The host poured the tea into the cup and placed it on the small table in front of his guests, who were a father and daughter, and put the cover on the cup. Apparently thinking of something, he hurried into the inner room, leaving the thermos (热水瓶) on the table. His two guests heard a cupboard opening.
They remained sitting in the sitting room, the ten-year-old daughter looking at the flowers outside the window, the father just about to take his cup, when the crash came, right there in the sitting room. Something was hopelessly broken.
It was the thermos, which had fallen to the floor. The girl looked over her shoulder, shocked, staring. It was mysterious. Neither of them had touched it, not even a bit. True, it hadn't stood steadily when their host placed it on the table, but it hadn't fallen then.
The explosion caused the host to rush back. Gawking at the steaming floor, the host said "It doesn't matter! It doesn't matter!"
The father started to say something. Then he said softly, "Sorry, I touched it and it fell."
"It doesn't matter," the host said.
When they left the house, the daughter said, "Daddy, did you touch it?"
"No. But it stood so close to me. "
"But you didn't touch it. I saw your reflection in the window glass. "
The father laughed. "What then would you give as the cause of its fall?"
"The thermos fell by itself. The floor is not smooth. Daddy, why did you say that you …"
"That won't do, girl. It sounds more acceptable when I say I knocked it down. There are things which people accept less the more you defend them. The truer the story you tell, the less true it sounds. "
The daughter was lost in silence for a while. Then she said, "Can you explain it only in this way?"
"Only in this way," her father said.
56. Which statement is a possible theme of this story?
A. People rarely tell the truth.
B. You can't always make people believe the truth.
C. If you defend yourself, people will believe you.
D. People should take the blame for what they didn't do.
57. It can be inferred from the story that the father _______.
A. didn't know the host well B. felt satisfied that he didn't tell the truth
C. was sorry that he told the truth D. didn't think the host would believe the truth
58. From the story we know that the daughter ________.
A. thought her father should tell the truth B. didn't know why the thermos fell
C. knocked over the thermos D. strongly objected to her father's explanation
59. The underlined "gawking at" probably means _______.
A. staring at with anger B. looking at curiously
C. glancing at hopelessly D. looking at in a dull way
完形填空(共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分)
阅读下面短文，从短文后所给各题的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项, 并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
It was no wonder I was not looking forward to entering ninth grade. High school is well-known for being a battleground, where everyone seems to be 36 through physical changes, emotional mood swings, and low self-respect. For me, 37 was my punishment.
I had always felt insecure and out of 38 as one of the 39 members of my class, standing a head above the other girls and bending at the 40 of the line to avoid sticking 41 .
I especially hate being around large groups of people, like during the social hour after services at my church. 42 the prayers were finished, I would leave as quickly as possible so I could 43 other well-meaning congratulations, "Ruthie! Look how tall you' re getting!"
My grandfather would watch me 44 increasingly uncomfortable, but he did not 45 at my self--consciousness or try to comfort me. 46 , he would remind me. "Stand straight and tall," he would say, as I unsuccessfully tried to shrink (使缩小) myself. Moreover, each time, I would embarrassedly obey. Even at age 15, I understood that his advice was about 47 than just feet and inches.
My grandfather grew up in war-torn Europe. When German soldiers 48 his hometown, he wound up joining the Soviet army to fight 49 his country's freedom. "Stand straight, stand tall," meant something else back then.
_50 the war, he boarded a boat for 51 , and on January 27, 1947, he stepped onto the dock in Manhattan. He was hungry and 52 from seasickness. All alone in a new country, he was 53 about his future. Still, he marched head-on into the streets of New York. Soon he met 54 European immigrants, each of them trying to find his or her own way. If they could do it, why couldn't he? "Stand straight, stand tall," he would remind himself. He felt his faith 55 . When he walked into the church that first time, he walked in proudly.
36. A. going B. getting C. looking D. putting
37. A. age B. sex C. height D. face
38. A. place B. order C. control D. date
39. A. younger B. shorter C. fatter D. taller
40. A. head B. bottom C. back D. side
41. A. to B. out C. with D. off
42. A. Until B. Unless C. Once D. Before
43. A. avoid B. receive C. accept D. refuse
44. A. change B. grow C. sense D. make
45. A. look B. stare C. stay D. laugh
46. A. Instead B. Besides C. However D. Therefore
47. A. other B. more C. less D. rather
48. A. fought B. developed C. occupied D. marched
49. A. against B. for C. with D. to
50. A. Before B. During C. Without D. After
51. A. German B. Australia C. America D. Canada
52. A. coming B. learning C. suffering D. differing
53. A. frightened B. excited C. serious D. sorrowful
54. A. few B. more C. most D. other
55. A. increasing B. returning C. gaining D. disappearing
-- You know who came to our school yesterday?
-- Professor Smith? We once met at a conference.
-- ______. He came and gave a wonderful speech.
|
A．How did you know that? |
B．That was good news. |
|
C．Got it! |
D．Well Done! |
--Does he always keep an appointment, Jenny'?
-- Seldom, ______.
|
A．if any |
B．whenever possible |
C．if ever |
D．when necessary |
-- I'd like to invite you to a party tomorrow evening.
-- Thank you, but ______ I'll be free I'm uncertain.
|
A．while |
B．if |
C．when |
D．whether |
Adam left word with my wife ______ he would call again in the afternoon.
|
A．who |
B．as |
C．that |
D．which |
