Christmas is for reuniting with family and friends, for joy and songs. But mostly, Christmas is for__10___. I had not believed this_ _11__a boy named Mark gave me a wonderful present for Christmas.
I began to notice Mark particularly when he started staying after class each day to help me __12___up the room. We did this__13___, not speaking much. When we did talk, Mark spoke mostly of his mother, who was working abroad. He told me he had a__14____, loving mother and that he missed her very much.
As Christmas drew near, however, Mark failed to stay after school each day. I stopped him one afternoon and asked him why. “I was making you a__15__,” he said in a low voice, “It’s for Christmas.”
_16_came the last school day before Christmas. Mark went slowly into the room that afternoon with his hands hiding something_17_his back. “Here is a present for you.” He held out his hands, and there lay a small wooden box.
“Beautiful. There must be_18_in it, right?” I asked, opening the top to look inside.
“Oh, you can’t_19_or touch it,” he replied, “but mother always tell me that it makes you feel good all the time,_20_on cold nights, and safe when you’re all alone.”
Looking into the empty box, I got_21_and asked what it was. “It’s love,” he said softly, “and mother always says it’s best when you give it_22_.” And he turned and quietly left the room.
So now I_23_the small box in my living room.
10. A. discussion B. love C. courage D. music
11. A. when B. after C. until D. since
12. A. tidy B. take C. bring D. make
13.A. anxiously B. thankfully C. noisily D. quietly
14.A.lazy B. horrible C. kind D. serious
15.A. surprise B. trouble C. dream D. guess
16.A. Firstly B. Usually C. Finally D. Regularly
17.A .on B. over C. in D. behind
18.A. something B. anything C. everything D. nothing
19.A .own B . afford C. demand D. see
20.Acool B. hot C. warm D. freezing
21.A. ashamed B. puzzled C. amused D. worried
22.A .in B .up C. off D. away
23. A .keep B. ruin C. throw D. fix
BCADA ACCAD CADA
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