Music to My Ears
Robby was 10 for his first piano lesson in my class. Much as he tried, he ____ even the basic rhythm. However, he dutifully reviewed the pieces that I required.
Over the months he tried and tried while I ____ and encouraged him. At the end of each lesson he'd always say, "My mom's going to hear me play some day." ____ it seemed hopeless.
I only knew his mother from a ____as she waited in her aged car to pick him up. Then one day Robby stopped coming. I was secretly ____ that he stopped because of his lack of ability.
Weeks later I informed the students, including Robby, of the coming recital（独奏）. To my ____, Robby asked me if he could be included. I told him he really did not qualify because he had ____ out. He said his mom had been sick and unable to take him to lessons but he was still ____ .
“I've just got to play!" he ____. Something inside me let me allow him to.
Then came the recital night. The gym was ____ with parents. I put Robby up ____, thinking that I could save his poor performance through my “curtain closer（谢幕）.”
The recital went off smoothly. Then Robby came up on stage. His clothes were wrinkled and his hair was ____. "Why didn't his mother at least make him comb his hair for this special night?" I thought.
Robby pulled out the piano bench and began. I was not ____ for what I heard next. His fingers were ____ on the keys. Never had I heard Mozart played so well by people of his age. After he ended, everyone was ____ their feet in wild applause.
In ____ I ran up on stage and put my arms around Robby. "I've never heard you play like that, Robby! How did you ____ it?"
Robby explained, "Well, Miss Hondorf…remember I told you my mom was sick? …____ she had cancer and passed away yesterday. She was born deaf, so tonight she could hear me play in heaven. I wanted to make it special."
There wasn’t a ____ eye in the house. That night I felt he was the teacher and I was the pupil, for it was he who taught me the meaning of perseverance and ____.
1.A. had B. lacked C. showedD. got
2.A. learned B. checkedC. listened D. played
3.A. And B. ButC. SoD. Or
4.A. conversation B. performanceC. distanceD. picture
5.A. guiltyB. anxiousC. glad D. sad
6.A.surprise B. reliefC. pleasureD. satisfaction
7.A. steppedB. wornC. runD. dropped
8.A. actingB. practicingC. performingD. recording
9.A. insistedB. suggestedC. complainedD. threatened
10.A. packedB. linedC. piledD. covered
11.A. least B. mostC. firstD. last
12.A.cool B. messy C. neat D. dull
13.A. eager B. concernedC. preparedD. grateful
14.A. hesitating B. crawling C. touchingD. dancing
15.A. over B. underC. inD. on
16.A. chaos B. return C. silenceD. tears
17.A. find B. feelC. makeD. like
18.A. Gradually B. SuddenlyC. FrequentlyD. Actually
19.A. bright B. curiousC. dryD. wet
20.A. love B. talent C. regretD. courage
“I hope the dialogue,” said the spokesman, “______ between the two presidents next week will give us some active signals.
A. making B. to make C. to be made D. made
This restaurant has an inviting, homelike atmosphere ___ many others are short of.
A. whereB. when C. that D. what
With our country entering an aging society, ______ the retirement age is probably unavoidable.
A. having delayed B. delaying C. being delayed D. to be delayed
The new policy allows a couple to have a second birth _____either is an only child.
A. though B. if C. unless D. until
Will was stupefied with exhaustion, and he _____ his head on the grass under one of the trees and slept, but he saw a cat acting strangely.
A. should have lied B. ought to have lay C. might have laid D. must have laid
