阅读下面的短文，掌握其大意，然后从各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项。
Kate Chin, like many renters, is tired of renting. One reason is that her __1__ rent goes up like clockwork. Every year her landlord raises the rent by five percent. Another reason is her __2__. “New neighbors always seem to be more __3__ than the ones who moved out,” she said. “My first neighbor would __4__ his door very heavily. I __5__ knew when he came home or left home. __6__ he moved out, a saxophonist moved in. A saxophonist! He practiced two hours a day. On Saturday his friends would come __7__ and I had to __8__ to a whole band. I called the police, but they said saxophone playing is permitted in __9__ for up to four hours a day, because saxophone playing is job-related. They told me I was __10__ that the guy was only playing two hours a day!”
There are many unhappy renters, __11__ there are also happy renters. “I’ve been lucky my whole life,” said Karl Leen, a middle-aged man. “My neighbors couldn’t have been any __12__ if I had picked them myself. One neighbor was a cook. He’d bring me the best __13__ in the world. Another neighbor was a pianist. She played the most __14__ music. Another neighbor was a __15__ who did my tune-ups and changed the oil in my car. My __16__ neighbor is a birder; and we go __17__ every weekend with our telescopes.”
Different persons have different attitudes. Kate saw the saxophone player as __18__, yet Karl saw the __19__ player as delightful. Millions of people would be happy just to have a roof over their head. Yet there are millions who would __20__ that their roof is the wrong color.
1.A. weekly B. monthly C. daily D. annual
2.A. children B. colleagues C. neighbors D. servants
3.A. inconsiderate B. considerate C. careful D. foolish
4.A. knock B. lock C. shut D. clean
5.A. always B. occasionally C. never D. sometimes
6.A. Before B. Since C. From D. After
7.A. up B. over C. down D. on
8.A. dance B. listen C. turn D. look
9.A. departments B. apartments C. offices D. bedrooms
10.A. unfortunate B. unlucky C. lucky D. pleased
11.A. and B. so C. but D. for
12.A. worse B. sadder C. better D. happier
13.A. books B. clothes C. CDs D. leftovers
14.A. sorrowful B. heavy C. delightful D. light
15.A. artist B. cook C. barber D. mechanic
16.A. former B. latest C. latter D. previous
17.A. shopping B. boating C. hiking D. birding
18.A. amusing B. pleasing C. hating D. annoying
19.A. saxophone B. violin C. piano D. guitar
20.A. find B. remember C. praise D. complain
____ most children nowadays are the only chidren, they tend to be more self-centered.
A. Ever since B. Now that C. Only if D. Even though
—It’s a long journey. My car couldn’t make it.
—You can drive my car. It’s quite old, but it’s still pretty ____.
A. reliable B. convenient C. supportive D. available
The black furnishings in his house provide an interesting ____ to the white walls.
A. comparison B. contrast C. opposition D. difference
—What happened to the young trees we planted last week?
—The trees ____ well, but I ____ them.
A. might grow; hadn’t watered B. needn’t have grown; didn’t water
C. would have grown; didn’t water D. would grow; hadn’t watered
—Clover, why didn’t you attend the meeting yesterday?
—I ____, but something unexpected happened.
A. had B. would C. was going to D. did
