完形填空（共20小題；每小題1.5分，滿分30分）
閱讀下面短文，從短文后所給各題的四個(gè)選項(xiàng)（A、B、C和D）中，選出可以填入空白處的最佳選項(xiàng)，并在答題卡上將該項(xiàng)涂黑。
As the hot tears rolled down her cheeks, I knew I had asked the wrong question. The ___21___reverberated(回蕩)in my mind: Widowed or divorced? I looked into the lady’s __22___, now dampened （使潮濕）with the __23___ tears my words had caused.
“ Well, you could call me widowed,” she replied. “ My husband ___24___ five months ago .”
“ I am so ____25___ ,” I mumbled. “ I need it to fill out your credit application.”
“Don’t worry about it, honey,” she ____26___. “if I never thought about it, I would not ___27____ the love and the memories we shared. Even after 50 years of ___28____ ,each passing moment would bring a deeper meaning to the word love. Now, trust me, I know how ____29___ that sounds. We had our share of challenging times, but in the end ____30___ of that mattered.”
Unsure of what to say, I laughed ___31___ . I picked up the phone to relay her information. After finally completing the credit application, I ____32____ to find myself riveted（固定） to the lady’s face again.
Her eyes began to sparkle ___33___ she continued in a heart-to-heart way. I couldn’t believe someone could open up to a perfect stranger, but it was not my place to ___34____ . I enjoyed listening to her just as much as she ___35___ having somebody to talk to.
“ Have you ever been ____ 36___?” she  asked.
I couldn’t help but ___37____. “Ah, no.” I replied. “I’m only 16.”
“Sixteen?” she murmured. “That’s a great age, an age of ____38____. There’s so much worth learning.”
She then spoke in a whipser, “Never take anyone for granted. If you are in ____39___ with someone, let it known. Otherwise, life may pass you by. Don’t spend your life angry . The ridiculous arguments which you think are important won’t even be remembered in a short time.”
Then, she hugged me and thanked me for letting her talk. As she turned to walk away, I could see that tears still hung in her eyes, but the smile that lit her face was amazing. After that,    I have never seen that woman again, but her words of inspiration still live in me. At that time, the words were only little bits of advice. Now, ___40___, they are the words which I try to live by, words that will always remind me of my special friend.

【小題18】

A．success B．wonder C．failure D．lessons

Next Hot Language to Study: Chinese
The fourth-graders at Chicago’s McCormick Primary School are unaware of the difficulty in learning Chinese. For most, who speak Spanish at home, it’s becoming their third language. They’ve been learning and using Chinese words since kindergarten, and it’s now second nature to give a hearty “ni hao” when strangers enter the classroom.
The classroom scene at McCormick is unusual, but it may soon be a common fixture(固定物) in American schools, where Chinese is rapidly becoming the hot new language. Government officials have long wanted more focus on security—useful languages like Chinese, and pressure from them—as well as from business leaders, politicians, and parents—has driven a quick growth in the number of programs.
Chicago itself is home to the largest effort to include Chinese in US public schools. The program here has grown to include 3,000 students in 20 schools, with more schools on a waiting list. Programs have also spread to places like Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, and North Carolina. It’s true that the number of students learning Chinese is tiny compared with how many study Spanish or French.
Advocates (提倡者，擁護(hù)者) see knowledge of the Chinese language and culture as a help in a global economy where China is growing in importance. “This is an interesting way to begin to engage with the world’s next superpower,” says Michael Levine, director of education at the Asia Society, which has started five new public high schools that offer Chinese. “Globalization（全球化) has already changed the arrangements in terms of how children today are going to need to think about their careers… The question is, when not whether, the schools are going to adjust.”
In Chicago, the trend extends beyond schools with high numbers of Asian students. “The fact that my students are 98% low income and 99% Latino(拉丁美洲人) and they are succeeding in this, tells me everyone should have a try at learning languages,” says Virginia Rivera, principal at McCormick.“We want to give our young people opportunities to advance… and Chinese is a great opportunity to survive in today’s economy,” says Richard M. Daley, Mayor of Chicago.
【小題1】The first paragraph is mainly written to _______.

When Hurricane Phailin hit India in late 2013, it became the largest storm to strike the subcontinent in over a decade. The storm affected more than 12 million people in India and neighboring countries, and damaged or destroyed many houses. However, good news is that cleverly-designed beach house created by architect Ray Huff can survive such strong winds and storm waves.

Located on the shore of an Indian island, Huff’s award-winning cube-shaped beach house was built to replace one smashed to pieces by Hurricane Phailin.

Huff pointed out that many houses built along shoreline were poorly constructed, and enforcement(執(zhí)行) of building codes wasn’t strict. After Phailin’s attack, all new shoreline houses are required to meet stricter, better-enforced codes. The new beach house should be able to stand a Category 3 hurricane with peak winds of 179 to 209 kilometers per hour.

At first sight, Huff's house looks anything but hurricane-proof. Its redwood shell makes it resemble “a large party lantern” at night, according to one observer. But looks can be misleading. The house’s wooden frame is reinforced(加固) with long steel rods to give it extra strength.

To further protect the house from hurricane damage, Huff raised it 2.7 meters off the ground on pilings---long columns of wood anchored(固定) deep in the sand. Pilings might appear insecure, but they are strong enough to support the weight of the house. They also balance the house above storm waves. The pilings allow the waves to run under the house instead of running into it. “These swells of water come ashore at great speeds and cause most of the damage done to beach-front buildings,” said Huff.

Huff designed the wooden pilings to be partially hidden by the house’s ground-to-roof shell. “The shell masks the pilings so that the house doesn’t look like it’s standing with its pant legs pulled up,” said Huff. In case of a storm wave, the shell should break apart and let the waves rush under the house, the architect explained.

1.After Hurricane Phailin, new houses built along shore line are required_____.

A. to be easily reinforced ????????????? ?????????????

B. to look smarter in design

C. to meet stricter building standards?

D. to be designed in the shape of cubes

2.The award-winning beach house is quite strong because____.

A. it is made of redwood

B. it is in the shape of a shell

C. it is strengthened by steel rods ?????????????

D. it is built with wood and stones

3.Huff raised the house 2.7 meters off the ground on wooden pilings in order to _____.

A. support the weight of the house

B. allow the waves to run through the house

C. anchor stronger pilings deep in the sand

D. prevent water from rushing into the house

4.The main function of the shell is_____.

A. to give the house a better appearance

B. to strengthen the pilings of the house

C. to protect the wooden frame of the house

D. to slow down the speed of the swelling water

10－year－old John ran bare foot out of the door on a windy, cold day in February and he __1__ straight for the 125－foot electric tower behind their home. The tower carried 230,000 volts through its silver wires but John wasn't __2__ of the danger. He had suffered from a mental illness, a condition that separates him from reality，__3__ him to live within his own __4__. That day his thoughts were set on climbing to the top of that tower, touching the sky and feeling what it was like to __5__.

His seventeen－year－old brother, James, who had always been close by, watching him and making sure that no __6__ came to him，__7__ to realize that he was missing this time.

John had already __8__ the handrails(欄桿) and was making his __9__ to the sky by the time James __10__ him. James understood the __11__ of the electrical tower but he chose to follow his younger brother up each gray rail, trying not to look __12__，all the way to the top. James finally __13__ his brother and held him tightly with his right hand. With his left hand, he held on to a metal bar to help stabilize(固定) them __14__.

The minutes lengthened into hours __15__ they balanced on a three－inch rail. James sang songs to __16__ his own beating heart and to draw his brother's attention away from the rescue action taking place __17__.

Hundreds of people gathered at the base of the tower and they looked like ants to James. Helicopters(直升飛機(jī)) began to circle overhead and emergency trucks rushed to the __18__.When secured with a safety line, the brothers and their rescuers were carefully lowered to the ground, the crowd below burst out __19__. They witnessed the __20__ of a 17－year－old boy named James.

1. A. looked  B. headed  C. cared  D. sent

2. A. aware         B. proud         C. sure           D. afraid

3. A. teaching      B. allowing      C. coaching       D. forcing

4. A. words         B. opinions      C. thoughts       D. ideas

5. A. run           B. fly           C. rush           D. walk

6. A. harm          B. wound         C. fear           D. damage

7. A. refused       B. headed        C. pretended      D. failed

8. A. removed            B. cleared      

C. overcome           D. occupied

9. A. way           B. trip          C. tour           D. journey

10. A. caught       B. saved         C. found          D. recognized

11. A. usage        B. danger        C. effect         D. height

12. A. left         B. right         C. up             D. down

13. A. reached      B. touched       C. fetched        D. found

14. A. either       B. both          C. all            D. each

15. A. before       B. till          C. where          D. as

16. A. stop         B. rest          C. calm           D. resist

17. A. below        B. nearby        C. ahead          D. around

18. A. land         B. space         C. center         D. scene

19. A. cries        B. cheers        C. laughter       D. shouts

20. A. carefulness       B. friendliness 

C. braveness        D. unselfishness