More and more often we heard of people talking about Karaoke (卡拉OK). But what on earth it is about still remains a question for many people. Karaoke is a sort of acoustic (听觉的) equipment which was invented in Japan around the middle of the 1970's. It means "a band without people" in Japanese. In fact, it is just a music tape without words. This equipment first appeared in some public houses and snack bars, and mainly for the customers to enjoy themselves. Most of the music in Karaoke was popular music. Therefore, at times, when anyone felt like it, he might sing songs to the accompaniment (陪伴) of the music that came from the equipment. Shortly after its invention, Karaoke was spread to the whole world. It was introduced to China and was welcomed by many people. Although you are not a good singer, or even sometimes you may sing out of tune, you can always enjoy yourself by singing Karaoke.
【小题1】In this passage "band" means "group of persons ________."

A man had a little daughter—an only and much-loved child. He lived ___21__ her—she was his life. So when she became ill, he became like a man moving 22 and earth to bring about her restoration to  23  .
　　His best efforts,  24 , proved 25 and the child died. The father became a bitter loner, 26  himself away from his many friends and refusing every   27 that might restore his calm and bring him back to his normal self. But one night he had a   28  .
　　He was in heaven,  29 a grand presentation of all the little child angels. They were  30  in a line passing by the Great White Throne. Every white-robed angelic child  31 a candle. He noticed that one child’s candle was not lighted. Then he saw that the child with the  32 candle was his own little girl. 33 to her, he seized her in his arms,  34  her tenderly, and then asked, “ 35 is it, darling, that your candle alone is unlighted?”“Daddy, they often relight it, but your tears always  36 .”
　Just then he awoke from his dream. The lesson was clear, and its effects were  37 . From that hour on he was not a loner, but associated freely and 38  with his former friends and colleagues. 39 would his darling’s candle be extinguished(熄灭) by his  40  tears.

My uncle has a very beautiful umbrella. He has had it  36  and as he is very  37  it, it still looks as good as new.?
“That umbrella must have   38  you a great deal of money, Uncle.” I said to him one day.
“No,” he replied, “ 39 ”
“Was it a present?” I asked again.
“No,” said he.
“Then how did you get it?” I asked.
“Well,” he answered, “it is a strange true story. About ten years ago, I was walking along a quiet London street one evening   40  it suddenly rained. I had no raincoat and no umbrella. No buses ran through that street and there were no   41  in sight. As I was on my way to a party, I didn't want to get  42 . So I stood at a doorway and waited for the rain to stop. By and by it grew quite  43 .There wasn't a person around, and  44  it rained and rained.  45  a young man came to the place where I was standing,  46   a large umbrella over his head.  47  I hoped he would   48  me to walk to the next corner with him in order that I could get a taxi, I stepped   49  the dark doorway where I had been standing, and said: “ 50 , where are you going with that umbrella?”
 51  by my sudden appearance, the young man  52   the umbrella, which, I'm afraid, he had just stolen, ran away, and  53  into the darkness. I picked up the umbrella and continued my walk. I knew it would be  54  in this big city to try and discover the owner and so I've kept it   55 .”

【小题1】

A．for months B． for years? C．since childhood D．for a few days?