It came upon us suddenly--- my husband and I were facing his heart operation. He had never told me about the shortness of breath he had experienced a few months earlier. When he was alarmed by the state of his 1 , he finally asked me to make an appointment with the 2 .
When he was having the 3 , I was praying every prayer I had learned. My best friend and my son were by my side. In the darkest moment, I felt deep inside that he would not 4 the operation. Just when I had given up all the hope of a good outcome, I felt hugged and surrounded by 5 as many people were praying for us.
Soon the doctor 6 out, bringing the good news that the operation was 7 . He shook my hand, and when I 8 his warm and firm hand, I became 9 of what I was doing. I was holding a hand which, just a short while ago, had held my husband's 10 heart.
As part of recovery, my husband was given a red 11 to grasp tightly to his chest. It could prevent any 12 to the cut when he was moving, coughing or sneezing. Five days after the operation, we returned home. The red pillow kept us company as my husband gained strength and 13 .
That was four years ago. 14 , when I see the red pillow in our closet, I will always hold it close to my chest and remember the day when I realized the 15 of grace and goodness.
1. A. health B. breath C. shape D. appearance
2. A. nurse B. doctor C. officer D. milker
3. A. rest B. operation C. organization D. management
4. A. experience B. bear C. pass D. survive
5. A. pity B. love C. mercy D. comfort
6. A. came B. took C. turned D. set
7. A. lonely B. cruel C. fortunate D. successful
8. A. sounded B. touched C. felt D. applied
9. A. afraid B. shocked C. aware D. fond
10. A. sinking B. beating C. running D. warming
11. A. pillow B. box C. wallet D. gift
12. A. wound B. damage C. opening D. growth
13. A. confidence B. beauty C. friend D. breath
14. A. Eventually B. Suddenly C. Unexpectedly D. Occasionally
15. A. fact B. dream C. power D. truth
ABBDB ADCCB ABADC
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