第三部分：阅读理解（共20小题满分40分）

阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C、D）中选出最佳选项

My father was driving us to our grandparents’ house for our annual Christmas dinner. The closer we got to the turnoff (岔道) for my grandparents’ house, the slower the car went. Suddenly, my father U-turned in the middle of the road and said: “I can’t stand it!”

“What?” asked my mother.

“It’s those people back there at the Pan Am, standing in the rain. They’ve got children. It’s Christmas. I can’t stand it.”

When my father pulled into the service station, I saw that there were five of them: the parents and three children – two girls and a small boy.

My father rolled down his window. “Merry Christmas,” he said.

“Howdy (您好),” the man replied. He was very tall and had to stoop (弯腰) slightly to peer into the car.

My sisters Jill, Sharon, and I stared at the children, and they stared back at us.

“You’re getting wet standing here. Just a couple miles up the road there’s a shed (小棚) with a cover there, and some benches,” my father said. “Why don’t you all get in the car?”

The man thought about it for a moment, and then he waved to his family. They climbed into the car.

Once they settled in, my father looked back over his shoulder and asked the children if Santa had found them yet. Three unhappy faces gave him the answer.

“Well, I didn’t think so,” my father said, winking at my mother, “because when I saw Santa this morning, he told me that he was having trouble finding all, and he asked me if he could leave your toys at my house. We’ll just go to get them before I take you to the bus stop.”

All at once, the three children’s faces lit up, and they began to bounce around in the back seat, laughing and chattering.

When we got out of the car at our house, the three children ran through the front door and straight to the toys that were spread out under our Christmas tree. One of the girls spied Jill’s doll and hugged it to her breast. The little boy grabbed Sharon’s ball. And the other girl picked up something of mine.

We left them there at the bus stop in Winborn. As we drove away, I watched out the window as long as I could, looking back at the little girl hugging her new doll.

That was the Christmas when my sisters and I learned the joy of making others happy.

56. The writer’s father U-turned in the middle of the road because ______.

A. he could not stand the people at the service station

B. he could not bear the thought of leaving the people behind

C. he wanted to do something special for his parents

D. he wanted to help the family standing in the rain

57. The reason the father asked the kids if Santa had found them was probably that _____.

A. he knew the mention of Santa would lift their spirits

B. he once promised to receive them as guests in his house

C. he wanted to avoid embarrassing the family

D. he had met Santa and got the presents for the kids

58. How did the author feel at the end of the story?

A. She was pleased that they had been able to give the kids presents and make them happy.

B. She was unhappy remembering that they had been late for the Christmas dinner.

C. She was angry because she realized that she didn’t receive a Christmas gift that year.

D. She was puzzled by why her father had done this on Christmas.

59. What is the article mainly about?

A. How my family found the lost Santa.

B. The people at the service station.

C. The art of celebrating Christmas.

D. The joy of making others happy.

The first time I remember noticing I remember noticing the crossing guard was when he waved to me as I drove my son to school. He 16 me with a puzzle ---- all because he waved to me like someone does 17 seeing a close friend. A big, 18 smile accompanied his wave. For the next few days I tried to 19 his face to see if I knew him. I didn’t. Perhaps he had 20 me for someone else. By the time I contented myself with the 21 that he and I were strangers, we were greeting each other warmly every morning like old friends.

Then one day the 22 was solved. As I 23 the school he was standing in the middle of the road 24 his stop sign. I was in live behind four cars. 25 the kids had reached the safety of the sidewalk, he lowered his sign and let the cars 26. To the first he waved and 27 in just the same way he had done to me over the last few days. The kids already had the window down and were happily waving their reply. The second car got the same 28 from the crossing guard, and the driver, a stiff-looking（表情刻板的） businessman, gave a brief, almost 29 wave back. Each following car of kids on their way to school 30 more heartily.

Every morning I continued to watch the man with 31. So far I haven’t seen anyone 32 to wave back. I find it interesting that one person can make such a（n） 33 to so many people’s lives by doing one simple thing like waving and smiling warmly. His 34 armed the start of my day. With a friendly wave and smiling face he had changed the 35 of the whole neighbourhood.

16. A. hit  B. disappointed C. presented    D. bored

17. A. on   B. from C. during   D. about

18. A. false    B. shy  C. apologetic   D. bright

19. A. research B. study    C. recognize    D. explore

20. A. praised  B. blamed   C. mistaken D. respected

21. A. conclusion   B. description  C. evaluation   D. introduction

22. A. argument B. disagreement C. mystery  D. task

23. A. visited  B. approached        C. passed  D. left

24. A. drawing back B. putting on   C. handing in   D. holding out

25. A. Once B. Before   C. Unless   D. While

26. A. in   B. through  C. out  D. down

27. A. cried    B. cheered  C. smiled   D. gestured

28. A. idea B. reply    C. notice   D. greeting

29. A. awkward  B. angry    C. elegant  D. patient

30. A. came B. responded    C. hurried  D. appeared

31. A. surprise B. frustration  C. interest D. doubt

32. A. fail B. try  C. wish D. bother

33. A. offer    B. sacrifice    C. promise  D. difference

34. A. effectiveness    B. cheerfulness C. carefulness  D. seriousness

35. A. trends   B. observations C. regulations  D. feelings

The first time I remember noticing I remember noticing the crossing guard was when he waved to me as I drove my son to school. He 16 me with a puzzle ---- all because he waved to me like someone does 17 seeing a close friend. A big, 18 smile accompanied his wave. For the next few days I tried to 19 his face to see if I knew him. I didn’t. Perhaps he had 20 me for someone else. By the time I contented myself with the 21 that he and I were strangers, we were greeting each other warmly every morning like old friends.
Then one day the 22 was solved. As I 23 the school he was standing in the middle of the road 24 his stop sign. I was in live behind four cars. 25 the kids had reached the safety of the sidewalk, he lowered his sign and let the cars 26. To the first he waved and 27 in just the same way he had done to me over the last few days. The kids already had the window down and were happily waving their reply. The second car got the same 28 from the crossing guard, and the driver, a stiff-looking（表情刻板的） businessman, gave a brief, almost 29 wave back. Each following car of kids on their way to school 30 more heartily.
Every morning I continued to watch the man with 31. So far I haven’t seen anyone 32 to wave back. I find it interesting that one person can make such a（n） 33 to so many people’s lives by doing one simple thing like waving and smiling warmly. His 34 armed the start of my day. With a friendly wave and smiling face he had changed the 35 of the whole neighbourhood.
16. A. hit              B. disappointed     C. presented        D. bored
17. A. on               B. from             C. during           D. about
18. A. false            B. shy              C. apologetic       D. bright
19. A. research         B. study            C. recognize        D. explore
20. A. praised          B. blamed           C. mistaken         D. respected
21. A. conclusion       B. description      C. evaluation       D. introduction
22. A. argument         B. disagreement     C. mystery          D. task
23. A. visited          B. approached       C. passed          D. left
24. A. drawing back     B. putting on       C. handing in       D. holding out
25. A. Once             B. Before           C. Unless           D. While
26. A. in               B. through          C. out              D. down
27. A. cried            B. cheered          C. smiled           D. gestured
28. A. idea             B. reply            C. notice           D. greeting
29. A. awkward          B. angry            C. elegant          D. patient
30. A. came             B. responded        C. hurried          D. appeared
31. A. surprise         B. frustration      C. interest         D. doubt
32. A. fail             B. try              C. wish             D. bother
33. A. offer            B. sacrifice        C. promise          D. difference
34. A. effectiveness    B. cheerfulness     C. carefulness      D. seriousness
35. A. trends           B. observations     C. regulations      D. feelings

    The first time I remember noticing the crossing guard was when he waved to me as I drove my son to school. He 16 me with a puzzle ---- all because he waved to me like someone does 17 seeing a close friend. A big, 18 smile accompanied his wave. For the next few days I tried to 19 his face to see if I knew him. I didn’t. Perhaps he had 20 me for someone else. By the time I contented myself with the 21 that he and I were strangers, we were greeting each other warmly every morning like old friends.

    Then one day the 22 was solved. As I 23 the school he was standing in the middle of the road 24 his stop sign. I was in live behind four cars. 25 the kids had reached the safety of the sidewalk, he lowered his sign and let the cars 26. To the first he waved and 27 in just the same way he had done to me over the last few days. The kids already had the window down and were happily waving their reply. The second car got the same 28 from the crossing guard, and the driver, a stiff-looking(表情刻板的) businessman, gave a brief, almost 29 wave back. Each following car of kids on their way to school 30 more heartily.

    Every morning I continued to watch the man with 31. So far I haven’t seen anyone 32 to wave back. I find it interesting that one person can make such a(n) 33 to so many people’s lives by doing one simple thing like waving and smiling warmly. His 34 armed the start of my day. With a friendly wave and smiling face he had changed the 35 of the whole neighbourhood.

The first time I remember noticing I remember noticing the crossing guard was when he waved to me as I drove my son to school. He 16 me with a puzzle ---- all because he waved to me like someone does 17 seeing a close friend. A big, 18 smile accompanied his wave. For the next few days I tried to 19 his face to see if I knew him. I didn’t. Perhaps he had 20 me for someone else. By the time I contented myself with the 21 that he and I were strangers, we were greeting each other warmly every morning like old friends.

Then one day the 22 was solved. As I 23 the school he was standing in the middle of the road 24 his stop sign. I was in live behind four cars. 25 the kids had reached the safety of the sidewalk, he lowered his sign and let the cars 26. To the first he waved and 27 in just the same way he had done to me over the last few days. The kids already had the window down and were happily waving their reply. The second car got the same 28 from the crossing guard, and the driver, a stiff-looking（表情刻板的） businessman, gave a brief, almost 29 wave back. Each following car of kids on their way to school 30 more heartily.

Every morning I continued to watch the man with 31. So far I haven’t seen anyone 32 to wave back. I find it interesting that one person can make such a（n） 33 to so many people’s lives by doing one simple thing like waving and smiling warmly. His 34 armed the start of my day. With a friendly wave and smiling face he had changed the 35 of the whole neighbourhood.

16. A. hit              B. disappointed     C. presented        D. bored

17. A. on               B. from             C. during           D. about

18. A. false            B. shy              C. apologetic       D. bright

19. A. research         B. study            C. recognize        D. explore

20. A. praised          B. blamed           C. mistaken         D. respected

21. A. conclusion       B. description      C. evaluation       D. introduction

22. A. argument         B. disagreement     C. mystery          D. task

23. A. visited          B. approached       C. passed          D. left

24. A. drawing back     B. putting on       C. handing in       D. holding out

25. A. Once             B. Before           C. Unless           D. While

26. A. in               B. through          C. out              D. down

27. A. cried            B. cheered          C. smiled           D. gestured

28. A. idea             B. reply            C. notice           D. greeting

29. A. awkward          B. angry            C. elegant          D. patient

30. A. came             B. responded        C. hurried          D. appeared

31. A. surprise         B. frustration      C. interest         D. doubt

32. A. fail             B. try              C. wish             D. bother

33. A. offer            B. sacrifice        C. promise          D. difference

34. A. effectiveness    B. cheerfulness     C. carefulness      D. seriousness

35. A. trends           B. observations     C. regulations      D. feelings