(09·北京)

Jame’s New Bicycle

James shook his money box again. Nothing! He carefully __36__ the coins that lay on the bed .

＄24. 52 was all that he had. The bicycle he wanted was at least ＄90!_37____ on earth was he going to get the ___38___ of the money?

He knew that his friends all had bicycle. It was __39___ to hang around with people  when you were the only one without wheels. He thought about what he could do. There was no ___40__ asking his parents, for he knew they had no money to _41____.

There was only one way to get money, and that was to __42_ it . He would have to find a job . __43____ who would hire him and what could he do? He decided to ask Mr. Clay for advice ,who usually had__44_ on most things.

 “Well, you can start right here, ”said Mr.. clay. “My windows need cleaning and my

car needs washing. ”

That was the __45__ of  James’ s odd-job（零工） business. For three months he worked every day after finishing his homework. He took dogs and babies for walks, cleared out cupboards ,and mended books. He lost count of the _46____ of  jobs that people found for him to do. He took dogs and babies for walks, cleared out cupboards, and mended books. He lost count of the   47 of cars he washed and windows he cleaned, but the __48___ increased and he knew that he would soon have __49____ for the bicycle he longed for.

The day __50_ came when James counted his money and found ＄ 94. 32. He _51___ no time and went down to the shop to pick up the bicycle he wanted. He rode __52__ home, looking forward to showing his new bicycle to his friends. It had been hard _53__ for the money, but James knew that he valued his bicycle far more _54__ he had bought it with his own money. He had _55__ what he thought was impossible, and that was worth even than the bicycle.

36. A. cleaned                        B. covered                  C. counted                     D. checked

37. A. How                            B. Why                      C. Who                         D. What

38. A. amount                        B. part                        C. sum                          D. rest

39. A. brave                      B. hard                       C. smart                        D. unfair

40. A. point                           B. reason                    C. result                        D. right

41. A. split                             B. spend                     C. spare                        D. save

42. A. borrow                        B. earn                       C. raise                         D. collect

43. A. Or                               B. So                         C. For                           D. But

44. A. decisions                     B. experience              C. opinions                    D. knowledge

45. A. beginning                     B. introduction            C. requirement               D. opening

46. A. similarity                      B. quality                    C. suitability                   D. variety

47. A. brand                          B. number                  C. size                           D. type

48. A. effort                          B. pressure                 C. money                      D. trouble

49. A. all                               B. enough                   C. much                        D. some

50. A. finally                          B. instantly                 C. normally                    D. regularly

51. A. gave                            B. left                         C. took                          D. wasted

52. A. patiently                       B. proudly                  C. silently                      D. tiredly

53. A. applying                       B. asking                    C. looking                      D. working

54. A. since                           B. if                           C. than                          D. though

55. A. deserved                      B. benefited                C. achieved                    D. learned