完形填空（共20小题；每小题1．5分，满分30分）
阅读下面短文，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。
Wranglers（争吵者） and Stranglers（扼杀者）
Years ago there was a group of brilliant young men at the University of Wisconsin, who seemed to have amazing creative 36 talent. They were would-be poets, novelists, and essayists. They were extraordinary in their 37 to put the English language to its best use. These promising young men 38 regularly to read and critique (评论) each other's work. And critique it they did!
These men were merciless with one another. They 39 the minutest literary expression into a hundred pieces. They were heartless, tough, even mean in their 40 .The sessions became such areas of literary criticism that the 41 of this special club called themselves the “Stranglers (扼杀者)”.
In order to 42 , the women of literary talent in the university 43 to start a club of their own, one comparable to the Stranglers. They 44 themselves the “Wranglers (争论者)”.They, too, read their 45 one another. But there was one great difference. The criticism was much softer, more 46 , more encouraging. Sometimes, there was almost no criticism at all. Every effort, even the weakest one, was 47 .
Twenty years later an alumnus (男校友；男毕业生) of the university was making an exhaustive (详尽的；彻底的) 48 of his classmates' careers when he 49 a vast difference in the literary accomplishments of the Stranglers as opposed to the Wranglers. Of all the 50 young men in the Stranglers, no one had made a significant literary 51 of any kind. From the Wranglers had come six or more successful 52 , some of national renown (名望；声誉) such as Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, who wrote The Yearling.
Talent between the two？Probably the same. Level of 53 ？Not much difference. But the Stranglers were strangled, while the Wranglers were determined to give each other a(an) 54 .The Stranglers 55 an atmosphere of argument and self-doubt. The Wranglers highlighted the best, not the worst.
1.A. architectural B. artistic C. literary D. musical
2.A. strength B. ability C. performance D. power
3.A. gathered B. organized C. challenged D. collected
4.A. turned B. translated C. combined D. divided
5.A. appreciation B. criticism C. assessment D. judgment
6.A. leaders B. organizers C. members D. arrangers
7.A. participate B. practice C. succeed D. compete
8.A. determined B. agreed C. promised D. dreamed
9.A. regarded B. called C. thought D. recognized
10.A. works B. letters C. books D. papers
11.A. fantastic B. critical C. positive D. serious
12.A. required B. spared C. made D. encouraged
13.A. experiment B. study C. analysis D. judgment
14.A. reflected B. resolved C. explained D. noticed
15.A. optimistic B. confident C. bright D. honest
16.A. achievement B. influence C. contribution D. improvement
17.A. engineers B. writers C. doctors D. lawyers
18.A. courage B. patience C. education D. skill
19.A. reward B. favor C. honor D. lift
20.A. ruined B. lightened C. promoted D. enjoyed
People generally believe that women are more emotional than men, but in my experience that often is not the______.
A. stage B. case C. view D. point
The principal walked onto the platform and seated himself in a chair, ____ for answering questions.
A. prepared B. being prepared C. prepared D. preparing
To get as much firsthand information as possible, inspectors will hold workshops and distribute questionnaires, ____?
A. won't they B. won't it C. aren't they D. isn't it
That truck nearly hit me; I ______.
A. might be killed B. may been killed
C. may be killed D. might have been killed
As we are in no hurry, let’s discuss the matter ____ tea and cake.
A. at B. over C. with D. by
