One night, when I was eight , my mother gently asked me a question I would never forget. “Sweetie, my company wants to 16 me but needs me to work in Brazil. This is like your teacher telling that you’ve done 17 and allowing you to skip a grade(跳级), but you’ll have to 18 your friends. Would you say yes to your teacher?” She gave me a hug and asked me to think about it. I was puzzled. The question kept me 19 for the rest of the night I had said “yes” but for the first time, I realized the 20 decisions adults had to make.
For almost four years, my mother would call us from Brazil every day. Every evening I’d 21 wait for the phone to ring and then tell her every detail of my day. A phone call, however, could never replace her 22 and it was difficult not to feel lonely at times.
During my fourth-grade Christmas break, we flew to Rio to visit her. Looking at her large 23 apartment, I became 24 how lonely my mother must have been in Brazil herself. It was then 25 I started to appreciate the tough choices she had to make on 26 family and work. 27 difficult decisions, she used to tell me, you wouldn’t know whether you make the right choice, but you could always make the best out of the situation, with passion and a 28 attitude.
Back home , I 29 myself that what my mother could do, I could, too. If she 30 to live in Rio all by herself, I, too, could learn to be 31 . I learn how to take care of myself and set high but achievable 32.
My mother is now back with us. But I will never forget what the 33 has really taught me. Sacrifices 34 in the end. The separation between us has proved to be 35 for me.
16. A. attract B. promote C. surprise D. praise
17. A. little B. much C. well D. wrong
18. A. leave B. refuse C. contact D. forgive
19. A. explaining B. sleeping C. wondering D. regretting
20. A. poor B. timely C. final D. tough
21. A. eagerly B. politely C. nervously D. curiously
22. A. patience B. presence C. intelligence D. Influence
23. A. Comfortable B. Expensive C. Empty D. Modern
24. A. Interested in B. aware of C. doubtful D. satisfied with
25. A. when B. where C. which D. that
26. A. abandoning B. balancing C. comparing D. mixing
27. A. Depending on B. supplied with C. Faced with D. Insisting on
28. A. different B. friendly C. positive D. general
29. A. criticized B. informed C. warned D. reminded
30. A. managed B. offered C. attempted D. expected
31. A. grateful B. energetic C. independent D. practical
32. A. examples B. limits C. rules D. goals
33. A. question B. experience C. history D. occasion
34. A. pay off B. come back C. run out D. turn up
35. A. blessing B. gathering C. failure D. pleasure
【主旨大意】本文通过妈妈去巴西工作而与我们分离这个抉择和后来这件事让我学会了自立这样一个故事,告诉我们:人都会做出艰难的决定,只要我们对待生活有激情和积极的态度,什么决定都会产生好的结果。
16.B【解析】考察动词词义辨析及语境理解。根据后面举的例子对比:and allowing you to skip a grade(跳级)but you’ll have to 18 your friends.可猜测作者的妈妈要晋升了,但要去work in Brazil.故选B。
17.C【解析】考察副词辨析及语境理解。这个例子和前面的妈妈晋升但要去巴西工作是对称的,显然可猜测到答案是B。
18.A【解析】考察动词词义辨析。allowing you to skip a grade(跳级),跳级了,肯定要离开原来的同学了,所以答案是A。
19.C【解析】考察动词词义辨析及语境理解。从前句:I was puzzled.可知,抉择不是那么好确定的,由句意猜测,选C。
20.D【解析】考察形容词词义辨析及语境理解。但是第一次,我认识到了大人们不得不做出的艰难决定。根据句意和妈妈对我说这事的原因,以及倒数第三段:I started to appreciate the tough choices she had,选D。
21.A【解析】考察副词词义辨析。每天晚上我将迫切地等待电话响起然后告诉她我一天生活的每一个细节。可以想象一个小孩与妈妈相隔千里万里,每天等那一个问候电话的心情,故答案选A。
22.B【解析】考察名词词义辨析及语境理解。然而,一个电话永远不能代替她的存在。有时感到并不孤单是很难的。根据后句作者的心情:and it was difficult not to feel lonely at times.说明电话不解相思之情,还是妈妈在身边好。故选B。
23.C【解析】考察形容词词义辨析。how lonely my mother must have been in Brazil herself. 与后句相对应:前句应该是说他妈妈的公寓空旷而大。本题答案应该选C。
24. B【解析】考察形容词词义辨析及语境理解。看着她又大又空的公寓,我意识到我的妈妈独自一人在巴西一直以来是多么的孤单。眼见为实,见到her large empty apartment, 才有这种感觉,所以答案选B。
25. D【解析】考察语法分析。从那时起我开始明白她为了权衡家庭和工作不得不做出的艰难选择的意义。强调句,it is...that...所以选D。
26. B【解析】考察动词词义辨析及语境理解。句意:从那时起我开始明白她为了权衡家庭和工作不得不做出的艰难选择的意义。. Balance...and...,在......和......之间保持平衡。
27. C【解析】考察词义辨析。她过去常告诉我面对困难抉择你不知道你是否做了正确选择,但是带着激情和一种积极的态度你可以在这种情况下做到最好。
28. C【解析】考察形容词词义辨析及语境理解。句意:她过去常告诉我面对困难抉择你不知道你是否做了正确选择,但是带着激情和一种积极的态度你可以总是在这种情况下做到最好。Passion和positive是相近的,所以选C。
29. D【解析】考察动词词义辨析及语境理解。回到家,我提醒我自己:我妈妈能做的我也能做。Remind sb. that...提醒某人......由句意判断,选D。
30. A【解析】考察动词用法辨析。如果她设法独自生活在Rio,我也能学会独立。Manage to do sth.设法做成某事。故选A。
31. C【解析】考察形容词辨析。A感激的;B精力充沛的;C独立的;D实际的,实用的;回到家以后,我提醒我自己妈妈能做到的事情,我也可以做到的。如果她能够生活在巴西,我也能够学会独立生活在家里。妈妈不在家里,我要独立生活。故C正确。
32. D【解析】考察名词词义辨析及语境理解。为了独立生活,我学会了照顾自己,并为自己设立了很高的但是可以实现的目标。从前文的描述的内容以及动词set,判断答案是D。
33. B【解析】考察名词词义辨析。妈妈回来了,但曾经的经历这件事情,教给了我的东西我不会忘记,经历,experience,选B。
34. A【解析】考察短语辨析。最后妈妈的牺牲得到了回报,我们之间的分离证明是一件好事情。因为我从中学会了独立。A努力得到回报;B返回;C用完;D出现,调高;考察短语辨析,选A。
35. A【解析】考察名词辨析及语境理解。妈妈和我的分离让我学会了独立生活,这是好事情,是因祸得福的事情。考察名词辨析及上下文串联,根据选项意思,A正确。
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