Section B 

Directions: For each blank in the following passage there are 4 words or phrases marked A, B, C and D. Fill in each blank with a word or phrase that best fits the context.

It was one of the happiest times of my life. I was 29 and had just received my bachelor’s degree, graduating with   36   despite working two jobs and being a wife and mother. My parents and five-year-old son were among the   37   when I walked onto the stage at Ashland University to get my diploma. I was so excited and proud to be starting a teaching career and contributing more to my family’s happiness.

But when I got home that evening, there was a note from my husband,   38  , “I have come to get my clothes and won’t be back.” We’d been having trouble,   39   that note still came as a shock. He had emptied our bank account. We were horribly in debt. I had quit my previous jobs in the hope of finding a teaching position.   40  , I was eight months pregnant.

The reality was so merciless that I was embarrassed,   41  , and angry and felt I had failed. But I had my son, and I was about to   42   a new life into the world. So   43   my deep sadness, I had to go on. The next morning, I woke up, put my feet on the floor, took a deep breath, prepared breakfast, and basically did everything I always did. I used my routine to keep myself moving.

And in the seven years since, I’ve continued moving forward. I got a job as a kindergarten teacher, earned a master’s degree in education, and watched my babies grow to 12 and   44  . I certainly have never   45   to put them through this, but in retrospect (回首往事), I’m glad   it happened to me when it did. It helped me grow   46  , confident, and strong — things I’m now hopefully instilling in (灌输) my children. Sometimes life throws you a curve ball, hands you a lemon, or knocks you for a loop (gives you a shock). But knowing how to   47   failure can be the first step to success. This is my latest belief and strategy on how to win in the end.  

36. A. worries B. anxieties     C. troubles      D. honors

37. A. professors    B. students      C. audience     D. neighbours

38. A. saying  B. meaning     C. expressing  D. writing

39. A. but       B. and     C. thus    D. so

40. A. Therefore     B. Yet     C. Besides      D. Even

41. A. excited B. disturbed    C. interested   D. scared

42. A. take      B. bring  C. give    D. get

43. A. regardless of       B. except for   C. in spite of   D. instead of

44. A. seven    B. eight   C. nine    D. ten

45. A. stopped B. chosen       C. turned D. waited

46. A. indifferent   B. careful       C. helpful       D. independent

47. A. put up with  B. keep up with      C. deal with    D. do with

Section B 

Directions: For each blank in the following passage there are 4 words or phrases marked A, B, C and D. Fill in each blank with a word or phrase that best fits the context.

It was one of the happiest times of my life. I was 29 and had just received my bachelor’s degree, graduating with   36   despite working two jobs and being a wife and mother. My parents and five-year-old son were among the   37   when I walked onto the stage at Ashland University to get my diploma. I was so excited and proud to be starting a teaching career and contributing more to my family’s happiness.

But when I got home that evening, there was a note from my husband,   38  , “I have come to get my clothes and won’t be back.” We’d been having trouble,   39   that note still came as a shock. He had emptied our bank account. We were horribly in debt. I had quit my previous jobs in the hope of finding a teaching position.   40  , I was eight months pregnant.

The reality was so merciless that I was embarrassed,   41  , and angry and felt I had failed. But I had my son, and I was about to   42   a new life into the world. So   43   my deep sadness, I had to go on. The next morning, I woke up, put my feet on the floor, took a deep breath, prepared breakfast, and basically did everything I always did. I used my routine to keep myself moving.

And in the seven years since, I’ve continued moving forward. I got a job as a kindergarten teacher, earned a master’s degree in education, and watched my babies grow to 12 and   44  . I certainly have never   45   to put them through this, but in retrospect (回首往事), I’m glad   it happened to me when it did. It helped me grow   46  , confident, and strong — things I’m now hopefully instilling in (灌输) my children. Sometimes life throws you a curve ball, hands you a lemon, or knocks you for a loop (gives you a shock). But knowing how to   47   failure can be the first step to success. This is my latest belief and strategy on how to win in the end.  

36. A. worries  B. anxieties      C. troubles       D. honors

37. A. professors     B. students      C. audience      D. neighbours

38. A. saying    B. meaning       C. expressing   D. writing

39. A. but          B. and       C. thus     D. so

40. A. Therefore       B. Yet        C. Besides        D. Even

41. A. excited  B. disturbed     C. interested   D. scared

42. A. take        B. bring    C. give      D. get

43. A. regardless of B. except for    C. in spite of     D. instead of

44. A. seven     B. eight    C. nine      D. ten

45. A. stopped B. chosen          C. turned D. waited

46. A. indifferent      B. careful C. helpful D. independent

47. A. put up with    B. keep up with       

C. deal with      D. do with