurt                  D. inserted

14.A. successfully         B. disappointedly   C. delightedly        D. hopefully

15.A. drunk                  B. woken               C. forgiven            D. hidden

16.A. stepped                B. noticed              C. examined          D. glanced

17.A. getting off           B. taking down      C. building up        D. turning around

18.A. leaning                B. lying                 C. moving             D. crying

19.A. How                          B. Where               C. Why                 D. Whether

20.A. perfect                B. comfortable              C. fortunate           D. important

One day, when I was in high school, I saw a kid named Kyle from my class walking home from school with all his books. I thought to myself, “  36 would anyone bring home all his books for the weekend? He must really be 37 .”

As I was walking, I saw several kids running toward him. They ran at him,   38 all his books out of his arms and he fell down in the dirt. His glasses went  39 and landed in the grass.

My  40 went out to him. So, I ran over to him.   41 I handed him his glasses, he looked at me and said, “Hey, thanks!”

I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived. As it  42 , he lived near me. We talked all the way home. Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends.

Kyle was the  43 student of our class, one of those guys that really found  44 during high school. Therefore he had the honor to prepare a  45 speech. On the graduation day, I could see that he was  46 . So, I patted him on the back and said, “Hey, big guy, you’ll be  47 !” He looked at me and smiled.

He cleared his throat, and began. “Graduation is a time to  48 those who helped you make it through those  49 years. Your parents, your teachers…but mostly your friends. I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best  50 you can give him.”

I just looked at my friend with  51 as he told the story of the first day we met. He had planned to  52 himself over the weekend and was carrying his books home. “Thankfully, nothing happened. My friend  53 me from doing the unspeakable(不能說出來的).”

Not until that moment did I realize that you should never underestimate(低估) the  54 of your actions. With one small gesture you can  55 a person’s life. For better or for worse.

閱讀下面短文,從短文后各題所給的四個選項(A、B、C、D)中,選出最佳選項。

Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends. When we were seniors, we began to think about college. Kyle   1.  on Georgetown, and I was going to Duke. I knew that we would always be   2.   and that the miles would never be a problem. Kyle was  3.    to prepare a speech for graduation.

Graduation day, I saw Kyle. I could see that he was   4.   about his speech. So, I patted him on the back and said, "Hey, big guy, you'll be great!" He looked at me with one of those   5.    (the really grateful one) and smiled. "Thanks," he said. 

As he started his speech, he  6.   his throat, and began. "Graduation is a time to   7.   those who helped you   8.   it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach.... but   9.  , your friends. I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best   10.   you can give them. I am going to tell you a story."

I just looked at my friend with   11.  as he told the story of the first day we met. He had planned to   12.  himself over the weekend. He talked of how he had  13.    his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home. He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile. "   14.   , I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable."

I heard the  15.  go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment. I saw his Mom and Dad  16.  me and smiling that same grateful smile. Not until that moment did I   17.  it's depth. 

Never underestimate(低估) the   18.  of your actions. With one small gesture you can change a person's life. For   19.   or for worse. Friends are angles who lift us to our feet when our wings have   20.   remembering how to fly. . 

21.A．decided                       B．called                        C．took                          D．a(chǎn)greed

22.A．classmates                 B．neighbors                C．friends                      D．students

23.A．hoped                          B．chosen                     C．forced                       D．supposed

24.A．sure                              B．nervous                    C．eager                        D．curious

25.A．manners                     B．impressions            C．interests                  D．looks

26.A．raised                          B．cleared                     C．swallowed               D．felt

27.A．thank                           B．understand             C．a(chǎn)ssist                        D．please

28.A．get                                B．catch                        C．manage                   D．make

29.A．practically                   B．nearly                       C．mostly                      D．seriously

30.A．lesson                          B．request                    C．gift                            D．position

31.A．dislike                          B．disbelief                   C．disagreement        D．disrespect

32.A．kill                                 B．help                           C．direct                        D．dismiss

33.A．broken up                   B．put out                     C．set up                       D．cleaned out

34.A．ThankfullyB．Unfortunately                           C．Actually                    D．Hopelessly

35.A．a(chǎn)nger                           B．disappointment     C．gasp                          D．terror

36.A．pointing toB．looking at                                  C．a(chǎn)ppealing to           D．a(chǎn)iming at

37.A．reach                           B．observe                    C．realize                      D．measure

38.A．power                          B．purpose                   C．reason                      D．reward

39.A．fairer                            B．longer                       C．better                       D．harder

40.A．time      B．energy        C．freedom     D．trouble

完型填空（共20小題；每小題1.5分，滿分30分）

閱讀下面短文，掌握其大意，然后從36—55各題所給的四個選項（A、B、C和D）中，選出最佳選項，并在答題卡上將該項涂黑。

LAST weekend, I helped my friend Alex get money for poor children at Crossroads Mall He  36  needed volunteers, especially of the female. I decided that this was a pretty good  37  , so the next day I got ready to go.

I arrived at Crossroads about five minutes  38  , and helped Alex and   39  of the volunteers. There were only three  40  at first, and we figured we might as well get started  41  just waiting for more to arrive. I held the   42  , and suddenly felt extremely shy. I did not  43  asking people for donations. In fact, I’m usually one of those people who try to   44  those boring stands and ask you for a little contribution. For heaven’s sake, I can contribute to a few,   45  I cannot alone  46  every single cause in the world!

I really didn’t like the idea of asking anyone for donations to our cause.   47  , I watched my friends speak to the strangers, and noticed that they were extra polite to everyone—no matter whether they  48  . I realized that   49  I wasn’t pushy（強求的）, it would be okay, and my conscience could be  50  .

I pasted on a large smile, and started asking people passing by. My mouth tripped over words, and I continually said “um” while I thought of the correct terms.   51  I talked to more and more people. Not only improved, but also started noticing small  52  . Instead of saying “donate”, which made most people walk away  53  .I started suing the word “contribute”. I added the phrase “every little bit counts”, and people started to donate small amounts in larger quantities. As the day went on, I learned how to pull on the hearts of the   54  , and I became a successful fundraiser.

At the end of the day, we all gathered at Alex’s house and   55  how much money we raised. I was so surprised; We raised over $300! We celebrated, and went home tired, but satisfied that we helped a great cause.

1.A．every            B．much           C．desperately    D．too

2.A．cause            B．business       C．a(chǎn)ffair         D．career

3.A．earlier          B．early          C．later          D．late

4.A．the other        B．others         C．a(chǎn)nother        D．the rest

5.A．passers—by      B．teachers       C．volunteers     D．people

6.A．instead of       B．but            C．in spite of    D．in place of

7.A．signal           B．signature      C．sing           D．symbol

8.A．a(chǎn)ppreciate       B．like           C．want           D．need

9.A．a(chǎn)nnoy            B．flee           C．meet           D．a(chǎn)void

10.A．a(chǎn)nd             B．but            C．or             D．so

11.A．do              B．support        C．make           D．create

12.A．What’s more    B．Besides        C．Whatever       D．However

13.A．donated         B．gave           C．came           D．passed

14.A．a(chǎn)s soon as      B．a(chǎn)s far as      C．a(chǎn)s long as     D．a(chǎn)s short as

15.A．a(chǎn)t ease         B．with happiness C．in silence     D．in surprise

16.A．As              B．Before         C．Since          D．During

17.A．a(chǎn)ctions         B．hoopes         C．wishes         D．trends

18.A．slow            B．fast           C．slower         D．faster

19.A．goers           B．passers-by     C．students       D．strangers

20.A．thought         B．looked at      C．counted        D．decided