The preparations went on for the dance. I began to worry about what I was to ___21____. It seemed so stupid not to be able to think of anything. One evening, when I was changing for dinner, there was a ____22____ at my bedroom door. I called “Come in,” thinking it was my maid, Clarice. It was Mrs. Danvers.

“I hope you will forgive me for ___23_____ you,” she said, “Have you decided yet, madam, what you will wear?”

There was a ____24____ of scorn（嘲弄） in her voice, of satisfaction. She must have heard through Clarice in some way.

“No, I haven’t decided.”

“I wonder why you don’t ___25____ one of the pictures in the hall.”

I wondered why such an idea did not come to me before. It was an ____26____ answer to my difficulty.

“All the pictures in the gallery would be good to copy, especially that one of the young lady in white.” Her voice was ____27____ normal. Did she want to be friends with me at last? Or did she realize that it was not I who had told Maxim her secret, and was this her way of thanking me for my ____28____?

“Has Mr. de Winter not suggested anything for you?”

“No. No. I don’t want him to know beforehand. I want to ____29____ him.”

“Madam, when you do decide, I should advise you to have your dress made in London. Voce, in Bond Street, is a good place I know. You should study the pictures in the hall, madam, especially the one I ____30____. And you needn’t think that I will give you away. I won’t say a word to anyone.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Danvers.” I went on dressing, puzzled by her manner.

21. A. choose                  B. wear                      C. dress                     D. purchase

22. A. call                       B. servant                   C. ring                       D. knock

23. A. disturbing              B. asking                    C. informing               D. troubling

24. A. sound                   B. suggestion              C. symbol                  D. signal

25. A. study                    B. use                        C. copy                      D. observe

26. A. obvious                 B. interesting              C. easy                      D. exciting

27. A. pleasantly              B. surprisingly            C. extremely               D. apparently

28. A. help                      B. silence                   C. advice                    D. tolerance

29. A. impress                 B. please                    C. shock                    D. surprise

30. A. liked                     B. referred                  C. preferred                D. mentioned

Anna arrived far too early. Usually she left things to the last minute， 16 today was a very special occasion. It was almost 17 by getting there an hour beforehand that she 18 to cause the plane to arrive sooner： 19 raced through her mind. “Do I look all right? Will he notice that I’m wearing a 20 trouser suit? Will he even 21 me? "After all，it was a year almost to the day since she had 22 seen Joe. She fished a 23 out of her handbag and inspected her face. Too much make-up？Joe had 24 made any comment but she knew that he did not approve of（贊成）heavy make-up—“gilding the lily”，he 25 it. It was funny how much importance she attached to 26 a good impression on him. After all，friends do not judge each other by 27 All the same，it was the first meeting after a long separation，and she wanted everything to 28 right·

Looking out of the window，Joe 29 a first glimpse，through a break in the 　30 ，of the town far below. Certainly it was very flattering that they had 31 him to be the guest lecturer at their Autumn Congress yet again. The Chairman of the Organizing Committee，as a matter of Courtesy（禮貌），had. 　32 to meet him at the airport，as he had done on previous occasions. This time， 　33 ，it was not necessary， 　34　 because Joe was quite familiar with the city，but mainly because Anna had said that she could 35 the afternoon off in order to come and meet him.

16. A. and　 　　　　　　 B. but　 　　　　　　　　　 C. for 　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. as

17. A. because 　　　　　 B. since　 　　　　　　　　 C. as if 　　　　　　　　　　　 D. when

18. A. thought 　　　　　　 B. liked　 　　　　　　　　 C. had 　　　　　　　　　　　 D. hoped

19. A. Idea　 　　　　　　 B. Facts　 　　　　　　　　 C. Thoughts 　　　　　　　 D. Matters

20. A. new　 　　　　　　 B. strange 　　　　　　　　 C. latest 　　　　　　　　　　 D. single

21. A. like　 　　　　　　 B. recognize 　　　　　　　 C. terrify 　　　　　　　　　 D. tell

22. A. before 　　　　　　 B. recently 　　　　　　　　 C. last 　　　　　　　　　　　 D. most

23. A. purse 　　　　　　 B. handkerchief 　　　　　 C. mirror 　　　　　　　　　 D. book

24. A. never 　　　　　　 B. almost 　　　　　　　　 C. often 　　　　　　　　　　 D. regularly

25. A. told　 　　　　　　 B. called 　　　　　　　　　 C. saw 　　　　　　　　　　　 D. thought

26. A. offering 　　　　　　 B. taking 　　　　　　　　　 C. having 　　　　　　　　　 D. making

27. A. appearance 　　　 B. clothes 　　　　　　　　　 C. make-up 　　　　　　　　 D. looking

28. A. come across 　　 B. turn up 　　　　　　　　　 C. go off 　　　　　　　　　 D. get out

29. A. caught 　　　　　　 B. left　 　　　　　　　　　 C. enjoyed 　　　　　　　　 D. met

30. A. air　 　　　　　　　 B. rain　 　　　　　　　　　 C. train 　　　　　　　　　　　 D. clouds

31. A. employed 　　　　 B. invited，　　　　　　　　 C. told　 　　　　　　　　　 D. informed

32. A. offered 　　　　　 B. arrived 　　　　　　　　 C. intended 　　　　　　　　 D. attempted

33. A. therefore 　　　　　 B. however 　　　　　　　 C. instead 　　　　　　　　　 D. as well

34. A. luckily 　　　　　　 B. really　 　　　　　　　　 C. partly 　　　　　　　　　　 D. separately

35. A. put　 　　　　　　 B. make　 　　　　　　　　 C. take 　　　　　　　　　　　 D. leave

Two teenagers who are lost at sea off the United States for six days were saved yesterday.

Driscoll, 15, and his best friend, 18-year-old Josh Long, were found on Saturday about 11 km 21 Cape Fear in North Carolina. That was six days and more than 100 miles（161 km）from where they had 22 from Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina, on April 24.

The boys had 23 a lot of water and were tired, but in pretty good 24. They set out 25 on a 4.3-metre sailboat on a 26 day when the National Weather Service had warned small boats to stay out of the water. They realized they were 27 almost immediately and tried to swim back to 28 , 　29 the boat along with them.

Within 30 , they were far out at sea.

“We 31 our fishing equipment on the second day,” Driscoll said. “So we couldn’t catch any fish.”

The boys’ hopes faded 32 each day. They stood on their boat 33 they saw another boat, 34 . One night they were woken up by 35 coming into the boat. A large ship was very close to them.

“ 36 was like some huge building in the water,” Driscoll said.

At one point, the boys thought they had gone across the Atlantic Ocean and were close to Africa. 37 , they were 179km north of their starting point. A coast guard boat set out to 38 them.

The boys got up and made some 39 . This time, they were heard.

“What we have experienced is a completely surprising story of 40 . That’s going to be studied for years to come,” said Richard Goerling, Long’s uncle. “I think the boys have a book to write.”

21. A. at　　　　　　 　　　 B. on　　　　 　　　　 C. beside　　　　　 D. off

22. A. arrived　　　　 B. set off　　　　　 C. returned　　　　 D. finished

23. A. drunk　　　　 B. lost　　　　　 　　 C. saved　　　　　 D. found

24. A. shape　　　　 B. health　　　　 　　 C. spirit　　　　　 D. energy

25. A. traveling　　　 B. racing　　　　　 　 C. fishing　　　　　 D. swimming

26. A. fine　　　　　 B. rainy　　　　　 　 C. windy　　　　　 D. snowy

27. A. in trouble　　 B. in safe　　　　　 　 C. at sea　　　　　 D. far away

28 A. shore　　　　 B. the sea　　　　　 C. an island　　　　 　 D. harbor

29. A. driving　　　 B. sailing　　　　　 　 C. pushing　　　　 D. pulling

30. A. a week　　　 　 B. hours　 　　　　　 C. minutes　　　　　 D. seconds

31. A. bought　　　 　 B. found　　　　　 C. lost　　　　　 　　　 D. repaired

32. A. by　　　　　 　 B. for　　　　　　 C. on 　　　　　　D. with

33. A. every time　 　 B. once　　　　　　 C. one day　　　　　 D. sometimes

34. A. jumping and singing　　　　　　　 　 B. waving and shouting

C. crying and speaking　　　　　　　　 　 D. screaming and whistling

35. A. a shark　　　 　 B. a mouse　　　　 　 C. water　　　　　　 D. some noise

36. A. He　　　　　 　 B. This　　　　　 　 C. That　　　　　　 D. It

37. A. Instead　　　 　 B. Therefore　　　　 C. But　　　　　　 D. So

38. A. search　　　 B. look for　　　　 C. look into　　　　 D. defend

39. A. fire　　　　 　 B. noise　　　　　 　 C. balloons　　　　 　 D. flags

40. A. voyage　　　 　 B. struggle　　　　 C. survival　　　　 　 D. sailing

It had been a pleasantly warm day, without much wind, and with enough cloud to prevent the heat of the sun becoming too great. Charles had spent a long time studying the   36   of the water in the boat, and had discovered that, by evening, it had   37   very slightly. This, it would seem, must mean that the boat was not   38   water, which was fortunate, because any attempt to empty it out suggested greater 39   than he felt equal to. One other immediate problem had   40   his thoughts for a few moments. This was the problem of Harcourt. Charles realized that he   41   put poor Harcourt in the sea. It should be simple matter and take no more than a few seconds. Charles arranged in his mind exactly   42   it could most easily be done, but his body did not react to the   43   of his mind. Charles told himself that it was his badly burnt hands that were the trouble. And there was nothing to be done about them except not    44   them.

But then, suddenly, almost without knowing how he did it, Charles moved, stood up, bent   45   the body of poor Harcourt, lifted it and let it slip as   46   as possible into the sea. Afterwards he stood in the stern（船尾）of the boat for a long time, watching the color of the sea   47   and the sky become increasingly farther off with the coming of the night. In a curious way he felt strangely happy. The problem of his   48   had not yet begun to trouble him.

After a time Charles’s returning interest in   49   showed itself in the simple form of hunger. With some difficulty,   50   the water in the boat, he    51   its stores and found food and water in air-tight tins. He also found a neat package wrapped in green oiled silk. He unwrapped it and found maps. Neat, beautifully designed and   52   , spotlessly new, they   53   his knees and he was   54   alone in a world of water. At that moment these clean official maps, correct in every detail, were as   55   as the sound of a human voice, as cheering as a candle in darkness.

36. A. level     B. temperature                C. amount           D. colour

37. A. risen    B. fallen          C. sunk               D. emptied

38. A. taking on     B. taking over            C. taking up       D. taking in

39. A. success       B. effort                    C. hope             D. space

40. A. held            B. interrupted            C. taken              D. tied

41. A. was able to B. was to                C. shouldn’t              D. couldn’t

42. A. when   B. where                   C. how                  D. why

43. A. bottom        B. suggestions           C. brain               D. middle

44. A. mention       B. warm                     C. clean                 D. use

45. A. down       B. over                   C. forward          D. into

46. A. light            B. gently                 C. smoothly           D. fast

47. A. deeply     B. deep                     C. deepen              D. deeper

48. A. rescue     B. hands                 C. boat                       D. escape

49. A. working      B. studying               C. living           D. watching

50. A. except     B. in spite of            C. instead of        D. owing to

51. A. exploited     B. exploded               C. examined         D. explained

52. A. written      B. printed                 C. published          D. hidden

53. A. lay down     B. lay across           C. lay in                D. lay about

54. A. especially    B. suddenly                 C. no longer          D. no less

55. A. comforting B. interesting               C. frightening        D. admiring

Sandra Cisneros was born in Chicago in 1954 to a Mexican American family.  36  the only girl in a family of  37   children, she often  38   she had “seven fathers,” because her six brothers,  39  her father, tried to control her. Feeling shy and  40  , she retreated（躲避）into books.  41  her love of  42  , she did not do well in elementary school because she was too shy to take part in the activities in school.

In high school, with the  43  of one particular teacher, Cisneros   44   her grades and worked for the school literary（文學(xué)的）magazine. Her father encouraged her to go to  45  because he thought it would be a good way for her to find a  46  . Cisneros did attend college, but instead of searching for a husband, she found a teacher who helped her join the famous graduate writing program at the University of Iowa. At the university’s Writers’ Workshop,   47  , she felt lonely –– a（n）  48  American from a poor neighborhood among students from wealthy families. The feeling of being so different   49   Cisneros find her “Creative voice. ”

“It was not until this moment   50   I considered myself truly different that my writing got a voice. I knew I was a Mexican woman, but I didn’t think it had anything to   51   with why I felt so much imbalance in my life, but it had everything to do with it! That’s when I decided I would   52   about something my classmates couldn’t. ”

Cisneros   53   her first work, The House on Mango Street, when she was twenty-nine. The book tells about a young Mexican American girl  54  up in a Spanish-speaking area in Chicago, much like the neighborhoods in which Cisneros lived as a child. The book won an award in 1985 and has been used in classes from high school to graduate school level.   55  then, Cisneros has published several books of poetry, a children’s book, and a short-story collection.

36. A. To          B. For              C. As              D. By

37. A. Five         B. Six              C. Seven          D. Eight

38. A. felt like     B. looked like        C. liked           D. admired

39. A. beside     B. except          C. except for       D. as well as

40. A. unimportant     B. ambitious     C. mature               D. stubborn

41. A. Despite of         B. In spite           C. Despite       D. Spite of

42. A. hiding             B. reading          C. crying        D. feeling

43. A. praise            B. guidance         C. improvement  D. encouragement

44. A. improved         B. improvised      C. increased        D. developed

45. A. home                B. college            C. school         D. library

46. A. friend            B. teacher           C. husband         D. brother

47. A. but              B. however        C. and             D. therefore

48. A. Canadian          B. African           C. German               D. Mexican

49. A. assisted         B. led             C. helped           D. caused

50. A. that              B. when           C. then            D. why

51. A. do               B. deal             C. handle          D. affect

52. A. concern          B. know            C. learn         D. write

53. A. printed          B. published       C. invented        D. punished

54. A. growing          B. grown          C. to grow          D. is growing

55. A. Until                B. Before          C. Since           D. After

An Indian warship destroyed a suspected pirate vessel off the Horn of Africa last November. Finally, here is the language that pirates can understand:   36.   a ship.

   Several countries have    37.    forces to patrol Somali waters in    38.   to the growing number of pirate attacks on   39.  . But the pirates have only become more brazen (肆無(wú)忌憚),   40.   larger ships. Pirates even hijacked (劫持) a Saudi    41.   that was carrying over $100 million of oil.

   Nearly 100 ships were hijacked    42.   the Horn of Africa in 2008. Ransoms (贖金) paid to   43.   the ships reached nearly $50 million. This has   44.    much hand-wringing (much disappointment) in government circles, and some  45.     decisions by shipping companies. Some have decided to reroute their ships all the way    46.   the Cape of Good Hope. That could  47.     over $250,000 to each trip, but it’s better for their ship and crew to be kept by pirates for some weeks.

   International patrols are having little    48.  . Pirates responded by moving their armed attacks    49.  offshore. In effect, they've created a much larger field of play. The Sirius Star was    50.   450 nautical miles off the Kenyan coast, in the Indian Ocean--a     51.   of water so vast that    52.   forces can't possibly patrol(巡航) it.

   It seems that shipping firms have a decision to make: 53.    the region altogether or arm their ships to defend off direct attacks. There are some creative ways to do that. A chemical tanker fought off pirates    54.   with automatic weapons by releasing foam from fire hoses into the waters around the ship. In 2005, a cruise ship used a Long Range Acoustic Device, capable of causing permanent ear damage and temporary vision loss, to defend off a pirate attack on Somalia's coast.

When shall   55.   return to this body of water? People are still seeking the answer.

36. A. Attack               B. Sink           C. Control              D. Drive

37. A. joined                B. attended        C. gathered            D. united

38. A. return                B. turn            C. response           D. favor

39. A. warships            B. commercial ships   C. fishing ships   D. passengers ships

40. A. aiming               B. targeting                C. intending      D. taking

41. A. fishing boat        B. goods ship       C. passenger ship   D. oil tanker

42. A. out                    B. about                    C. off            D. from

43. A. charge         B. seize            C. keep           D. free

44. A. caused        B. led                          C. did            D. brought

45. A. reasonable          B. unreasonable       C. negative             D. sensitive

46. A. about                 B. over              C. around                 D. beyond

47. A. increase             B. put               C. make                   D. add

48. A. effect                B. affect             C. effort                    D. afford

49. A. away                 B. further            C. about                    D. around

50. A. forced               B. left               C. captured         D. broken

51. A. sea                    B. flow              C. mass                     D. body

52. A. air                     B. naval             C. land                         D. mixed

53. A. Avoid                 B. Protect             C. Keep                     D. Guard

54. A. mixed                B. combined          C. fitted                      D. armed

55. A. war             B. hijack                C. peace            D. conflict

He hated my name, Whitney. My family never knew why. He wished for my name to be Nicole, which was how it became my  （36）  name. He was the first man I ever trusted,  （37）  my father, and he still is one of the few men I trust. He loves me; after all, I am his granddaughter,  （38） .

He has a disease that causes his  （39）  to drift. He doesn’t remember his own wife half the time; I don’t know why I  （40）  he will remember me when I see him. My dad and grandmother held his hands as they  （41）  him in to see me for the first time in four months. His bones  （42）  under his skin, and I could tell that his  （43）  no longer occupied his mouth. He didn’t look like my grandfather; his face was that of a  （44） . He looked like he might have when he was in World War II, but Alzheimer’s（老年癡呆癥）was his  （45）  now.

They sat him down. Without a glance at me, my grandfather  （46）  his head for at least a half hour, almost as if he were ashamed. Suddenly he  （47）  tracing（順著輪廓描畫）my palm, noticing every line and detail. His fingers fell through the spaces between  （48）  like sand. I stood up, still holding his hand, and took him for a walk to try to  （49）  him a bit.

When we returned, he did not want to sit. He looked at me with a grandfather’s  （50） . His eyes played with mine, searching for memories we had  （51） . He started to play with my hair, examining the faint color through his almost  （52）  eyes. I took his hand and spun myself around  （53）  we were dancing like we used to.

All too soon, it was time to  （54） . He planted a million kisses on my cheeks as I felt tears welling up in my eyes. I was his little girl again, although he didn’t remember my  （55） . That’s okay. He didn’t like it anyway.

36．  A． first               B．  last                     C．     middle             D．   full

37．  A． according to   B．  besides               C．     like                  D．   unlike

38．  A． always           B．  sometimes          C．perhaps         D．unbelievably

39．  A． mind              B．  eyes                   C．     hands              D．   body

40．  A． doubt             B．  hope                   C．     know              D．   expect

41．  A． walked           B．  called                 C．     carried             D．   pushed

42．  A． felt sharp        B．  looked terrible     C．     stood out         D．   hurt badly

43．  A． speech           B．  smile                  C．     tongue             D．   teeth

44．  A． soldier            B．  stranger              C．     patient             D．   victim

45．  A． war                B．  dream                 C．     career              D．   story

46．  A． turned            B．  raised                 C．     hung               D．   scratched

47．  A． stopped          B．  started                C．     remembered     D．   imagined

48．  A． them              B．  those                  C．     others              D．   mine

49．  A． calm              B．  move                  C．     amuse             D．   wake

50．  A． bravery          B．  intelligence          C．     softness           D．   weakness

51．  A． exchanged      B．  refreshed            C．     shared             D．   lost

52．  A． blind              B．  tearful                C．     cold                D．   sleepy

53．  A． so that            B．  as if                   C．     until                D．   because

54．  A． eat                 B．  rest                    C．     leave               D．   meet

55．  A． appearance     B．  childhood            C．     birthday           D．   name

A strong wind was blowing hard, thunder was rumbling, and lightning flashed across the dark sky. Rain was   16   down; it looked as if heaven had been broken open.

Gleams of light appeared from windows of   17   houses, shining like jewels in all the dark.

A   18   woman dressed in rags and trembling with cold was   19   on a lonely road, while the merciless rain was   20   her without pause. She knocked at the door, and a   21   answered it. She begged him to let her stay a while   22  . The boy then let her into the sitting room and   23   her sitting by the fire.

The woman   24   old and tired under the bright electric light,   25   she was only in her early thirties. She sat   26   for a moment, and then her eyes began to look about the   27 . When her wandering eyes rested on the picture of a young man, she   28  up, looking thunderstruck. Just then, the boy came with his   29  . The man at once recognized the woman as his    30  . They had   31   touch with each other during the war, and he thought he had lost her forever.

  32   words needed to be spoken, They embraced each other   33   the boy stared at them, puzzled.

The storm was over and the sky cleared. Feeling very   34  , the couple stood face to face with their child between them, watching the rain as it gradually   35  .

16. A. pouring     B. falling         C. dropping                  D. flooding

17. A. poor         B. black          C. faraway                     D. nearby

18. A. rich          B. beautiful         C. poor                    D. ugly

19. A. crying      B. wandering        C. struggling             D. wondering

20. A. striking    B. hitting          C. flowing                 D. beating

21. A. boy          B. girl              C. woman                 D. man

22. A. out               B. near           C. outside                 D. inside

23. A. made       B. left                     C. asked                      D. told

24. A. became    B. showed        C. appeared                    D. sounded

25. A. so        B. and                 C. however                    D. though

26. A. straight    B. thirsty          C. hungry                  D. still

27. A. room       B. house           C. picture                  D. fire

28. A. picked     B. stood            C. came                  D. looked

29. A. father     B. mother         C. friend                   D. brother

30. A. wife        B. sister           C. mother                 D. girlfriend

31. A. kept         B. got                     C. made                    D. lost

32. A. Much     B. Many         C. No                  D. Not

33. A. as         B. while        C. when              D. since

34. A. disappointed B. sorry          C. happy       D. sad

35. A. began          B. stopped      C. ended       D. wanted

When Phillip was on his way to the airport one afternoon, he asked the driver to wait outside the bank while he collected some traveler’s checks.

　 The plane was to 36 　at 5:30. From the bank there was still a 37 　journey to the airport. Phillip merely watched the 38 along the way. Shortly before arriving, he began 39 the things he would need for the 40 . Tickets, money, the address of his hotel, traveler’s checks—Just a moment. How about his passport? Phillip went through his pockets. He suddenly　 41 　that he must have left his passport 42 .

　 Whatever could he do? It was now five past four and there would be too little 43　 to return to the bank. This was the 44 　time he was representing his firm for an important 45 with the manager of a French firm in Paris the following morning. Without a passport he would be 46 to board the plane. At that moment, the taxi 47 　outside the air terminal. Phillip got out, took his suitcase and 48 　the driver. He then 49　 a good deal of confusion in the building. A 50 could be heard over the loudspeaker.

　 “We very much 51 that owing to a twenty-four-hour strike of airport staff, all flights for the rest of today have had to be called off.” Passengers are　 52 to get in touch with their travel agents or with this terminal for 53 on tomorrow’s flights. Phillip gave a 54 . He would let his firm know about this situation and, thank goodness, he would have the opportunity of calling at his bank the following morning to 55 his passport.

36. A. leave　　　 　　 B. register　　　 C. check out　　　 　　 D. pull

37. A. pleasant　　 　 B. short　　　　 C. long　　　　　　 D. rough

38. A. scenery　　 　　 B. scene　　　　 　　　 C. view　　　　 　　　 D. sight

39. A. counting　　 　　 B. looking over　 C. thinking about　　 D. checking

40. A. trip　　　　 　　 B. plane　　　　 C. meeting　　　　　 D. flight

41. A. remembered 　　 B. realized　　　 C. noticed　　　　　 D. learned

42. A. at home　 　　　 B. at the office　 C. at the bank　　　 D. in the taxi

43. A. time　　　 　 B. chance　　　 C. possibility　　　　 D. use

44. A. golden　　 　　 B. last　　　　　 C. only　　　　　　 D. first

45. A. journey　　 　　 B. visit　　　　 C. business　　　　 D. meeting

46. A. sad　　　　 　　 B. unable　　　　 C. impossible　　　 　D. difficult

47. A. stopped　　 　　 B. was driven　　 C. reached　　　 　 D. was parked

48. A. left　　　 　　　 　　B. sent away　　　 C. paid　　　　 　　 D. said bye-bye to

49. A. started　　 　　 B. noticed　　　 C. caught　　　 　　 D. found

50. A. speech　　 　　 B. noise　　　　　 　 C. call　　　　　 　　　 D. voice

51. A. apologize　 　　 B. announce　　　 C. worry　　　　　 　　 D. regret

52. A. advised　　　 　 B. forced　　　　 　　 C. told　　　　 　　　 D. persuaded

53. A. ideas　　　　 　 B. plans　　　　 　　 C. information　　 　　 D. time

54. A. loud laugh　 　 B. deep sigh　 　　　　 C. big smile　　　 　　 D. sharp cry

55. A. return　　　 　 B. find　　　　　 　　 C. recover　　　 　　 D. gather

As Christmas drew near, Ursula was faced with just that problem. She had come to live in an American home and learn English.  21  , she would mind the children and do anything she was asked.

One of her tasks was to keep track of arriving Christmas presents. Ursula did this faithfully, but she became increasingly worried. What could she buy for her   22   with the little money she had that would compare with the gifts she was recording daily?   23  , even without any of the gifts , her employer seems to have everything.

Ursula _ 24 _ long and hard. On Christmas Eve, she went to a store. She moved slowly through crowds of shoppers,   25   things in her mind. Finally she bought a baby dress. She immediately called a taxi.  “Excuse me, please, can you help me find a poor family with a baby?”  “A poor family?” said the   26   driver. “Yes, a very poor family.” Ursula told the man of what she was trying to do. He listened in silence, and then said, “I know a family who needs just about everything.”

When they reached a building, the driver said, “They live on the third floor.” Ursula shook her head, “Would you take this dress to them and tell them it’s from someone …someone who has everything.”

Early the next day, Ursula   27   everyone for the presents she received. Then, she began to   28   why there seemed to be none from her. She told about what she did the night before. When she finished, there was a long   29  . “You see,” she added, “I try to do a kindness in your    30   .  And this is my Christmas present to you.”

21. A. In return          B. As a result      C. By the way        D. In a sense

22. A. own family       B. classmates       C. friends            D. American family

23. A. Otherwise       B. Therefore         C. Besides              D. But

24. A. talked           B. thought          C. waited            D. worked

25. A. selecting          B. matching         C. remembering       D. organizing

26. A. delighted         B. anxious          C. surprised                 D. respectful

27. A. thanked           B. encouraged    C. praised             D. admired

28. A. settle            B. repeat           C. argue                D. explain

29. A. delay            B. silence          C. time                  D. break

30. A. case                B. opinion         C. memory               D. name