There is a fine line between being a concerned parent and one that doesn’t know when to let go.

      As my daughter, Nicole, prepares to leave home for college, I’m   36   how hard it is to stay on the right side of this line.   37   I tightly hold the string (绳) connecting us, Nicole,   38   to taste her independence,   39   hard at it, trying to get out of my control. We act as if we were dancing kind of tango (探戈舞). So we reached a(n)   40  . She accepted that as her mother, I had a right to express my idea and   41   suggestions. I accepted that I had to trust her   42   and respect her choices. I bit my lip a few times and Nicole shot me a few glares,   43   our agreement held.

      Thank God! She was finally accepted by a great university. When the time came for registration (注册), we went to an introductory meeting together, but then parents and students were   44  . “You may be paying the tuition (学费).” a university   45   told the parents, “but choosing classes really is the students’  46  . ”

      Obviously, I wasn’t the only parent having a hard time   47  . The night before, I had carefully read the course catalog (目录) and   48    classes I thought looked good. As Nicole went   49   to meet her adviser, we agreed to meet for lunch before registration. “  50   those courses I marked.” I called to her.

      We met three hours 1ater in the   51   hall. Nicole was excited and said to me, “Mum, I have my   52   schedule figured out. It’s great. Look at what I’m taking.” I examined the   53  . Nicole had not taken a single one of the classes I had   54  . Every class she had chosen exactly suited her interests. Though somewhat disappointed, I felt   55   that my daughter had grown into an able girl.   

36．A．discovering          B．expecting             C．wondering              D．discussing

37．A．Since                   B．Unless                 C．While                     D．Before

38．A．willing                 B．delighted              C．eager                     D．content

39．A．works                 B．pulls                    C．pushes                   D．blows

40．A．destination           B．explanation            C．conclusion             D．agreement   

41．A．shared                 B．offered                C．afforded                 D．created

42．A．consideration         B．suggestion            C．judgment                D．development

43．A．so                       B．and                      C．or                          D．but   

44．A．separated         B．warned                C．informed                D．persuaded

45．A．producer              B．translator             C．designer                  D．official

46．A．responsibility      B．activity                 C．ability                    D．quality

47．A．letting out            B．1etting go             C．letting alone            D．1etting down

48．A．improved             B．took                    C．attended                 D．marked

49．A．through               B．around                 C．off                        D．by

50．A．Think about       B．Pick out               C．Get through            D．Carry on

51．A．meeting               B．dinning                C．dancing                  D．reading

52．A．entire                   B．potential               C．regular                   D．original

53．A．program              B．notice                  C．schedule                D．course

54．A．forced                 B．provided              C．organized               D．suggested

55．A．nervous               B．proud                  C．regretful                 D．anxious

When I was growing up, I was embarrassed to be seen with my father. He was badly crippled (跛脚), and when we would walk together, his hand on my arm for balance, people would stare, I would be ashamed of the unwanted attention. If ever noticed or bothered, he never let on.
It was difficult to walk together—and because of that, we didn’t say much as we went along. But as we started out, he always said, “You set the pace. I will try to follow you.”
Our usual walk was to or from the subway, which was how he got to work. He went to work sick, and even in bad weather. He almost never missed a day, and would make it to the office even if others could not. It was a matter of pride for him.
When snow or ice was on the ground, it was impossible for him to walk, even with help... Such times my sister or I would pull him through the streets of Brooklyn, N.Y., on a child’s sleigh to the subway entrance. Once there, he would try to grasp handrail until he reached the lower steps that the warmer tunnel air kept ice free. In Manhattan the subway station was the basement of his office building, and he would not have to go outside again until we met him in Brooklyn on his way home. w.w.w.k.s.5.u.c.o.m
When I think of it now, I am surprised at how much courage it must have taken for a grown man to suffer from shame and disability. And I am also surprised at how he did it—without bitterness or complaint.
He never talked about himself as an object of pity, not did he show any envy of the more fortunate or able. What he looked for in others was a “good heart”, and if he found one, the owner was good enough for him.
Now that I am older, I believe that is a proper standard by which to judge people, even though I still don’t know exactly what a “good heart” is. But I know the times I don’t have one myself.
He has been away for many years now, but I think of him often. I wonder if he sensed my reluctance to be seen with him during our walks. If he did, I am sorry I never told him how sorry I was, how unworthy I was, how I regretted it. I think of him when I complain about my troubles, when I am envious of another’s good fortune, when I don’t have a “good heart”.
【小题1】How did the man treat his father when he was young?

第二节完形填空（共20小题；每小题1分，满分20分）
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从36 ~ 55各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Today I felt very uncomfortable studying English as usual．My eyes were   36   and my mind was confused．I buried my head deep in the great pile of books．Many vocabulary words   37  
my mind．As more and more entered，I   38   focus，and my   39   became crazy．The clock hands were pointing at twelve. I always   40   the time when I study．Without any fruitful results，I felt more   41   and tired．I   42   up and walked to the living room just to take a little break．  43   that would make me feel better．The street lamps looked like stars outside the window．A few scattered(分散的)branches   44   shadows on the French window．Something seemed more   45   and quiet than before．I walked to the   46   slowly，and let my face press against it，  47   very carefully…oh my God!!…It’s snow! It was very bright and covered up the whole   48   while I was studying English painfully, so white and so quiet．At this moment, I was so   49   that I felt like I might burst into tears．The snow was like a spring   50   into my heart，and my eyes were shining with it．All my pain and tiredness   51   at this moment，as the snow dropped into my heart．
I quickly became calm again，as the excitement went away．I sat on the bed silently，and drew the   52   to one side to let the white house and white tree stay just beside my bed．I thought this must be a(n)   53   from God，because I liked snow so much．  54   I was weakest and most helpless in this world，nothing could inspire me but   55 ．I should inspire myself from such a beautiful scene．
36.A. closed                  B. tired                         C. shining                     D. weeping
37.A. left                      B. confused                   C. filled                        D. impressed
38.A. lost                     B. got                           C. realized                    D. changed
39.A. thoughts               B. feeling                      C. words                       D. concept
40.A. waste                   B. limit                         C. remember                 D. forget
41.A. flexible                B. guilty                       C. unhappy                   D. curious
42.A. stood                   B. turned                      C. checked                    D. hurried
43.A. Sure                    B. Maybe                      C. Immediately              D. Always
44.A. shook                  B. cast                          C. resembled                 D. printed
45.A. disappointing        B. frightening                C. bright                       D. light
46.A. shadow                B. lamp                        C. branch                      D. window
47.A. looking                B. thinking                    C. moving                     D. cleaning
48.A. night                   B. house                       C. world                       D. mind
49.A. disturbed              B. excited                     C. surprised                   D. bored
50.A. pouring                B. delivering                 C. drilling                     D. rising
51.A. occurred              B. arose                        C. escaped                     D. disappeared
52.A. bed                      B. curtain                      C. desk                         D. book
53.A. anger                   B. smile                        C. gift                          D. punishment
54.A. As usual               B. As a result                 C. At last                      D. At a time
55.A. snow                   B. God                         C. white                        D. beauty

A man has returned three library books to a Melbourne library—21 years overdue（误期）.The books were returned to Sam Merrifield Library with a (n)__ 21___note and a $50 bill.
___ 22___Margaret Young was pleased that the books had been returned. They were in excellent___23__ , except for the one that the borrower admitted had been damaged by a___24___.
“They’re all spy books. We were just surprised and___25 ___that he has returned the books, ___26 ___after so many years,” Mrs. Young said.
The books were__ 27__on June 18, 1985 and would have to be paid almost $5,800 in overdue
__28__. But, because of the sweet letter and $50 note, Mrs. Young said all was__29__.
She said, “We thank him for returning the books and hope his conscience（良心）is __ 30 _. I’d like to think he can come back into the library one day to borrow more material__31__he returns it.”
To whom it may concern,
About 20 years ago I__32 __to return the three books to your library. In fact I__33__them.During that time, one of the books was damaged by my dog. I have enclosed all three books and a sum of money that will go some way toward __34__the damaged book.
My __35__were unforgivable; a thief is a thief. Please __ 36__my apology for stealing the books and for not having the courage to return them__37__.
I want you to know that for the last few years this theft has__38__my conscience and I am sorry I was so selfish to steal them in the first__39__. I hope this goes some small way to__40 __my actions.