Are you a man or a mouse? When people ask this question they want to know whether you think you are a 36 person or a coward (懦夫). But you will never really know the answer to this question 37 you are tested in real life. Some people 38 they are brave but when they come face to face with real 39 , they act like cowards. Others think of themselves as cowards, but when they meet danger, they act like 40 .
Lenny had always thought of himself as a 41 person. He got worried before examinations. He worried about his job and health. All he wanted in life was to be safe and healthy. 42 , on January 15th, 2002, a plane crashed into the Potomac River in Washington. Lenny went to the river to see what was happening. He saw a woman in the 43 water. Lenny did not feel afraid. He kept very 44 and did a very dangerous thing. He jumped into the Potomac, 45 to the woman, and kept her head 46 the water. Seventy-eight people died that day. Thanks to Lenny, it was not 47 .
When you are in a very dangerous situation and feel afraid, the body automatically produces a chemical in the blood. The chemical is called adrenalin. With adrenalin in the blood system, you actually feel stronger and stronger and are 48 to fight or run away. However, when you are absolutely terrified, the body can produce too much adrenalin. When this happens , the muscles become very hard and you find you can’t at all. You are then paralyzed (使无能为力) with fear. This is 49 when we are very frightened, we sometimes say we’re “petrified”. This word comes from the Greek word “petros”, which means “stone”. We are 50 frightened that we become stonelike.
1.. A. brave B. real C. hard D. certain
2.. A. when B. until C. after D. once
3.. A. realize B. find C. think D. agree
4.. A. life B. question C. mouse D. danger
5.. A. soldiers B. mice C. heroes D. cowards
6.. A. useful B. brave C. nervous D. terrible
7.. A. So B. Therefore C. Then D. Actually
8.. A. fresh B. poisonous C. warm D. ice-cold
9.. A. nervous B. calm C. frightened D. excited
10.. A. went B. helped C. spoke D. swam
11.. A. in B. under C. above D. from
12.. A. an accident B. a mistake C. seventy-eight D. seventy-nine
13.. A. afraid B. unable C. ready D. anxious
14.. A. where B. how C. because D. why
15.. A. really B. very C. such D. so
It is demanded that you ____ at six.
A. will arrive B. arrive C. arrived D. would arrive
At present，there is little doubt ________ short message plays an increasingly important role in our lives．
A．whether B．if C．that D．which
— Are you a teacher?
— No, but I ______. I worked in a middle school for three years.
A. am B. will C. do D. was
— Is your mother going to the supermarket？
— No，______.
A. she doesn’t B. she’s cooking C. she gets by bus D. to a tailor’s shop
______，I will help you with your work.
A. If I am possible B. If it possible C. If possible D. Possible
