I’d never been crazy about Christmas. My husband John and the kids had always done their best to infuse(使充满) me with the holiday ___ , but this Christmas their efforts would be especially ___ .
My salary had reduced and John’s government salary was _______, too. There wasn’t much money to go around, and _______ were just impossible. John was _______ a brave face as usual. But for me our financial hardship brought back ___ memories of my childhood.
“I got a Make and Bake set for Christmas!” one girl shouted. “I got clothes!” another girl said. “What did you get, Lori?” someone asked. “So many presents.” I lied. My parents gave me plenty of love, but love was the ____ thing I had. Mom and Dad always had trouble making ends meet. I’d long since ____ Christmas just wasn’t for me.
John was ______ the tree for just the right branch to ______ the red glass bulb with the “Merry Christmas” writing. It was a precious _______ of his childhood, and he took great pleasure in hanging it on our tree every year. A few days earlier, the tree _______ and several ornaments( 装 饰 物 ) broke, but this one was unique because of the memories it held for him. It was fine if I didn’t have any Christmas spirit, but it was a different ____ for John. He took a step back to admire the replacement I’d finally found after endless searching on foot and surfing the Internet.
I worked hard to make things right for John because I loved to see my Christmas-loving husband full of holiday joy. I _______ one of the tree lights so it shone directly on John’s beloved ornament. The words on it sparkled(闪烁). After all this time, I finally understood its ______ . Christmas was the season to show my love for my family. How could anyone not like Christmas?
1.A. practice B. desire C. spirit D. pressure
2.A. aimless B. priceless C. endless D. hopeless
3.A. decreased B. received C. measured D. doubled
4.A. performances B. presents C. rewards D. donations
5.A. putting up B. putting down C. putting off D. putting on
6.A. embarrassing B. horrible C. precious D. exciting
7.A. first B. same C. real D. only
8.A. predicted B. decided C. imagined D. promised
9.A. searching B. preparing C. approaching D. planting
10.A. change B. remove C. hold D. handle
11.A. dream B. reminder C. comfort D. resource
12.A. got down B. broke away C. turned off D. fell over
13.A. idea B. story C. business D. account
14.A. flashed B. repaired C. adjusted D. adapted
15.A. message B. procedure C. commitment D. attitude
Had he taken his parent’s advice, he having made such a silly mistake now.
A. would not regret B. would not have regretted
C. may not regret D. may not have regretted
We believe you have been devoted to naturally of great necessity.
A. that; being B. all that; be
C. that all; are D. what; is
--- What do you know made Sarah so upset?
--- giving away state secrets.
A. Charged with B. Being charged with
C. Accusing of D. To be accused of
--- When did you return last Friday?
--- It was not until midnight it was raining hard.
A. when B. which
C. that D. before
--- I so busily recently that I no time to help you with your maths.
--- That’s OK. I can manage it by myself.
A. have been working; have B. have worked; had
C. am working; will have D. had been working; had had