After 21 years of marriage, I discovered a new way of keeping the spark (火花) of love alive. I started to go out with another woman. It was really my wife’s 26 .
The other woman that my 27 wanted me to visit was my mother, who has been a widow (寡妇) for 19 years, but the 28 of my work and my three children had made it possible to visit her only 29 . That night I called to invite her to go out for 30 and a movie. “What’s wrong, are you 31 ?” she asked. My mother is the type of woman who 32 that a late night call or a surprise invitation is a sign of bad news. “I thought that it would be 33 to pass some time with you,” I responded. “Just the 34 of us.” She thought about it for a moment, then said, “I would like that very much.”
We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, was very nice and 35 . My mother took my arm 36 she were the First Lady. During the dinner we had an agreeable 37 — nothing extraordinary — but 38 recent events of each other’s life. We talked so much that we 39 the movie. As we arrived at her house later, she said, “I’ll 40 with you again, but only if you let me invite you.” I agreed. “How was your dinner 41 ?” asked my wife when I got home. “Very nice. Much more so than I could have imagined,” I answered.
A few days later my mother 42 a massive heart attack. It happened so suddenly that I didn’t have a chance to do 43 for her. At that moment I 44 the importance of saying in time “I LOVE YOU” and giving our loved ones the time that they 45 .
| 小题1: | | A．thought | B．belief | C．idea | D．opinion |
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| 小题2: | | A．father | B．children | C．mother | D．wife |
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| 小题3: | | A．demands | B．pleasures | C．anxieties | D．commands |
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| 小题4: | | A．unusually | B．frequently | C．occasionally | D．immediately |
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| 小题5: | | A．dinner | B．a walk | C．some fresh air | D．a while |
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| 小题7: | | A．guesses | B．imagines | C．supposes | D．suspects |
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| 小题8: | | A．necessary | B．pleasant | C．proper | D．possible |
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| 小题10: | | A．cheap | B．comfortable | C．cool | D．tasty |
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| 小题11: | | A．in case | B．now that | C．as if | D．so that |
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| 小题12: | | A．trouble | B．conversation | C．silence | D．experiment |
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| 小题13: | | A．catching up on | B．finding out | C．making sure | D．working out |
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| 小题14: | | A．missed | B．enjoyed | C．remembered | D．watched |
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| 小题15: | | A．eat out | B．go out | C．run out | D．keep out |
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| 小题16: | | A．party | B．dance | C．hour | D．date |
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| 小题17: | | A．heard of | B．suffered from | C．died of | D．recovered from |
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| 小题18: | | A．nothing | B．anything | C．something | D．everything |
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| 小题19: | | A．accepted | B．doubted | C．considered | D．understood |
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| 小题20: | | A．win | B．deserve | C．spend | D．waste |
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小题1:C
小题2:D
小题3:A
小题4:C
小题5:A
小题6:A
小题7:D
小题8:B
小题9:A
小题10:B
小题11:C
小题12:B
小题13:A
小题14:A
小题15:B
小题16:D
小题17:C
小题18:B
小题19:D
小题20:B |
试题分析：文章介绍作者在妻子的建议下，请妈妈出去玩，这使妈妈很高兴，但也是作者最后一次陪妈妈，作者懂得了生命中没有什么比你的家庭更重要。多花些时间陪陪你的家人，因为这些事情不能被推迟到“改天”。
小题1:考查名词：A. thought想法，B. belief信念，C. idea主意，D. opinion观点，其实这还是我妻子的主意呢。选C
小题2:考查名词：A. father父亲，B. children孩子，C. mother妈妈，D. wife妻子，从前面的句子：I started to go out with another woman. It was really my wife’s .可知我妻子想让我去拜访的另一个女人就是我的妈妈，选D
小题3:考查名词：A. demands要求，B. pleasures快乐，C. anxieties焦虑，D. commands要求，但由于我的工作需要以及有三个孩子要抚养，我很少有机会去看望她。选A
小题4:考查副词：A. unusually通常地，B. frequently 频繁地，C. occasionally偶尔地，D. immediately立刻地，因为工作的关系只能偶尔去看看她，选C
小题5:考查名词：A. dinner晚餐，B. a walk散步，C. some fresh air一些新鲜空气，D. a while一会儿，从后面的句子：We went to a restaurant that,可知作者是请妈妈出去吃饭，选A
小题6:考查形容词：A. well健康的，好的，B. good好的，C. safe安全的，D. bad坏的，“出什么事了？你还好吧？”她问。选A
小题7:考查动词：A. guesses猜测，B. imagines想象，C. supposes猜想，D. suspects怀疑，我妈妈是那种怀疑深夜电话或出其不意的邀请代表坏消息征兆的女人。选D
小题8:考查形容词：A. necessary必要的，B. pleasant 愉快的，C. proper适当的，D. possible可能的，作者说：“我觉得与您共度一段时间将是一件愉快的事，选B
小题9:考查数词：A. two两个，B. three的、三个，C. four四个，D. five五个，因为作者请妈妈外出吃饭，所以他说：“就我们两个人。”选A
小题10:考查形容词：A. cheap便宜的，B. comfortable舒服的，C. cool 冷却的，D. tasty可口的，从前面的句子：although not elegant, was very nice可知饭店是舒服的，选B
小题11:考查连词：A. in case以防，B. now that既然，C. as if好像，D. so that为了，从后面的句子;she were the First Lady.可知妈妈挽着我的手臂，宛如第一夫人。选C
小题12:考查名词：A. trouble麻烦，B. conversation对话，C. silence沉默，D. experiment实验，从后面的句子：We talked so much that we the movie.可知作者和妈妈进行了愉快的交谈，选B
小题13:考查词组：A. catching up on得到……消息，B. finding out 发现，C. making sure 确保，D. working out制定出，我们谈得很愉快——也没什么特别的事——只是简单描述一下彼此生活中最近发生的事。选A
小题14:考查动词：A. missed错过，想念，B. enjoyed享受，C. remembered记得，D. watched观察，我们谈得太尽兴以至错过了看电影。选A
小题15:考查词组：A. eat out外出吃饭，B. go out出去，C. run out用完，D. keep out不让…入内，“我会再跟你出去约会，但必须是我邀请你。选B
小题16:考查名词：A. party 聚会，B. dance舞蹈，C. hour 小时，D. date日期，约会，妻子问我晚上的约会怎么样，选D
小题17:考查词组：A. heard of听说，B. suffered from遭受，C. died of死于，D. recovered from恢复，从后面的句子：It happened so suddenly that I didn’t have a chance to do for her.可知妈妈由于严重的心脏病发作去世了。选C
小题18:考查代词：A. nothing没有什么，B. anything任何事情，C. something某个事情，D. everything任何事，发生的如此突然以至我没有机会为她做任何事。选B
小题19:考查动词：A. accepted接受，B. doubted怀疑，C. considered考虑，D. understood 理解，那一刻，我理解了及时说出“我爱你”以及给予我们所爱的人他们应该得到的时间的重要性。选D
小题20:考查动词：A. win 赢得，B. deserve值得，应得到，C. spend花费，D. waste浪费，给你所爱的人应该得到的时间，选B |
核心考点
试题【After 21 years of marriage, I discovered a new way of keeping the spark (火花) of 】；主要考察你对
题材分类等知识点的理解。
[详细]举一反三
They crossed in front of me as I was driving out of the store parking lot．My first reaction was filled with anger at being delayed for a whole ten seconds．But I quickly became patient when I realized that this was an elderly couple．
The man leaned on his wife who walked in front of him．He not only used her for support but it was obvious that he was blind．The two of them worked as one—each needing the other to function in this fast-changing world．
That little example of true strength changed my whole personal perception(理解)of life that day．Suddenly I wasn’t so mad about having to work a few extra hours on Saturdays．I had my strength，and I was still relatively young．
That picture of those two elderly people walking with dignity and strength stayed with me the entire week．My life wasn’t so bad after all．I had my health and a good job．I had a wonderful，supportive wife．I started to think—not only was I lucky to have these all, but also was that wonderful old couple，who，despite the trials and sufferings of a long life，still had the love and support of each other to carry them through this world．
There are so many people out there just like that couple．My wife and I sometimes picture ourselves in our old age, walking arm in arm into the sunset．That image always gives us a warm feeling of comfort．Just remember，none of us would be here if it wasn’t for our elders．We all should spend a little extra time and patience when it comes to helping our elder friends．
小题1:When the author was about to drive away，the couple ．| A．entered the store | B．hit his car | | C．got in his way | D．asked him for help |
小题2:What did the author think of the couple?| A．They lived a happier life than he | | B．They were admirable for their lasting love | | C．They didn’t live a life without hardships | | D．They wouldn’t be respected for walking together． |
小题3:From the passage，we learn | A．the author hated working on Sundays | | B．the author is satisfied with his life | | C．old couples were advised to walk in the sunset | | D．many people like that couple because they are blind |
小题4:What would be the best title for this passage?| A．Spend an Extra Minute | B．Stay with Your Wife | | C．Be Careful When Driving | D．Respect the Blind，Please |
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In a world where comparisons happen non-stop, it is difficult to look outside yourself and to ever be 36 with who you are. There’s always someone who’s a bit 37 . The only solution is to reach 38 and measure against what Warren Buffett calls your own inner yardstick. There is no more 39 measure for comparison than who your were yesterday, last week or last decade, when you were at your 40 .
Nothing useful ever comes from comparison to others. Either you see yourself as better than someone and you get 41 , or you see someone else as better than you and you feel like all your hard work is for 42 . It is a fool’s game. Not one of us is exactly 43 . The only direct and honest comparison is 44 yourself. Everything else is apples to oranges.
My opinion is that you are only 45 to compare yourself to someone else if their life 46 is the same as your own. Good luck finding that 47 . And one thing is for sure. No matter how hard you work and how dedicated you are, there will always be someone who can run a little faster, jump a little higher, score a little better or look a little nicer in a swimsuit. And if there’s not, you can 48 someone is coming up fast 49 you. So how can you always win in life? Become your best 50 .
Having an image of your most recent past limits is the perfect thing to 51 you to the next level. If you ran 7 flights of stairs yesterday, then do 8 today. Who 52 if the guy next to you did 15? It doesn’t make a bit of 53 . You are a more 54 person today than you were yesterday. Your own 55 is all you need.
| 小题1: | | A．patient | B．strict | C．content | D．concerned |
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| 小题2: | | A．stronger | B．better | C．lazier | D．wiser |
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| 小题4: | | A．accurate | B．useful | C．careful | D．powerful |
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| 小题5: | | A．end | B．best | C．convenience | D．side |
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| 小题6: | | A．satisfied | B．busy | C．inspired | D．lazy |
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| 小题7: | | A．nothing | B．fun | C．sure | D．success |
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| 小题8: | | A．equal | B．unique | C．alike | D．common |
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| 小题10: | | A．instructed | B．allowed | C．directed | D．suggested |
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| 小题11: | | A．situation | B．position | C．occasion | D．accommodation |
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| 小题12: | | A．game | B．match | C．friend | D．enemy |
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| 小题13: | | A．conclude | B．bet | C．announce | D．declare |
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| 小题14: | | A．before | B．beside | C．below | D．behind |
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| 小题15: | | A．assistant | B．competitor | C．coach | D．teacher |
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| 小题16: | | A．contribute | B．expose | C．push | D．devote |
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| 小题17: | | A．cares | B．says | C．wonders | D．asks |
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| 小题18: | | A．effort | B．sense | C．difference | D．change |
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| 小题19: | | A．successful | B．happy | C．lucky | D．fit |
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| 小题20: | | A．benefit | B．progress | C．habit | D．result |
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One effective way of destroying happiness is to look at something and focus on even the smallest fault. It’s like looking at the tiled (铺瓦的) ceiling and concentrating on the space where one tile is 1 .
Once I heard a bald man said, “Whenever I enter a room, all I see is hair.” Once you’ve 2 what your missing tile is, explore whether acquiring it will 3 make you happy. Then do one of the three things: get it, replace it with a different 4 , or forget about it and 5 the tiles in your life that are not missing.
We all know people who have had a relatively 6 life, yet are essentially unhappy, while people who have suffered a great deal generally remain happy.
The first 7 is gratitude. All happy people are grateful. Ungrateful people cannot be happy. We tend to think that being unhappy leads people to 8 , but it’s truer to say that complaining leads to people becoming unhappy.
The second secret is awareness. We should 9 that happiness is a byproduct (副产品) of something else. The most obvious 10 are those pursuits ( 追求) that give our lives purpose---anything from studying insects to playing baseball. The more passions we have, the more happiness we are 11 to experience.
Finally, the belief that something permanent goes beyond us and that our 12 has some larger meaning can help us to feel happier. We need a spiritual faith, or a philosophy of life. Whatever your philosophy is, it should 13 this truth: if you choose to find the 14 in every situation, you will be blessed, and if you choose to find the awful, you will be cursed. As for happiness itself, this 15 depends on your decision to make.
| 小题1: | | A．different | B．short | C．missing | D．broken |
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| 小题2: | | A．imagined | B．predicted | C．assumed | D．determined |
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| 小题3: | | A．really | B．naturally | C．hopefully | D．completely |
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| 小题4: | | A．ceiling | B．brick | C．tile | D．house |
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| 小题5: | | A．go on | B．focus on | C．put on | D．rely on |
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| 小题6: | | A．easy | B．difficult | C．ordinary | D．peaceful |
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| 小题7: | | A．factor | B．secret | C．rule | D．key |
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| 小题8: | | A．upset | B．quarrel | C．depress | D．complain |
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| 小题9: | | A．realize | B．decide | C．prove | D．suppose |
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| 小题10: | | A．answers | B．results | C．sources | D．goals |
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| 小题11: | | A．curious | B．satisfied | C．tentative | D．likely |
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| 小题12: | | A．value | B．existence | C．survival | D．destination |
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| 小题13: | | A．include | B．tell | C．absorb | D．mean |
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| 小题14: | | A．worst | B．positive | C．disgusting | D．negative |
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| 小题15: | | A．absolutely | B．totally | C．largely | D．exactly |
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There once was a little boy who often got angry for unknown reasons and ended up quarreling with his friends. His parents felt 36 but had no idea how to deal with the matter.
In order to help the son, his father gave him a bag of 37 and told him that every time he 38 his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the 39 .
At first the boy felt puzzled at his father"s words, but he did as he was told. The first day the little boy had 40 thirty nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, 41 he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily 42 reduced. Three months later, the little boy discovered it was easier to 43 his temper than to hammer those nails into the fence. Finally the day came 44 the little boy did not lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the little boy now 45 one nail each day when he was 46 control his temper. The days passed and the little boy was 47 able to tell his father that all the nails were 48 .
The father took his little boy 49 the hand and led him to the fence. He said, “You have done well, my son, but look at the 50 in the fence. The fence will never be the 51 .When you say things in anger, they 52 a scar just like this one on the person to whom you lose your temper. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. 53 many times you say “I"m sorry”, the wound is still there. A mental wound is as bad as a 54 one. The hurt and pain caused by the 55 are deeper than those caused by the hand.
| 小题1: | | A．patient | B．angry | C．desperate | D．worried |
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| 小题2: | | A．books | B．tools | C．nails | D．suggestions |
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| 小题3: | | A．kept | B．missed | C．lost | D．left |
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| 小题4: | | A．hammer | B．shoes | C．fence | D．hands |
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| 小题5: | | A．discovered | B．pulled | C．pushed | D．driven |
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| 小题6: | | A．as | B．unless | C．till | D．although |
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| 小题7: | | A．hardly | B．possibly | C．terribly | D．gradually |
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| 小题8: | | A．catch | B．lose | C．break | D．hold |
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| 小题9: | | A．before | B．when | C．after | D．until |
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| 小题10: | | A．pulled out | B．pull out | C．pulled over | D．pull over |
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| 小题11: | | A．able to | B．managed to | C．succeeded to | D．going to |
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| 小题12: | | A．eagerly | B．fortunately | C．hardly | D．finally |
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| 小题13: | | A．lost | B．returned | C．gone | D．spared |
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| 小题15: | | A．nails | B．cuts | C．surface | D．holes |
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| 小题17: | | A．run | B．leave | C．lead | D．remain |
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| 小题18: | | A．No matter | B．No doubt | C．How | D．However |
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| 小题19: | | A．serious | B．violent | C．terrible | D．physical |
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| 小题20: | | A．knife | B．nail | C．tongue | D．hammer |
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In the doorway of my home, I looked closely at my 23-year-old son, Daniel. In a few hours he would be flying to France to 36 a different life. It was a transitional（过渡的）time in Daniel"s life. I wanted to 37 him some words of significance. But nothing came from my lips, and this was not the 38 time I had let such moments pass.
When Daniel was five, I took him to the bus stop on his first day of kindergarten. He asked, “What is it going to be like, Dad? Can I do it?” Then he walked 39 the steps of the bus and disappeared inside. The bus drove away and I said nothing. A decade later, a similar 40 played itself out. I drove him to college. As I started to leave, I tried to think of something to say to give him 41 and confidence as he started this new stage of life. Again, words 42 me.
Now, as I stood before him, I thought of those 43 opportunities. How many times have I let such moments 44 ? I don"t find a quiet moment to tell him what they have 45 to me. Or what he might 46 to face in the years ahead. Maybe I thought it was not necessary to say anything.
What does it matter in the course of a lifetime if a father never tells a son what he really thinks of him? 47 as I stood before Daniel, I knew that it did matter. My father and I loved each other. Yet, I always 48 never hearing him put his 49 into words. Now I could feel my palms sweat and my throat tighten. Why is it so 50 to tell a son something from the heart?
My mouth turned dry, and I knew I would be able to get out only a few words clearly. “Daniel,” I said, “If I could have picked, I would have picked you.” That"s all I could say. He hugged me. For a moment, the world 51 , and there were just Daniel and me. He was saying something, but tears misted my eyes, and I couldn"t understand what he was saying. All I was 52 of was the stubble（短须）on his chin as his face pressed 53 mine. What I had said to Daniel was 54 . It was nothing. And yet, it was 55 .
| 小题1: | | A．experience | B．spend | C．enjoy | D．shape |
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| 小题2: | | A．show | B．give | C．leave | D．instruct |
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| 小题3: | | A．last | B．first | C．very | D．next |
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| 小题5: | | A．sign | B．scene | C．scenery | D．sight |
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| 小题6: | | A．interest | B．instruction | C．courage | D．direction |
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| 小题7: | | A．failed | B．discouraged | C．struck | D．troubled |
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| 小题8: | | A．future | B．embarrassing | C．obvious | D．lost |
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| 小题9: | | A．last | B．pass | C．fly | D．remain |
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| 小题10: | | A．counted | B．meant | C．valued | D．eared |
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| 小题11: | | A．think | B．want | C．expect | D．wish |
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| 小题13: | | A．wondered | B．regretted | C．minded | D．tried |
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| 小题14: | | A．views | B．actions | C．feelings | D．attitudes |
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| 小题15: | | A．important | B．essential | C．hard | D．complex |
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| 小题16: | | A．disappeared | B．changed | C．progressed | D．advanced |
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| 小题17: | | A．sensitive | B．convinced | C．aware | D．tired |
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| 小题19: | | A．clumsy | B．gentle | C．absurd | D．moving |
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| 小题20: | | A．none | B．all | C．anything | D．everything |
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