It was a bitter, cold evening in northern Virginia many years ago. The old man was waiting for a ride across the 　36 　. The wait seemed 　37 　.

　　　 At last he heard the slight, steady rhythm of approaching hooves (马蹄) coming along the frozen path. Anxiously, he 　38　 　as several horsemen came around the bend (转角处). He let the first one 　39　 . Then another, and another. Finally, as the 　40　 　rider neared the spot where the old man sat like a snow statue, the old man 　41　 　the rider’s eye and said, “Sir, would you mind giving an old man a ride to the other side? There doesn’t appear to be a passage way by 　42 　.”

　　　 The rider replied, “Sure.” Seeing the old man was unable to 　43　 　his half-frozen body from the ground, the horseman got down and helped the old man onto the horse. The horseman took the old man not just across the river, but to his destination.

　　　 As they neared the tiny but cozy (舒适的) cottage, the horseman’s 　44　 　caused him to ask, “Sir, I notice that you let several other riders go by without making a(n) 　45　 　to get a ride. Then I came up and you 　46　 　asked me for a ride. I’m curious why, on such a bitter winter night, you would wait and ask the last rider. 　47　 　I had refused and left you there?”

　　　 The old man replied, “I’ve been 　48　 　here for some time. I think I know people pretty good.” He continued, “I looked into the eyes of the other riders and immediately saw there was no 　49 　　for my situation. But when I looked into your eyes, 　50　 　was evident. I knew, 　51　 , that your gentle spirit would 　52　 　the opportunity to give me help in my time of 　53　 .”

　　　 Those heartwarming comments 　54　 　the horseman deeply.

　　　 “I’m most grateful for what you have said,” he told the old man. “May I never get too busy in my own affairs that I 　55　 　to respond to the needs of others with kindness and compassion.”

　　　 With that, Thomas Jefferson turned his horse around and made his way back to the White House.

36.　 A. town　　　　　　　　 B. river　　　　　　　　　 C. country　　　　　　　　　　 D. island

37.　 A. meaningless　　　 B. useless　　　　　　　 C. careless　　　　　　　　　　 D. endless

38.　 A. watched　　　　　　 B. asked　　 　　C. waved　　　　　　　　 　　 D. approached

39.　 A. come over　 　　　 B. get off　　　　 　　 C. pass by　　　　　　　　　　 D. take off

40.　 A. coming　　　　　　 B. leaving　　　　　　　 C. next　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. last

41.　 A. missed　　　　　　　 B. caught　　　　 C. avoided　　　　　　　　　　 D. saw

42.　 A. bus　　　　　　　　　 B. car　　　　　　　　　　 C. foot　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. horse

43.　 A. feel 　　　　　　　　 B. push　　　　　　　　 C. lift　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. stand

44.　 A. honesty　　　　　　 B. courage　　　　　　 C. enthusiasm　　　　 　　 D. curiosity

45.　 A. choice　　　　 B. stop　　　　　　　　　 C. effort　　　　　　　　　　　 D. scene

46.　 A. immediately　　　 B. hurriedly　　　　　　 C. friendly　　　　　　　　　　 D. strangely

47.　 A. What about B. What if　　　　　　　 C. How come　　　　　　　 D. If only

48.　 A. in　　　　　　　　　　 B. out　　　　　　　　　　 C. around　　　　　　　　　　 D. beyond

49.　 A. concern　　　　　　 B. doubt　 　　　　　　　 C. chance　　　　　　　　　　 D. reason

50.　 A. meaning　　　　　　 B. kindness　　 　　　 C. seriousness　　　　 D. help

51.　 A. then and there　　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. for a moment 　

　　　 C. all of a sudden　 　　　　　　　 D. sooner or later

52.　 A. offer　　　　　　　　 B. create　　　　　　　　 C. find　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. welcome

53.　 A. need　　　　　　　　 B. danger　　　　 C. fortune　　　　　　　　　　 D. happiness

54.　 A. influenced　　　　 B. excited　　　　　　　 C. touched　　　　　　　　　　 D. hit

55.　 A. happen　　　　　　　 B. try　　　　　　　　　　 C. disagree　　　　　　　　　 D. fail

35. - Why not have a new machine designed?

　 -__________. I’ll have someone do it soon.

A. I don’t think so　　　　　　 B. I’m not sure 　　　

C. It’s up to you 　　 　　D. Sounds like a good idea

34. The newcomers found if impossible to _______themselves to the climate sufficiently to make permanent homes in the new country.

　　 A. suit 　　 　　B. adapt 　 　　C. fit　　 D. match

33. _____no point in beating around the bush. Let’s ________.

　　 A. It’s ; come straight to the point　　 B. There’s; come to the point　　　　

C. This is; get to the point 　　　 　　D. That is; reach the point

32. The bell________ the end of the period rang, __________our heated discussion.

　　 A. indicating; interrupting　　　　　　 B. indicated; interrupting　　　　　

C. indicating; interrupted　　　 　　　　 D. indicated; interrupted

31. _________is known to us all is that the old writer, for __________ life was hard in the past, still works very hard in his eighties.

A. What; whom　　　　 B. As; whom　　　　 C. It; whose 　　　　D. What; whose