III. Reading Comprehension
Section A
Directions: For each blank in the following passage there are four words or phrases marked A, B, C and D. Fill in each blank with the word or phrase that best fits the context.
She's open-minded and I'm conservative(保守的). She loves vegetables and I prefer doughnuts. She saves ducks and I eat them. We are very best friends, completely ___(50)___ in everything we do, but true soul mates to the core.
It's truly an unusual relationship. Pat and I started out with the same ___(51)___ in Catholic(天主教) school, but over the years Pat could no longer handle the guilt and completely ___(52)___ her ideas, while I remain a Catholic and practice religiously.
___(53)____ our relationship sometimes has its ups and downs, it has lasted longer than any of our marriages, and ___(54)___, all of our disagreements work themselves out. We ___(55)___ our inner thoughts and dreams, and we know that our deepest darkest secrets are sacred.（神圣的）
When my father was dying, I ___(56)___ endless hours in the hospital. Pat visited ___(57)___, lifting my spirits in the midst of the sadness. Even my dad, in his final days, __(58)____ about Pat's native energy healings, after she performed one in his room, and he questioned if it was Santeria（古巴的一种宗教）—Cuban black magic. Those were the days I truly understood the meaning of ___(59)___, as she brought my Bombshell friends in, filled with gifts designed to make me laugh.
I didn't have time for new friends ___(60)___ Pat brought these Bombshell women into my life. On this day, I understood why my friend brought us all together. The compassion(同情，怜悯) and ___(61)___ I received from these women is a feeling I will ___(62)___ for the rest of my life.
Dad died that same night my friends came to see me, and Pat stood with my family at his bedside as he ___(63)___ his last breath. As my family embraced in a(n) ___(64) ___ farewell, I was thankful to God for bringing Pat into my life.
50. A. common                    B. opposite                  C. consistent                       D. same
51. A. interests                    B. ambitions                C. beliefs                          D. wishes
52. A. transformed                      B. kept                         C. develop                           D. promote
53. A. As                      B. if                             C. Though                           D. once
54. A. hardly                       B. unfortunately           C. especially                        D. finally
55. A. have                         B. share                       C. speak out                        D. change
56. A. spent                        B. kept                         C. lasted                              D. took
57. A. rarely                       B. specially                   C. carefully                         D. frequently
58. A. played                             B. joked                       C. showed                           D. brought
59. A. surprise                     B. help                        C. friendship                       D. joy
60. A. whom                        B. which                      C. because                           D. when
61. A. gifts                          B. friends                       C. love                   D. responsibility
62. A. emphasize                  B. admire                            C. value                              D. enjoy
63. A. got back                    B. took                         C. held                                D. let out
64. A. emotional                  B. amazing              C. shocking              D. unexpected

III. Reading Comprehension

Section A

Directions: For each blank in the following passage there are four words or phrases marked A, B, C and D. Fill in each blank with the word or phrase that best fits the context.

She's open-minded and I'm conservative(保守的). She loves vegetables and I prefer doughnuts. She saves ducks and I eat them. We are very best friends, completely ___(50)___ in everything we do, but true soul mates to the core.

It's truly an unusual relationship. Pat and I started out with the same ___(51)___ in Catholic(天主教) school, but over the years Pat could no longer handle the guilt and completely ___(52)___ her ideas, while I remain a Catholic and practice religiously.

___(53)____ our relationship sometimes has its ups and downs, it has lasted longer than any of our marriages, and ___(54)___, all of our disagreements work themselves out. We ___(55)___ our inner thoughts and dreams, and we know that our deepest darkest secrets are sacred.（神圣的）

When my father was dying, I ___(56)___ endless hours in the hospital. Pat visited ___(57)___, lifting my spirits in the midst of the sadness. Even my dad, in his final days, __(58)____ about Pat's native energy healings, after she performed one in his room, and he questioned if it was Santeria（古巴的一种宗教）—Cuban black magic. Those were the days I truly understood the meaning of ___(59)___, as she brought my Bombshell friends in, filled with gifts designed to make me laugh.

I didn't have time for new friends ___(60)___ Pat brought these Bombshell women into my life. On this day, I understood why my friend brought us all together. The compassion(同情，怜悯) and ___(61)___ I received from these women is a feeling I will ___(62)___ for the rest of my life.

Dad died that same night my friends came to see me, and Pat stood with my family at his bedside as he ___(63)___ his last breath. As my family embraced in a(n) ___(64) ___ farewell, I was thankful to God for bringing Pat into my life.

50. A. common                    B. opposite                  C. consistent                       D. same

51. A. interests                    B. ambitions                C. beliefs                          D. wishes

52. A. transformed                      B. kept                         C. develop                           D. promote

53. A. As                      B. if                             C. Though                           D. once

54. A. hardly                       B. unfortunately           C. especially                        D. finally

55. A. have                         B. share                       C. speak out                        D. change

56. A. spent                        B. kept                         C. lasted                              D. took

57. A. rarely                       B. specially                   C. carefully                         D. frequently

58. A. played                             B. joked                       C. showed                           D. brought

59. A. surprise                     B. help                        C. friendship                       D. joy

60. A. whom                        B. which                      C. because                           D. when

61. A. gifts                          B. friends                       C. love                   D. responsibility

62. A. emphasize                  B. admire                            C. value                              D. enjoy

63. A. got back                    B. took                         C. held                                D. let out

64. A. emotional                  B. amazing              C. shocking              D. unexpected

When I was young, I went looking for gold in California. I never found enough to make a rich strike. But I did discover a beautiful part of the country called Stanislau. Like Heaven on Earth, it had bright green hills and deep forests where soft winds touched the trees. By the time I arrived, the charming paradise had been deserted because miners’ good luck didn’t last.

Then, I realized I was not alone after all.

A man was smiling at me as he stood in front of his little house. Its front yard was full of blue and yellow flowers. White curtains hung from the windows and floated in the soft summer wind.

Still smiling, the man invited me inside. My spirit seemed to come to life again. I saw a bright rug on the shining wooden floor. And on little tables there were seashells, books and china vases full of flowers. A woman had made this house into a home. The delight in my heart showed on my face. The man read my thoughts. “All her work.” He said affectionately, “Nothing here hasn’t felt the touch of her hand.”

One picture on the wall was not hanging straight. He went to fix it. He stepped back several times to make sure the picture was straight. Then he gave it a gentle touch. “She always does that,” he explained, “It is like the finishing pat a mother gives her child’s hair after she has brushed it. I don’t know why I do it. I just do it.”

As he talked, I went to a little black-walnut shelf that held a small picture of the most beautiful creature I had ever seen. There was a sweetness and softness in the woman’s expression. The man stared at the picture. “Nineteen her last birthday. That was the day we married. When you see her...ah, just wait until you meet her!” “Where is she now?” I asked. “Oh, she is away visiting her parents. This is Wednesday,” he said slowly. “She will be back on Saturday, in the evening.”

That night, I stayed. The man told me his name was Henry.

Thursday evening we had two visitors, Tom and Joe. “We just drop over to ask when little madam is coming home. Any news from her?” “Oh yes,” the man replied. “A letter.” He took a yellowed letter out of his wallet and read it. It was full of loving messages. While reading, he glimpsed his friends and cried out, “Oh no, you are doing it again, Tom! Take your hands away and let me see your eyes. I’m going to tell her this time!” “No, you mustn’t do that, Henry,” the grey-haired miner said. “I am getting old. And any little sorrow makes me cry. Lord, we miss her so.”

Saturday finally came.

I was glad to see his two friends, Tom and Joe, with guitars, coming down the road as the sun began to set. They put the flowers they brought in vases and began to play some fast and lively songs.

Henry’s friends kept giving him glasses of whiskey. When I reached for one of the two remaining glasses, Tom stopped my arm. “Drop that! Take the other.” he whispered. I did so. Henry was served last. He had hardly swallowed his drink when the clock struck midnight. His face grew pale and paler. “Boys,” he said, “I am sick with fear. Help! I want to lie down.” Henry was asleep almost before the words were out of his mouth.

In a moment, those handy men had his clothes off and tucked him into his bed. They seemed to be getting ready to leave. So I said, “Please don’t go, gentlemen. She won’t know me. I am a stranger.” They glanced at each other. Then Joe said, “She? Poor thing, she’s been dead nineteen years!” “Dead?” I whispered. “That or worse.” he said.

“She went to see her folks half a year after she got married. On her way back, on a Saturday evening in June, when she was almost here, the Indians captured her. She’s never been heard of since. Henry went insane. But he only gets bad when that time of year comes round. Then we drop in here, three days before she’s due, to encourage him up and listen to him read the letter. Saturday we all come and get everything ready for a dance. We’ve done it for nineteen years. The first Saturday there were twenty-seven of us, but only two now. We drug him to sleep through the night. Then he’s all right for another year.”

The two old men opened the door and disappeared into the darkness of Stanislau.

1.You can sense the existence of a woman from the following sentences EXCEPT “______”.

A. Soft winds touched the trees in Stanislau.

B. There was a bright rug on the shining wooden floor.

C. There were seashells, books and china vases full of flowers.

D. A little black shelf held a small picture of a woman.

2.Tom cried when Henry read the yellowed letter, because ______.

A. he was getting older and older

B. he was moved by the loving messages in the letter

C. he felt sad at the thought of Henry’s wife

D. he was disappointed that Henry’s wife would arrive so late

3.Tom stopped my reaching for whiskey because ______.

A. there was not enough whiskey for Henry                B. he didn’t want me to get drunk

C. that glass of whiskey was drugged                    D. it was for Henry’s wife

4.The underlined word “insane” probably means “______”.

A. depressed                   B. disappointed            C. mad                 D. sick

5.It can be inferred from the passage that ______.

A. Henry’s wife was 38 when she was last seen

B. Tom and Joe have heard the letter many times

C. the author stayed in Henry’s house because he was lost

D. the two miners came on Saturday to share past memories

6.The story is mainly about ______.

A. ever-lasting love                                                      B. lifelong friendship

C. an unforgettable experience                                               D. charming Stanislau

“It was all his own idea,” says Pat, the wife of California high school football coach Bob Peters. Bob had ___36___ made a “motherhood contract(合同)”—declaring that for 70 days this summer he would ___37___  the care of their four children and all the housework. ___38___ he didn’t even know how to make coffee when he sighed, he was very confident.

After40 of the 70 days, he was ready to ___39___. “ I was beaten down, “ admits Bob. “Not only is motherhood a ___40___ task, it is an impossible job for any normal human being. ”

Bob and Pat were married in 1991. After the married, Pat ___41___ a secretary to help put him through university. ___42___ Bob has been the football coach while Pat raised the kids. ___43___ two years ago Pat went back to work. “ I had been ___44___ children so much,” she ___45___, “I couldn’t talk to a grown-up. ” She continued to run the household, ___46___ -- until Bob sighed the contract.

Bob tried hard to learn cooking, but the meals he prepared were ___47___. For the last three weeks, the family ___48___ a lot--- sometimes having MacDonald’s hamburgers for lunch and dinner.

___49___ housekeeping, a home economics teacher had told Bob that a room always looks clean ___50___ the bed is made. “ I found ___51___ –I shut the doors,” he says. Soon the kids were wearing their shirts inside out. “When we went to ___52___ Pat at work, I made them wear their shirts 53 side out so they would look clean. ”

Now that Bob has publicly ___54___  he was wrong, he is ___55___ the child-raising and household tasks with Pat.

36. A. only     B. just     C. nearly D. ever

37. A. stick to B. set about    C. think about D. takeover

38. A. If  B. As      C. Since  D. Although

39. A. carry on       B. give up      C. break down       D. find out

40. A. strange B. pleasant      C. difficult     D. serious

41. A. sent      B. employed   C. learned from      D. worked as

42. A. In time B. Before long       C. Since then  D. Later on

43. A. Then    B. Thus   C. So      D. Still

44. A. near     B. after   C. about  D. around

45. A. insists   B. sighs   C. jokes   D. apologizes

46. A. besides B. therefore    C. however     D. otherwise

47. A. terrible B. tasty   C. expensive   D. special

48. A. starved B. traveled      C. worked out D. ate out

49. A. Due to  B. As for C. Along with D. Except for

50. A. until     B. before C. if D. unless

51. A. an easier way      B. a cheaper way    C. a cleaner way     D. a harder way

52. A. receive B. welcome    C. greet   D. fetch

53. A. good    B. wrong C. right   D. opposite

54. A. admitted      B. suggested   C. agreed D. explained

55. A. operating     B. realizing     C. sharing       D. performing

“It was all his own idea,” says Pat, the wife of California high school football coach Bob Peters. Bob had 1  made a “motherhood contract（合同）”-declaring that for 70 days this summer he would 2   the care of their four children and all the housework.  3   he didn’t even know how to make coffee when he sighed, he was very confident.

After40 of the 70 days, he was ready to   4  . “ I was beaten down, “ admits Bob. “Not only is motherhood a   5  task, it is an impossible job for any normal human being.”

Bob and Pat were married in 1991. After the married, Pat   6   a secretary to help put him through university.  7   Bob has been the football coach while Pat raised the kids. 8   two years ago Pat went back to work. “ I had been  9  children so much,” she  10  , “I couldn’t talk to a grown-up.” She continued to run the household,   11  -- until Bob sighed the contract.

Bob tried hard to learn cooking, but the meals he prepared were  12  . For the last three weeks, the family  13  a lot--- sometimes having MacDonald’s hamburgers for lunch and dinner.

14   housekeeping, a home economics teacher had told Bob that a room always  looks clean 15  the bed is made. “ I found  16  -I shut the doors,” he says. Soon the kids were wearing their shirts inside out. “When we went to  17  Pat at work, I made them wear their shirts 18  side out so they would look clean.”

Now that Bob has publicly  19   he was wrong, he is 55  the child-raising and household tasks with Pat.

1. A. only                  B. just              C. nearly                D. ever

2. A. stick to               B. set about      C. think about           D. take over

3. A. If                    B. As           C. Since                D. Although

4. A. carry on              B. give up        C. break down           D. find out

5. A. strange               B. pleasant       C. difficult               D. serious

6. A. sent                  B. employed      C. learned from           D. worked as

7. A. In time                B. Before long    C. Since then             D. Later on

8. A. Then                  B. Thus          C. So                D. Still

9. A. near                  B. after          C. about               D. around

10 A. insists               B. sighs          C. jokes              D. apologizes

11. A. besides              B. therefore       C. however           D. otherwise

12. A. terrible              B. tasty          C. expensive             D. special

13. A. starved              B. traveled       C. worked out            D. ate out

14. A. Due to              B. As for         C. Along with            D. Except for

15. A. until                B. before         C. if                   D. unless

16. A. an easier way        B. a cheaper way   C. a cleaner way       D. a harder way

17. A. receive             B. welcome       C. greet                D. fetch

18. A. good            B. wrong          C. right                D. opposite

19. A. admitted       B. suggested           C. agreed             D. explained

20. A. operating      B. realizing                  C. sharing                D. performing