He met her at a party. She was outstanding; many guys were   36  her, but nobody paid any attention to him. After the party, he invited her for coffee. She was surprised. In order not to appear   37 , she went along.
　　As they sat in a nice coffee shop, he was too   38  to say anything and she felt uncomfortable. Suddenly, he asked the waiter, "Could you please give me some   39 ? I'd like to put it in my coffee."
　 They stared at him. He turned   40 , but when the salt came, he put it in his coffee and drank.   41 , she asked, "Why salt with coffee?" He explained, "When I was a little boy, I lived near the sea. I liked playing on the sea ... I could feel its taste salty, like salty coffee. Now  42  I drink it, I think of my childhood and my hometown. I   43  it and my parents, who are still there."
　　She was deeply touched. A man who can admit that he's homesick must love his home and   44  his family. He must be responsible.
　　She talked too, about her faraway hometown, her childhood, her family. That was the start to their love story.
　　They continued to   45 . She found that he met all her   46 . He was tolerant, kind, warm and careful. She would have missed the catch if not for the salty coffee!
　　So they   47  and lived happily together. And every time she made   48  for him, she put in some salt, the way he liked it.
　　After 40 years, he passed away and left her a letter which said:
　　My dearest, please   49  my life-long lie. Remember the first time we dated? I was so nervous I asked for salt instead of   50 .
　　It was hard for me to ask for a   51 , so I just went ahead. Many times, I tried to tell you the truth, but I was afraid that it would   52  everything.
Sweetheart, I don't exactly like salty coffee. But as it   53  so much to you, I've learnt to enjoy it. Having you   54  me was my greatest happiness. If I could live a second time, I hope we can be together again,   55  it means that I have to drink salty coffee for the rest of my life.

I grew up in a small town. My father raised chickens and ran a construction company. I was barely 10 years old when my dad gave me the responsibility (责任) of feeding the chickens and cleaning up the stable. He believed it was important for me to have those jobs to learn responsibility. Then, when I was 22, I found a job in Natchbill at a country music club called the Natchbill Palace, I washed dishes and cooked from 4: 00 pm to 9: 00 pm and then went on stage and sang until 2:00 in the morning. It wasn’t long before I became known as a singing cook. I had been rejected so many times by record companies that it was hard not to be discouraged. One night, a woman executive (懂事) from a company named Warner Brothers Records came to hear me sing. When the show was over, we sat down and talked and after she left, I said to myself it was one more rejection. A few weeks later, my manager received a phone call — Warner Brothers wanted to sign me to a record deal. Soon after, I released my first record in June 1986. It sold over 2 million copies. My best efforts had gone into every job I’ve ever held. It was the sense of responsibility that made me feel like a man. Knowing that I had done my best filled me with pride. I still feel that way today, even though I have become a well-known singer.

Why was the writer once known as the singing cook?

A. Because he was a cook at a country-music club.

B. Because he sang for guests while he worked as a cook.

C. Because he often sang while cooking.

D. Because he liked singing better than cooking.

Who first recognized his talents and helped make his career successful?

A. Wamer Brothers.                    B. His manager.    

C. His father.                              D. A businesswoman.

What made the writer proud of himself?

A. His ability to live independently.

B. His sense of responsibility in whatever he did.

C. His courage in the face of rejections.

D. His hard work in his early days.

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，并在答题卡上涂黑。
My own "truest" Christmas stands out from all the others, which is the one when the meaning of the day shone clearest．Recently divorced, I had no   36   and was on my way to the employment office．It was pouring, but I had no umbrella, for my old one had   37   apart, and I could not afford another one．
I got in a streetcar and there   38   the seat was an umbrella leaning with a silver handle  39with jewels．I had never seen anything so lovely．I   40   the handle and saw a name carved there．The   41_procedure would have been to   42   the umbrella to the conductor, while I   43   to take it with me and find the owner myself．
Then I   44   a telephone book for the name on the umbrella and got it．A lady answered my call and she was so   45   that I forgot I was looking for a job and went directly to her small house．There, she wanted to give me a（an）   46   , but her excitement at getting back this special possession was   47   that to have accepted money would have   48   something．
The next six months were   49  ．I was able to get only temporary   50   here and there for a small salary．  51   , when reaching home, 1 made myself smile, pretending to be happy to meet my daughter Peggy．There, she opened the door for me and 52 herself in my arms, screaming and demanding that we decorate the tree immediately．But when I looked at the cold pans and cans in he cold little kitchen, misery   53   me．
Suddenly the doorbell rang, there stood a delivery man．"This is a   54   ," I said, but he read the name on the parcels and they were for me．I looked for the name of the sender and found it was the lady．
Our dinner the night was the most delicious in my life．Then I put Peggy to bed and   55   her gifts up around the tree and a sweet peace flooded me like a blessing．

第二部分完形填空（共20小题，每小题1.5分，满分30分）。
阅读下列短文，从短文后所给各题的A，B，C，D四个选项中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。
I grew up in a community called Estepona. I was 16 when one morning, Dad told me I could drive him into a  36  village called Mijas, on condition that I took the car in to be  37   nearby garage. I readily accepted. I drove Dad into Mijas, and  38  to pick him up at 4 pm, then dropped off the car at the  39  . With several hours to spare, l went to a theater.  40  , when the last movie finished, it was six. 1 was two hours late!
I knew Dad would be angry if he  41  I’d been watching movies. So I decided not to tell him the truth. When I  42  there I apologized for being late, and told him I’d  43  as quickly as I could, but that the car had needed a major repairs. I’ll never forget the  44  he gave me. “I’m disappointed you  45  you have to lie to me, Jason.” Dad looked at me again. “When you didn’t  _46 , I called the garage to ask if there were any  47 , and they told me you hadn’t yet picked up the car.” I felt  48  as I weakly told him the real reason. A  49  passed through Dad as he listened attentively. “I’m angry with  50 . I realize I’ve failed as a father. I’m going to walk home now and think seriously about  51  I’ve gone wrong all these years.” “But Dad, it’s 18 miles!” My protests and apologies were  52  . Dad walked home that day. I drove behind him,  53  him all the way, but he walked silently.
Seeing Dad in so much  54  and emotional pain was my most painful experience. However, it was  55  the most successful lesson. I have never lied since.
36. A. lonely           B. small         C. distant              D. familiar
37. A. kept           B. washed       C. watched                    D. serviced
38. A. agreed         B. pimped       C. determined          D. promised
39. A. village               B. community    C. garage               D. theater
40. A. However             B. Then                 C. Therefore                 D. Still
41. A. realized              B. found out          C. thought                    D. figured out
42. A. went           B ran            C. walked              D. hurried
43. A. started                      B left            C. arrived                     D. come
44. A. word                 B. face          C. look                 D. appearance
45. A. find                    B. decide        C. believe               D feel
46. A. turn up               B. drive out      C. go away             D come out
47. A. questions       B. problems           C. mistakes                   D. faults
48. A. ashamed         B. frightened       C. nervous                    D. surprised
49. A. nervousness      B. sadness       C. silence            D. thought
50. A. you            B. myself        C. me                D. yourself
51. A. where                B. how          C. why                D. when
52. A. meaningless    B. useless         C. helpless           D. worthless
53. A. asking         B. persuading     C. begging           D. following
54. A. physical                 B. practical       C. personal           D. natural
55. A. indeed            B. always        C. also               D. almost