通读下面短文，了解其大意，然后从21—40各小题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项
After their business trip, John and Mary returned, eager to see their lovely children. As they drove into their home town feeling glad to be back, they noticed 21 , and they went off their usual route to see what it was. They found a 22 in flames. Mary said, “Oh, well, it isn’t our fire, let’s go home.”
But John 23 closer and screamed, “That home belongs to Fred Jones who works at the plant. He wouldn’t be 24 works yet, maybe there is something we could do. ” “It has nothing to do with us”, Mary 25 .
But John drove up and stopped and they were both horror-stricken to see the whole house in 26 . A woman on the lawn was screaming, “The children! Get the children!” John 27 her by the shoulder saying, “Get a hold of yourself and tell us where the children are!” “In the 28 ,” cried the woman, “down the hall and to the left. ”
In spite of Mary’s disagreement John 29 for the basement which was full of smoke and 30 hot. He found the door and two children. 31 he left he could hear some more sobbing（哭泣）. He 32 the two badly frightened children into 33 arms and started back asking how many more children were down there. They told him 34 more and Mary grasped his arm and screamed, “John! Don’t go back! It’s 35 ! That house will fall down any second. ”
36 he ran into the smoke-filled hallway and at last he found both children. As he climbed up the 37 stairs, the thought went through his mind that there was something strangely 38 about the little bodies next to him, and at last when they came out into the 39 and fresh air, he found that he had just 40 his own children.
The baby-sitter had left them at this home while she did some shopping.
A．direction B．mistake C．danger D．smoke
A．home B．plant C．store D．kitchen
A．ran B．walked C．drove D．rode
A．at B．off C．to D．on
A．whispered B．nodded C．disagreed D．required
A．ruins B．pieces C．flames D．silence
A．pushed B．seized C．greeted D．stopped
A．basement B．department C．house D．hall
A．went B．reached C．asked D．rushed
A．heavily B．slightly C．partly D．terribly
A．If B．As C．Since D．Unless
A．comforted B．delivered C．recognized D．protected
A．cheering B．freezing C．waiting D．suffering
A．many B．several C．three D．two
A．dangerous B．foolish C．practical D．painful
A．Therefore B．So C．Consequently D．But
A．wide B．endless C．final D．dirty
A．particular B．interesting C．familiar D．fortunate
A．car B．sunlight C．crowd D．arms
A．rescued B．found C．lost D．missed
One topic is rarely mentioned in all the talk of improving standards in our schools: the almost complete failure of foreign-language teaching. As a French graduate who has taught for more than twenty-five years, I believe I have some idea of why the failure is so total. 21 the faults already found out in the education system as a whole — such as child-centred learning, the “discovery” method, and the low expectations by teachers of pupils — there have been several serious 22 which have a direct effect on language teaching.
The first is the removal from the curriculum (课程) of the thorough teaching of English 23 . Pupils now do not know a verb from a noun, the subject of a sentence from its object, or the difference between the past, present, or future.
Another important error is mixed-ability teaching, or teaching in ability groups so 24 that the most able groups are 25 and are bored while the least able are lost and 26 bored. Strangely enough, few head teachers seem to be in favour of mixed-ability school football teams.
Progress depends on memory, and pupils start to forget immediately they stop having 27 lessons. This is why many people who attended French lessons at school, even those who got good grades, have 28 it a few years later. Because they never need it, they do not practice it.
Most American schools have accepted what is inevitable and 29 modern languages, even Spanish, from the curriculum. Perhaps it is time for Britain to do the same, and stop 30 resources on a subject which few pupils want or need.
21. A. Due to B. In addition to C. Instead of D. In spite of
22. A. errors B. situations C. systems D. methods
23. A. vocabulary B. culture C. grammar D. literature
24. A. wide B. similar C. separate D. unique
25. A. kept out B. turned down C. held back D. left behind
26. A. surprisingly B. individually C. equally D. hardly
27. A. extra B. traditional C. basic D. regular
28. A. needed B. forgotten C. practised D. left
29. A. restored B. absorbed C. prohibited D. withdrawn
30. A. wasting B. focusing C. exploiting D. sharing
I used to be ashamed of my grandma. I know that's a 36 thing to say, but it was true until today, so I have to 37 it.
The 38 started when my friend Katy found Grandma's false teeth floating in a glass on the bathroom sink. I was so used to seeing them that I 39 took notice of them. But Katy shouted, laughing and 40 to talk to them. I had to get down on my knees and 41 her to shut up so my grandma wouldn't 42 and get hurt.
After that happened, I 43 there were a million things about Grandma that were embarrassing（令人窘迫）.
Once she took Jill and me out to Burger King. 44 ordering our hamburgers well-done, she told the person behind the counter, "They'll have two Whoppers (巨无霸) well-to-do. " Jill burst out laughing, but I almost 45 .
After a while, I started wishing I could 46 Grandma in a closet. I even complained to my parents. Both my parents said I had to be careful not to make Grandma feel 47 in our home.
Then last Wednesday, something happened that 48 everything completely. My teacher told us to help find interesting old people and 49 them about their 50 for a big Oral History project. I was trying to think of someone when Angie pushed me gently.
"Volunteer your grandmother," she whispered. "She's 51 and rich in experience."
That was the last thing I ever thought Angie would say about my grandma.
This is how I ended up on 52 today interviewing my own grandmother before the whole school assembly (集合). All my friends and teachers were listening to her 53 she was a great heroine. I was 54 of my grandma and hoped she would 55 know that I had been ashamed of her.
36. A. funny B. common C. terrible D. clear
37. A. admit B. receive C. refuse D. show
38. A. quarrel B. accident C. trouble D. adventure
39. A. already B. always C. simply D. hardly
40. A. enjoying B. pretending C. imagining D. continuing
41. A. warn B. demand C. advise D. beg
42. A. mind B. hear C. see D. fall
43. A. expected B. declared C. realized D. doubted
44. A. Because of B. Except for C. Such as D. Instead of
45. A. died B. cheered C. disappeared D. suffered
46. A. meet B. avoid C. arrange D. hide
47. A. independent B. inconvenient C. unwelcome D. unfamiliar
48. A. changed B. finished C. stopped D. Prepared
49. A. interview B. report C. tell D. write
50. A. news B. lives C. advantages D. achievements
51. A. free B. popular C. interesting D. embarrassing
52. A. show B. stage C. duty D. time
53. A. and then B. even if C. so that D. as if
54. A. sure B. proud C. ashamed D. afraid
55. A. never B. even C. still D. once
A seeker asks, “I want to make a difference in the world, but there are so many causes crying for attention that I feel deeply confused. I don't know where to put my energy to have the greatest 21 . Where do I begin?”
Lynn Answers:
There is no one “ 22” place to begin. Each of us has a different 23place, and the place where we will be of greatest service has to do with where we most want to 24 . If we want to have an effect on the world around us, it's important to 25 what I think of as our "Area of Power." Our Area of Power is where we feel the most passion to act and have the most 26 that results are 27 .
If we pray for world peace, but have no vision of what this would look like and no faith that our 28 will help, our effect is less than if we pray for peace and harmony in our own 29with a clear picture of what this means and excitement that healing is possible. Without faith that we can 30 , our power to help is decreased.
21. A. power B. easeC. effect D. result
22. A. rightB. real C. similar D. exact
23. A. amusingB. endingC. starting D. finishing
24. A. giveB. liveC. act D. dream
25. A. work B. regardC. consider D. identify
26. A. power B. peaceC. faith D. energy
27. A. visibleB. possibleC. reasonable D. accessible
28. A. prayers B. playersC. seekers D. watchers
29. A. language B. way C. world D. family
30. A. make an effort B. make it C. make a difference D. make ends meet
Being alone in outer space can be frightening. That is one reason why astronauts on solo (单独的) space flights were given plenty of work to keep them 21 . They were also constant communication with people on the earth. 22 , being with people from whom you cannot get away might be even harder than being alone. This is what happens on long submarine (潜水艇) voyages. It will also happen on 23 space flights in the future. Will there be special problem of adjustment under such conditions?
Scientists have studied the reactions of men to one another during long submarine voyages. They have found that the longer the voyage lasts, the more serious the problem of 24 is. When men are 25 together for a long period, they begin to feel uneasy. Everyone has little habits of speaking and behaving that are ordinarily acceptable. In the limited space over a long period of time, however, these little habits may become very 26 .
Apparently, although no one wants to be 27 all the time, everyone needs some degree of privacy. When people are enclosed together, they are in what is called a stress situation. That means that they are under an unusual amount of 28 or stress.
People who are well-adjusted are able to 29 stress situations better than others. That is one reason why so much care is taken in 30 our astronauts. These men undergo a long period of testing and training. One of the things tested is their behavior under stress.
21. A. tired B. asleep C. conscious D. busy
22. A. So farB. After all C. However D. Therefore
23. A. long B. fast C. dangerous D. direct
24. A. fuel B. entertainment C. adjustment D. health
25. A. shut up B. held up C. brought up D. picked up
26. A. pleasing B. annoying C. common D. valuable
27. A. noisy B. alone C. personal D. sociable
28. A. emphasis B. conflict C. power D. pressure
29. A. handle B. create C. affect D. investigate
30. A. becoming B. choosing C. ordering D. promoting
Several years ago, well-known writer and editor Norman Cousins became very ill. His body ached and he felt constantly tired. It was difficult for him to even __21__ around. His doctor told him that he would lose the ability to move and eventually die from the disease. He was told he had only a 1 in 500 chance of survival.
Despite the diagnosis(诊断), Cousins was __22__ to overcome the disease and survive. He had always been interested in medicine and had read a book, which discussed the idea of how body chemistry and health can be damaged by emotional stress and negative __23__. The book made Cousins think about the possible __24__ of positive attitudes and emotions. He thought, “Is it possible that love, hope, faith, laughter, confidence, and the __25__ to 1ive have positive treatment value?”
He decided to concentrate on positive emotions as a way to treat some of the symptoms of his disease. In addition to his traditional medical treatment, he tried to put himself in situations that would __26__ positive emotions. “Laugh therapy” became part of his treatment. He __27__ time each day for watching comedy films, reading humorous books, and doing other activities that would draw out _28__ emotions. Within eight days of starting his ‘‘laugh therapy” program his pain began to __29__ and he was able to sleep more easily. He was able to return to work in a few months’ time and _30__ reached complete recovery after a few years.
21. A. run B. pass C. move D. travel
22. A. able B. determined C. willing D. positive
23. A. attitudes B. beliefs C. goals D. positions
24. A. shortcoming B. harm C. benefit D. interest
25. A. emotion B. pain C. fear D. will
26. A. bring about B. set about C. put up D. make up
27. A. afforded B. appointed C. offered D. arranged
28. A. positive B. approving C. strong D. mixed
29. A. escape B. decrease C. shrink D. end
30. A. generally B. especially C. actually D. presently