完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）
Two days before Thanksgiving, I was trying to open my mouth wide enough for a mirror and a roll of steel wire. Metal braces (牙齿矫正器)had been on my   31  for weeks, but this was the day for the wire to be adjusted. Only those who have had braces will understand the terrible   32  of being “wired”. For the next 24 hours, it felt like every tooth was being   33  slowly by a giant clawhammer (拔钉锤).  34  drinking water caused pain.
By Thanksgiving Day, I had got used to it.   35  I didn’t use my teeth, the pain was bearable. But this was a day when teeth had to   36  longer than usual. We were   37  at my grandparents’ house with relatives. The house was filled with so many pleasant   38  that we could hardly resist the food. When grandma said, “Dinner is ready!” all the kids   39  to be first in line. I was so excited that I    40  the braces in my mouth and   41  my way up to the head of the line.
I piled my plate high with my favorite corn-on-the-cob(玉米棒子)and   42  my mouth to enjoy it. The pain was   43 . I felt I would never be able to eat again. I put my plate away and ran outside in   44 .
Grandma then took my plate to the   45 . She cut all the corn off that cob and rescued me from my   46 . She handed me my plate piled high with corn. “Thanks,” I said   47 . Then I looked up and   48  a strange light in her eye, a light that is still   49  to me after more than fifty years. That was the Thanksgiving when I discovered something more   50  than good food.

The Girl with the Cut - out Face
When I was a child, I often looked through a family album. I remember asking my mother why there was a   36  cut out of a photo of a little girl. But it was   37  that my mother did not want to talk about it.
  38  I looked at the album I saw that cut - out face and   39  about it. I figured there was something   40  . When I was grown up and had almost   41  about the photo, my mother must have realized I should know her   42  . She sat me down one day and said, “That cat - up photo is   43  your Aunt Anna. She has schizophrenia（精神分裂症）.”
But why did my mother never   44  this before? I still didn’t understand. “Because people are… were…  45  of having mental illness in the family” was the   46  . But I wanted to meet Aunt Anna, and I   47 .
My mother and I traveled to the house   48   Anna lived with an Italian family. Anna looked like a question mark on legs,   49  she had lovely, clear eyes and a gentle manner. I could see the   50  to my mother. “So nice to meet you,” she said to me. “Do you have a trunk （象鼻；行李箱）？”
Did she think that I was an elephant? No, she wanted to run   51  and hide in the trunk of my car. The family that   52  her said that she always wanted to   53 .
The last time I saw Anna she was placed in a smaller old - age facility in Brooklyn.
  54  Aunt Anna, I’m not the least bit ashamed of you. I’m   55  about you now for many to see, with your sweet young face showing under a pretty bow.
And you finally found that escape you were seeking.

 完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）

Two days before Thanksgiving, I was trying to open my mouth wide enough for a mirror and a roll of steel wire. Metal braces (牙齿矫正器)had been on my   31  for weeks, but this was the day for the wire to be adjusted. Only those who have had braces will understand the terrible   32  of being “wired”. For the next 24 hours, it felt like every tooth was being   33  slowly by a giant clawhammer (拔钉锤).  34  drinking water caused pain.

By Thanksgiving Day, I had got used to it.   35  I didn’t use my teeth, the pain was bearable. But this was a day when teeth had to   36  longer than usual. We were   37  at my grandparents’ house with relatives. The house was filled with so many pleasant   38  that we could hardly resist the food. When grandma said, “Dinner is ready!” all the kids   39  to be first in line. I was so excited that I    40  the braces in my mouth and   41  my way up to the head of the line.

I piled my plate high with my favorite corn-on-the-cob(玉米棒子)and   42  my mouth to enjoy it. The pain was   43 . I felt I would never be able to eat again. I put my plate away and ran outside in   44 .

Grandma then took my plate to the   45 . She cut all the corn off that cob and rescued me from my   46 . She handed me my plate piled high with corn. “Thanks,” I said   47 . Then I looked up and   48  a strange light in her eye, a light that is still   49  to me after more than fifty years. That was the Thanksgiving when I discovered something more   50  than good food.

5.As long as                  B.Even though                     C.In case                      D.As though

10.A thought of             B.got out of                 C.complained about       D.forgot about

After a very busy afternoon，as I walked into my house，I heard the phone ringing. It was my friend Lydia，upset over an argument with her husband. My usual approach is to offer advice，but this time，exhausted from chores，I simply sat down in a chair and listened to my friend’s frustration  and sadness. Without the disturbance of judgment or the desire to comfort her，I stayed totally quiet while she talked. Eventually Lydia’s depression eased and we said our goodbyes. The next day she phoned to thank me. “I’m so grateful for the way you helped me through this，”she said.
At first I was surprised. After all，I had done nothing except be there for her. But after I had my own venting (发泄的)  experience with another friend later that evening，I realized that my focused silence had some value. In fact，most relationship experts agree that talk is cheap；it’s listening that’s rare and valuable It allows you not only to hear what the other person is saying，but also to have a clear understanding of her thoughts and feelings. And for the speaker，that level of understanding translates into concern and respect.
Unfortunately，listening isn’t as easy as it sounds. Thanks  to  schedules  filled  with  family and work，multitasking has become a barrier (障碍) to listening. My tiredness may have been the only thing stopping me from folding  laundry or checking my e­mail while Lydia talked that afternoon.
Another barrier to listening is our listening system：Most of us take in only about half of what’s being said during a conversation，according to the International Listening Association. Research shows that we speak at 125 to 150 words per minute，yet think at 500 words a minute. Therefore，because we think much more quickly than we  speak，it is easy for us to lose our concentration when  listening to speakers.
While it can be hard to focus at times，it’s a skill worth developing. With a little practice  (employing some techniques)，you can become a better listener.
【小题1】Why didn’t the author give any advice to Lydia that afternoon?

完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）

Two days before Thanksgiving, I was trying to open my mouth wide enough for a mirror and a roll of steel wire. Metal braces (牙齿矫正器)had been on my   31   for weeks, but this was the day for the wire to be adjusted. Only those who have had braces will understand the terrible   32   of being “wired”. For the next 24 hours, it felt like every tooth was being   33   slowly by a giant clawhammer (拔钉锤).  34   drinking water caused pain.

By Thanksgiving Day, I had got used to it.   35   I didn’t use my teeth, the pain was bearable. But this was a day when teeth had to   36   longer than usual. We were   37   at my grandparents’ house with relatives. The house was filled with so many pleasant   38   that we could hardly resist the food. When grandma said, “Dinner is ready!” all the kids   39   to be first in line. I was so excited that I    40   the braces in my mouth and   41   my way up to the head of the line.

I piled my plate high with my favorite corn-on-the-cob(玉米棒子)and   42   my mouth to enjoy it. The pain was   43  . I felt I would never be able to eat again. I put my plate away and ran outside in   44  .

Grandma then took my plate to the   45  . She cut all the corn off that cob and rescued me from my   46  . She handed me my plate piled high with corn. “Thanks,” I said   47  . Then I looked up and   48   a strange light in her eye, a light that is still   49   to me after more than fifty years. That was the Thanksgiving when I discovered something more   50   than good food.

A.tongue                    B.hands                        C.teeth                         D.head

A.subject                   B.situation                    C.chance                      D.production

A.pushed                   B.planted                      C.opened                      D.pulled

A.Still                       B.So                                   C.Even                         D.Yet

As long as                  B.Even though                     C.In case                      D.As though

A.play                       B.work                         C.hurt                          D.shake

A.mixed                    B.called                        C.gathered                    D.surrounded

A.experiences             B.words                       C.colours                      D.smells

A.rushed                    B.started                       C.stepped                            D.walked

A thought of             B.got out of                 C.complained about       D.forgot about

A.forced                   B.created                      C.led                           D.gave

A.narrowed                     B.opened                      C.cleaned                            D.shut

A.normal                 B.violent                      C.regretful                    D.common

A.time                            B.anger                        C.surprise                    D.tears

A.kitchen                 B.bedroom                   C.clinic                        D.restaurant

A.fear                      B.loneliness                  C.pain                          D.interest

A.sadly                    B.kindly                       C.shyly                        D.gratefully

A.checked                B.passed                       C.caught                       D.filled

A.attractive                     B.mysterious                 C.natural                      D.untrue

A.important              B.popular                            C.useful                       D.expensive