My husband Jeff and I moved into our new home in Scottsbluff last year just before Christmas. I did not have the 41 or energy to carry out my traditional Christmas decorating and baking activities. What was the point, anyway? It was going to be a 42 Christmas after all. __43__, the neighborly nature of west Nebraska residents started to trickle (陆续来临) in.
There was a 44 on the door one evening. It was Jeff’s new colleague, John Smith, and his wife, Phyllis. The Smiths had stopped by to 45 us to town with a loaf of homemade bread. They pointed out a 46 on the porch (门廊). Apparently the doorbell wasn’t working in the cold snowy weather and we had 47 a visit from the Browns, our across-the-street neighbors, who brought us a Christmas card and more Christmas cookies. The 48 feelings brought by these thoughtful gestures lasted longer than the food. As Jeff and I were clearing pre-Christmas 49 from our driveway, Ernie Guzman came over from next door to 50 us to dig out.
Then, we received an invitation to 51 a Christmas Eve meal with our neighbors, Ernie and Nancy Sommer, and their 52 , a 90-year-old lady, who also had no family in the immediate area with whom to spend the holiday.
Our Christmas Eve was quite merry, thanks to our 53 . Our Christmas morning 54 was special, thanks to the Smiths’ gift of bread. I was so 55 for these gestures of welcome, especially during the holidays.
This year, we were again unable to be with our families for Christmas. The 56 and work schedules just made things too difficult. 57 that sense of Christmas isolation (孤立) all too well, we decided to try to round up some other folks who were 58 in the holidays.
Lonely people are all around us, but most of us 59 notice them. Just take a look around you. Sometimes, the smallest 60 gesture can make a world of difference.
41. A. chance B. anxiety C. time D. ability
42. A. lonely B. free C. merry D. usual
43. A. Therefore B. However C. Somehow D. Meanwhile
44. A. sign B. knock C. card D. note
45. A. invite B. welcome C. drive D. send
46. A. tree B. flower C. mail D. package
47. A. forgot B. missed C. arranged D. received
48. A. warm B. deep C. true D. mixed
49. A. rubbish B. snow C. dust D. leaves
50. A. teach B. urge C. help D. forbid
51. A. prepare B. share C. taste D. exchange
52. A. guest B. aunt C. maid D. partner
53. A. folks B. relatives C. neighbors D. colleagues
54. A. call B. greeting C. meeting D. breakfast
55. A. sorry B. eager C. grateful D. ready
56. A. season B. expense C. distance D. situation
57. A. Knowing B. Showing C. Studying D. Discovering
58. A. happy B. busy C. alone D. active
59. A. always B. usually C. finally D. seldom
60. A. careful B. kind C. vague D. patient
41-45CABBB 46-50DBABC 51-55BACDC 56-60CACDB
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