Long long ago, there was a small village． This village had a 1 tradition． At the beginning of every year, any boy who had reached the age of majority （the state of legally being an adult） was given land and money to build a home． The boy had to 2 his home before winter． If his home failed to endure the cold weather in winter, the villagers could not 3 him in any way．
One 4 , Paul and Marc reached their majority． They 5 their land and money and decided to search nearby villages for ideas on building their homes． In each village, they found the nicest 6 and talked to the owners． Each owner gladly offered 7 ．
After Marc saw several homes, he 8 the best ideas and went back to his own land． Paul, 9 , continued collecting more ideas． Soon he had so many great ideas that he began to 10 some of them． But he always believed he could find even better ideas in the next village．
Marc began building his home． He had several false starts, 11 his home gradually rose from his land． By fall, Marc had finished his home． It wasn't perfect, but it was strong and he could 12 it later． Paul enjoyed all the beautiful homes and 13 with home owners． The first snow came and Paul, realizing he was running out of time, 14 back to his land． He built the best home he could in the time he had, but it was 15 ． The first winter storm destroyed his home and he froze to 16 ． The villagers mourned for him．
Marc 17 the winter． Each year, Marc searched for other good ideas he could use to make his own home look better． He became a leader in the village, 18 a family, and lived a happy, content life．
We all build and improve our own mental homes． It’s 19 and fun for us to search for ideas from other mental home owners, but we only improve our own mental home if we actually 20 the best ideas．
1.A． strange B． hopeful C． literary D． cultural
2.A． find B． make C． complete D． buy
3.A． help B． encourage C． scold D． persuade
4.A． winter B． summer C． autumn D． spring
5.A． exchanged B． received C． recognized D． advice
6.A． girls B． jobs C． houses D． presents
7.A． rooms B． drinks C． attention D． advice
8.A． expected B． gathered C． created D． understood
9.A． similarly B． finally C． however D． furthermore
10.A． forget B． believe C． replace D． doubt
11.A． because B． although C． but D． so
12.A． repair B． rebuild C． sell D． improve
13.A． conversations B． achievements C． struggles D． arguments
14.A． drove B． rushed C． flew D． moved
15.A． weak B． funny C． small D． amazing
16.A． blindness B． death C． sadness D． illness
17.A． experienced B． loved C． survived D． spent
18.A． brought B． earned C． contacted D． raised
19.A． slow B． easy C． dangerous D． special
20.A． realize B． bring C． collect D． apply
I apologize ___ you ____ my impoliteness.
A. to , for B. / , for C. to , / D. / , to
--- I hear that a modern church is to be built near our school.
--- I’m afraid that it doesn’t ___ the surroundings .
A. come up with B. fit in with C. catch up with D. get along with
33.The mother ____ tears at the sight of her long lost son, who was sent back by two policemen .
A. burst into B. burst out C. burst away D. burst up
---You’re writing an essay now , right?
---Yes. I’m busy collecting material ____ to the topic .
A. relevant B. similar C. devoted D. addicted
The expert offered us another piece of advice , ___ of great help to our program.
A. I think it is B. I think which is C. which I think it is D. which I think is
