Three packs of cigarettes were lying there on the pavement. I went down from Shubentsov’s office doorstep, picked them up and pocketed them. Later, in a bar, when I opened the first pack, I found – to my 36 – the twenty cigarettes were there.
I’m still at the bar, telephone in one 37 and the cigarettes in the other. I’m dialing Shubentsov, who told me to call the moment I felt the urge to 38 . I feel it, feel it even 39 than I felt Shubentsov’s healing energy. That’s saying something, since Shubentsov is known around the world for 40 smokers of their nasty habit, using a 41 method. He sent his healing energy from his fingertips, he tells me – something he picked up from another man in Russia. “I help you for free,” he told me in his muddy accent. “Just call me 42 .”
I went to see Shubentsov. I think it’s time to 43 because I’m getting old, and I can’t keep doing this to myself. But here’s the real problem. I should quit, but like a lot of you 44 with the same habit, I really don’t want to.
Smoking has been very good to me. Cigarettes have never let me down, never abandoned me on 45 , desperate nights. Smoking 46 my head, helps me 47 . Smoking has started conversations, driven away annoying people. Smoking helps me celebrate victories, get over losses, comfort the comfortless. It also chases away the mosquitoes.
I will 48 . Soon, my body and my mind are demanding that , daily.
I claim to smoke for pleasure, but I realise that slowly I’m losing control of this close, special friend. I 49 that. I realise it’s not just a “habit”. I’m 50 .
So here I am, attempting to 51 again, at Shubentsov’s place. I’ve tried all the other quitting techniques 52 . Anytime the urge to smoke 53 , he said, just call him immediately and he’ll help. The funny thing is, I realise that I’m not phoning him to stop me from lighting up. I’m phoning him so I can. If I call, I’ll have done my part. Then I can smoke this cigarette. Besides, I know that at 9.30 on a Friday night, I’ll get the answering machine. I do. “The office is open from ten to four. Call me back then. This machine does not take messages.”
I put the phone down and I can honestly say I’m 54 . You see, it’s not Shubentsov’s fault or anyone else’s fault that I’m still 55 . It’s mine.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to smoke this cigarette. Whether I’ll really enjoy it, though, is another story.
36.A. sadness B. disappointment C. inspiration D. delight
37. A. pack B. hand C. pocket D. bar
38.A. smoke B. talk C. drink D. dial
39.A. weaker B. faster C. stronger D. harder
40.A. accusing B. helping C. developing D. curing
41.A. popular B. mysterious C. frightening D. dangerous
42.A. whenever B. whatever C. however D. whichever
43. A. start B. continue C. stop D. keep
44. A. struggling B. beating C. hitting D. playing
45.A.lovely B. friendly C. lonely D. daily
46.A. destroys B. hurts C. cuts D. clears
47.A. breathe B. smile C. see D. think
48.A. begin B. quit C. report D. study
49.A. hate B. love C. ignore D. miss
50.A. ill B. excited C. addicted D. fascinated
51. A. give in B. give up C. give off D. give away
52.A. available B. alike C. abnormal D. additional
53.A.strikes B. attacks C. indicates D. continues
54.A.disappointed B. unhappy C. satisfied D. relieved
55.A.living B. working C. smoking D. smiling
DBACD BACAC DDBAC BAADC
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