It was my first year teaching in a special needs class, and I wasn’t sure what to expect at our yearly Special Olympics sports meeting. My   36   had some challenges, from learning disabilities to cerebral palsy（大腦性麻痹）.

Mark was one with the latter. Sitting in a   37  , he had to fight his spasms （抽筋） just to control his movements.   38  , he always had a positive attitude and greeted everyone with a huge smile.

His classmates   39   him and always took the time to make sure he was included in group activities, especially Mike, Andy and Lucas, three boys who were good at   40  . Obviously, Mark wanted to be like them, free from the limitation of his   41   and watching them moving on the playing field seemed to fill him with   42  .

When the day came, Mike, Andy and Lucas   43   well in their sports events, and gave the normally calm audience something to cheer about. Mark sat in his wheelchair on the sidelines,   44  them on.

The final event of the day was the 400-meter race.   45   was invited to either walk or run, according to their ability, around the   46   length of the track.

When Mike, Andy and Lucas reached the finish line, they   47   and turned to look behind them. At the   48   of the crowd, determined not to be left behind, was Mark. All his classmates had   49   him. He was alone on the track with over half the distance left to   50  .

Mike, Andy and Lucas looked at each other, and a(an)   51   was reached between them. Slowly, they jogged   52   towards their friend, cheering him on   53   he had done for them moments before.

The progress was   54  , but in the end the three star runners and Mark crossed the finish line together to the enthusiastic cries of their teachers and classmates. Seeing the look on Mark’s face as he crossed the finish line, hands upraised and laughing, I came to understand what  55  the Special Olympics and the determined athletes so extraordinary.

Years later, I’m still cheering them on.

36. A. partners          B. friends          C. students        D. classmates

37. A. bed              B. machine        C. wheelchair      D. desk

38. A. So              B. However        C. Otherwise      D. Therefore

39. A. protected         B. satisfied        C. disliked          D. loved

40. A. sports           B. practice        C. studies         D. expression

41. A. interests          B. body           C. habits          D. mind

42. A. admiration             B. trust           C. stress          D. depression

43. A. trained           B. performed     C. operated      D. prepared

44. A. bringing          B. holding         C. cheering      D. moving

45. A. Someone         B. Nobody        C. Anybody       D. Everyone

46. A. entire                    B. different        C. average         D. equal

47. A. fell                      B. paused         C. rushed          D. rested

48. A. center             B. front         C. end             D. top

49. A. left                B. ig nored         C. passed          D. helped

50. A. continue           B. jog            C. walk            D. cover

51. A. demand            B. agreement     C. action           D. relief

52. A. back              B. along           C. again           D. on

53. A. while              B. although        C. since            D. as

54. A. boring             B. great           C. slow            D. relaxing

55. A. leaves              B. finds           C. keeps          D. makes

 They weighed the advantages of the operation ______ all the possible risks over and over again.

   A. within 　　 B. above　　　     C. beyond　　　　　D. against  

 Research shows that though students benefit from having parents involved at school, _____ happens at home matters much more.

     A. which                        B. what                 C. that                   D. whether

 The questions put forward at the meeting are ________ and we should take them seriously.

   A. vital important                B. of vital importance

   C. of little importance            D. less important

 There was a (an) _______ silence in the live interview, when no one knew what to say to the audience.

   A. thorough        B. adequate        C. desperate        D. awkward

 In recent years, many roads have been broadened in Harbin, __________ it much faster for people to travel from one place to another.

   A. making           B. made            C. to make         D. having made

 Even ________ I am able to get in touch with the manager and tell him your request, I cannot guarantee he will reply.

   A. until              B. unless            C. once            D. when

 He recommended that the decision __________ until the manager turned up.

   A. would not be made      B. was not made     C. not be made      D. made

 David apologized to me yesterday. ______, I won't forgive him for it was not the first time that he had hurt me.

   A. If so               B. If ever         C. Even so        D. Even though

 I came across my Chinese teacher in the supermarket near my house, _________ was out of my expectation.

   A. what        B. which        C. where        D. that