The basic meaning of“pet”is an animal we keep for emotional (情感的) rather than economic reasons. A pet animal is __1__ as a companion, and we all need companions to keep as feeling happy.__2__ pets offer more than mere(only) companionship: they invite us to love and be loved. Many __3__ feel their pets understand them, for animals are __4__ to sense anger and sorrow. Often a cat or dog can comfort us __5__ when human words don't help. We feel loved, too, by the way pets __6__ us for a home, for food and drink. Dogs __7__, look up to their owners, __8__ makes them feel important and needed.
A pet can be something __9__ to each member of the family, another baby to the mother, a sister or brother to a(n) __10__ child, a grandchild to the elderly, but for all of us pets provide __11__ and companionship. It has __12__ been suggested that tiny pets __13__ be sent as companions to astronauts on space ships, to help reduce the stress (紧张) and __14__ of space flights.
In this Plastic Age, when most of us live in large cities, pets are particularly important for __15__. A pet in the family keeps people in __16__ with the more natural,animal world. Seeing an animal give birth brings understanding of the naturalness of childbirth, and seeing a pet __17__ helps a child to cope with sorrow. Learning to __18__ a pet helps a child to grow up into a loving adult who feels __19__ toward those dependent on them. Rightly we teach children to be good to their pets. They should learn, too, that pets are __20__ for us human beings.
1. A. known B. looked upon C. treated D. kept
2. A. But B. However C. So D. Otherwise
3. A. masters B. owners C. bosses D. hosts
4. A. slow B. quick C. easy D. difficult
5. A. in time B. on time C. at times D. at no time
6. A. depend on B. live on C. wait on D. look on
7. A. especially B. hardly C. hopefully D. entirely
8. A. it B. who C. which D. what
9. A. dangerous B. necessary C. the same D. different
10. A. single B. only C. separate D. alone
11. A. loss B. love C. trouble D. pleasure
12. A. ever B. even C. never D. probably
13. A. would B. could C. should D. must
14. A. loneliness B. distance C. darkness D. weight
15. A. housewives B. children
C. grown-ups D. relatives
16. A. connection B. conversation
C. touch D. love
17. A. die B. suffer C. cry D. fight
18. A. pay for B. ask for C. call for D. care for
19. A. comfortable B. suitable
C. valuable D. responsible
20. A. fit B. good C. expensive D. bad
1. 解析:选D。由空后的“...and we all need companions to keep as feeling happy”可知,作者认为人们是把宠物作为伴侣来养,而不是把它看作伴侣。
2. 解析:选A。由空后的“more than mere (only) companionship”可知,本句与上句为转折关系。
3. 解析:选B。由空后的“their pets”可知,这里表示的是宠物的拥有者。host是相对客人而言;master是相对仆人(servant)而言;boss是相对雇用者而言;owner指某物的所有者。
4. 解析:选B。quick在这里意为“反应灵敏”。
5. 解析:选C。at times在句中相当于 sometimes。
6. 解析:选A。句意为:通过宠物依赖于我们给它们一个家、食物、饮水的同时我们也感受到爱。depend on sb. for sth.意为“依靠某人获得某物”。
7. 解析:选A。作者认为在这一点上狗的表现最突出,因此用especially表示。
8. 解析:选C。which引导非限制性定语从句,在这里指代“Dogs __7__, look up to their owners”。look up to 在这里意为“尊敬,尊重”。
9. 解析:选D。从空后的“another baby to the mother, a sister or brother to a(n) __10__ child, a grandchild to the elderly”可知,宠物对于不同的家庭成员其角色是不一样的。
10. 解析:选B。single意为“单身的”,指没有结婚;alone不可作定语,因此A、D两项不符合句意,故选B。
11. 解析:选D。句意为:宠物给我们带来欢乐和陪伴。从空后的“and companionship”可知,应选D。
12. 解析:选B。句意为:甚至有人建议小宠物应该带到宇宙飞船上给宇航员做伴。even意为“甚至”,用在这里加强语气。
13. 解析:选C。suggest后的宾语从句用的是虚拟语气,其谓语是“should+动词原形”。
14. 解析:选A。宠物用来减轻宇航员飞行中的紧张与孤独。
15. 解析:选B。最后一段论述了宠物对孩子性格培养方面的重要作用。所以这里应该是针对孩子而言的。
16. 解析:选C。句意为:宠物使得(家庭中的)人们与更多的自然界动物保持接触。keep in touch with 与……保持联系。
17. 解析:选A。die 在此与give birth 相对,从空后的“with sorrow”也可以得到此答案的提示。
18. 解析:选D。care for 意为“关心,照顾”,符合语境。
19. 解析:选D。句意为:学会关心宠物有助于将孩子培养成有爱心的成年人,他们会对需要自己的人“负责”。
20. 解析:选B。句意为:他们也会知道宠物对我们人类有益处。be good for对……有好处。
I first went to hear a live rock concert when I was eight years old. My brother and his friends were all ___36____ of a heavy metal group called Black Wednesday. When they ___37____ that Black Wednesday were going to perform at our local theatre, they all bought ____38___ for performance. However, at the last minute, one of the friends couldn’t go, so my brother __39_____ me the ticket. I was really ___40____!
I remember the buzz (嘈杂声) of excitement inside the theatre as we all found our __41____ . After a few minutes, the lights went down and everybody became ___42____. I could barely make out the stage in the ___43____. We waited. Then there was a roar from the crowd, like an explosion, as the first members of the band ___44____ the stage. My brother leaned over and shouted something in my ear, but I couldn’t ____45___ what he was saying. The first song was already starting and the music was as ____46___ a jet engine. I could ___47____ the drum beats and bass notes in my stomach.
I can’t recall any of the songs that the band played. I just __48_ that I really enjoyed the show and didn’t want it to _ 49_. But in the end, after three encores (加演), the show finished. We left the 50_ and walked unsteadily out onto the pavement. I felt a little dizzy, as if I had just 51_from a long sleep. My ears were still 52_with the beat of the last song.
After the 53 , I became a Black Wednesday fan too for a few years before getting into other kinds of music. Once in a while, 54_, I listen to one of their songs and 55_I’m back at that first show.
40. A. relaxed B. embarrassed C. excited D. encouraged
41. A. seats B. entrance C. spots D. space
42. A. comfortable B. quite C. serious D. nervous
43. A. silence B. noise C. darkness D. smoke
44. A. fell upon B. got through C. broke into D. stepped onto
45. A. forget B. hear C. repeat D. bear
46. A. loud B. heard C. sweet D. fast
47. A. feel B. touch C. enjoy D. digest
48. A. realize B. understand C. believe D. remember
49. A. continue B. delay C. finish D. change
50. A. party B. theatre C. opera D. stage
51. A. escaped B. traveled C. benefited D. woken
52. A. aching B. burning C. ringing D. rolling
53. A. competition B. performance C. interview D. celebration
54. A. though B. otherwise C. instead D. besides
55. A. decide B. regret C. conclude D. imagine