In 1989 an 8. 2 earthquake almost flattened America,killing over 30,000 people in less than four minutes. In the middle of complete damage and disorder,a father rushed to the school where his son was supposed to be,only to 16 that the building was 17 .
After the unforgettable shock,he 18 the promise he had made to his son,u No matter 19 happens,I'll always be there for you!” And tears began to 20 his eyes. As he looked at the pile of ruins,it looked hopeless,but he kept remembering his 21 to his son. He rushed there and started digging 22 the ruins.
As he was digging,other helpless parents arrived,saying, “It's too 23 ! They’re all dead!24 , face reality,there's nothing you can do!” To each parent he responded with one 25 Are you going to help me now?” No one helped. And then he continued to dig for his son,stone by stone.
Courageously he went on alone because he needed to know 26 himself, “Is my boy T!or is he dead?” He dug for 8 hours. .. 12 hours. .. 24 hours. .. 36 hours. . , then,in the 38th hour,he 28 back a large stone and heard his son's 29 He screamed his son name, “ ARM AND!” He heard back, “Dad,it's me,Dad!I told the other kids not to worry. I told them that if you were alive,you would 30 me and 31 you saved me,they’d be saved. You promised, ‘No matter what happens,I'll always be there for you! ’ You did it,Dad!” “What's going on in there?” the father asked.
“There are 14 of us left 32 33, Dad. We’re scared, 33 , thirsty and thankful you’re here. When the building collapsed,it made a 34 , and it saved us. ”
“ Come out,boy! ”
“No,Dad!Let the other kids out first,35 I know you’ll get me!No matter what happens,I know you’ll always be there for me!”
16. A. know B. discover
C. think D. realise
17. A. as flat as a pancake B. as high as a mountain
C. as strong as an ox D. as weak as a kitten
18. A. memorised B. forgot
C. kept D. remembered
19. A. what B. how C. which D. who
20. A. fill B. flow C. come D. follow
21. A. picture B. promise
C. present D. encourage
22. A. for B. through
C. out D. into
23. A. dark B. early C. thick D. late
24. A. Come out B. Come again
C. Come on D. Come off
25. A. word B. sound
C. row D. line
26. A. for B. of C. by D. to
27. A. lovely B. living
C. alive D. lively
28. A. got B. paid C. sent D. pulled
29. A. breath B. voice
C. noise D. tone
30. A. see B. save
C. visit D. miss
31. A. when B. because
C. even if D. though
32. A. for B. behind
C. out of D. over
33. A. excited B. happy
C. hungry D. sad
34. A. promise B. space
C. room D. triangle
35. A. because B. though
C. when D. even though