Music to My Ears

Robby was 10 for his first piano lesson in my class. Much as he tried, he ____ even the basic rhythm. However, he dutifully reviewed the pieces that I required.

 Over the months he tried and tried while I ____ and encouraged him. At the end of each lesson he'd always say, "My mom's going to hear me play some day." ____ it seemed hopeless.

I only knew his mother from a ____as she waited in her aged car to pick him up. Then one day Robby stopped coming. I was secretly ____ that he stopped because of his lack of ability.

    Weeks later I informed the students, including Robby, of the coming recital（独奏）. To my ____, Robby asked me if he could be included. I told him he really did not qualify because he had ____ out. He said his mom had been sick and unable to take him to lessons but he was still ____ .

“I've just got to play!" he ____. Something inside me let me allow him to.

Then came the recital night. The gym was ____ with parents. I put Robby up ____, thinking that I could save his poor performance through my “curtain closer（谢幕）.”

The recital went off smoothly. Then Robby came up on stage. His clothes were wrinkled and his hair was ____. "Why didn't his mother at least make him comb his hair for this special night?" I thought.

Robby pulled out the piano bench and began. I was not ____ for what I heard next. His fingers were ____ on the keys. Never had I heard Mozart played so well by people of his age. After he ended, everyone was ____ their feet in wild applause.

In ____ I ran up on stage and put my arms around Robby. "I've never heard you play like that, Robby! How did you ____ it?"

Robby explained, "Well, Miss Hondorf…remember I told you my mom was sick? …____ she had cancer and passed away yesterday. She was born deaf, so tonight she could hear me play in heaven. I wanted to make it special."

There wasn’t a ____ eye in the house. That night I felt he was the teacher and I was the pupil, for it was he who taught me the meaning of perseverance and ____.

1.A. lacked                                B. had                             C. showed                           D. got

2.A. listened                     B. learned                   C. checked                         D. played

3.A. And                            B. But                           C. So                               D. Or

4.A. conversation          B. performance          C. distance                         D. picture

5.A. guilty                           B. sad                C. anxious                           D. glad

6.A. relief                          B. surprise              C. pleasure                D. satisfaction

7.A. stepped                          B. worn             C. run                              D. dropped

8.A. acting                                  B. performing    C. practicing                        D. recording

9.A. insisted                           B. suggested     C. complained                     D. threatened

10.A. lined                                 B. packed                    C. piled                                  D. filled

11.A. least                                  B. most               C. first                           D. last

12.A. messy                           B. cool           C. neat                               D. dull

13.A. eager                 B. concerned       C. prepared                        D. grateful

14.A. hesitating                         B. dancing                    C. touching                               D. crawling

15.A. over                                  B. under              C. in                                      D. on

16.A. chaos                           B. tears                C. silence                             D. return

17.A. find                          B. feel                           C. make                                D. like

18.A. Gradually          B. Suddenly                     C. Frequently                      D. Actually

19.A. dry                           B. curious                     C. bright                               D. wet

20.A. regret                           B. talent                       C. love                                  D. courage

完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）

阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从36-55题所给的A.B.C.D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

Two brothers lived on the 80^th floor. On coming home one day, they were depressed to realize that the lifts broke 36 . Although they carried a big pack of luggage, it seemed to have no other choice, so they decided to climb the 37 up together!

When they arrived at the 20^th floor, the elder brother 38 putting the luggage there and coming back for it the next day. Feeling much more relaxed, they 39 to climb up. When they 40 to the 40^th,the younger started to complain and 41 of them quarreled till the 60^th floor. Arriving there, they were so tired that they didn't have any 42 to quarrel. The younger said,“Don't quarrel, let's 43 climbing the stairs.”And they went on climbing 44,finally reaching the 80th!They felt 45 arriving at the door of their home. But soon they found their 46 were kept on the 20th.

This story is a reflection on our lives. Many of us live under the 47 of our parents, teachers and friends when young. We seldom get to do the things we love.

By the age of twenty,with so much pressure, we get 48 and then decide to throw down this load.49 from this load, we work energetically with ambitious dreams.

But at the age of forty,we discover the youth has already died, so much 50 is produced unavoidably, and begin to feel sorry for that. When you 51 the age of sixty ,we discover life hasn't remained too much, so we tell ourselves not to complain and 52 the remaining days! Upon that we walk silently over our own 53 years of life. Arriving at the 54 of the life, we think there is nothing left to disappoint us, only the 55 that we can't rest in peace. Follow your dream , so you will not live with regrets.