I used to believe in the American Dream, which meant a job, a mortgage (按揭), credit cards, success. I wanted it and worked toward it like everyone else, all of us____chasing the same thing.
One year, through a series of unhappy events, it all fell____I found myself homeless and alone. I had my truck and $ 56. I____the countryside for some place I could rent for the____possible amount. I came upon a shabby house four miles up a winding mountain road____the Potomac River in West Virginia. It was____, full of broken glass and rubbish. I found the owner, rented it, and_____________.
The locals knew nothing about me,____slowly, they started teaching me the____of being a neighbor. They dropped off blankets, candles, and tools, and began____around to chat. They started to teach me a belief in a____American Dream—not the one of individual achievement but of____
What I had believed in, all those things I thought were____for a civilized life, were nonexistent in this place.____on the mountain, my most valuable possessions were my____with my neighbors.
Four years later, I moved back into____I saw many people were having a really hard time,____their jobs and homes. I managed to rent a big enough house to_______________________________________________________________________________if we hadn’t banded together.
The American Dream I believe in now is a shared one. It’s not so much about what I can get for myself; it’s about____we can all get by together.
1.A.separately B.equally C.violently D.naturally
2.A.off B.apart C.over D.out
3.A.crossed B.left C.toured D.searched
4.A.fullest B.largest C.fairest D.cheapest
5.A.at B.through C.over D.round
6.A.occupied B.abandoned C.emptied D.robbed
7.A.turned B.approached C.cleared D.cut
8.A.but B.although C.otherwise D.for
9.A.benefit B.lesson C.nature D.art
10.A.sticking B.looking C.swinging D.turning
11.A.wild B.real C.different D.remote
12.A.neighborliness B.happiness C.friendliness D.kindness
13.A.unique B.expensive C.rare D.necessary
14.A.Up B.Down C.Deep D.Along
15.A.cooperation B.relationships C.satisfaction D.appointments
16.A.reality B.society C.town D.life
17.A.creating B.losing C.quitting D.offering
18.A.put in B.turn in C.take in D.get in
19.A.yards B.shelters C.camps D.cottages
20.A.when B.what C.whether D.how
It’s terrible. My car break down just as we were going on our holiday.
A.might B.would C.could D.must
—What makes you so unhappy?
— .
A.Because I’ve put on weight
B.Putting on weight
C.For I’ve lost some weight
D.Because of my putting on weight
In my opinion, the idea of a family is much narrower than for many of us.
A.that used to be B.it is used to
C.it was used to D.it used to be
Luckily, the loss _______ great; otherwise, our company would have closed down.
A.isn’t B.hadn’t been C.hasn’t been D.wasn’t
—How will she behave in case of our failure?
—She’ll put the blame on us if it_______badly.
A.turns up B.turns down C.turns off D.turns out
