完形填空（共20小题，每题1.5分，共30分）

Today I am known for my voice. But it  31  a long time to believe I could read well. When I was young I stuttered (结巴)  32  badly that I was completely  33  to speak in public.

34  , when I was 14, Professor Donald Crouch came to our school. He was a retired college professor. He held a book of poems  35   it were a diamond necklace. When he heard our school was  36  Shakespeare, he could no longer   37  not being a part of our school.

When he  38  that I not only loved poetry but was  39  it, we became closer. There was, however, one  40   between us—Professor Crouch could not stand the  41  that I refused to read my poems to the class.

“Jim, poetry is 42 to be read aloud,” he said. “You should be able to speak those beautiful words.” I shook my head and  43  .

Then he tricked me. After handing in a poem, I waited for his  44 . It didn’t come. Instead, one day as the students gathered together, he said to me, “Jim, I don’t think you wrote this.” I  45 him in disbelief. “Why”, I started, “of course I  46 !” “Well, then,” he said, “you’ve got to prove it by getting up and reciting it  47  memory.”

With knees shaking, I walked up. For a moment I stood  48 . Then I began, and kept going. I recited my poem all the way through!

Afterwards, Professor Crouch congratulated me, and  49  me to read other writers’ poems before the public.

Before long, I discovered I did have a (n) 50  and found my fellow students actually looked forward to hearing me recite.

Today I am known for my voice. Perhaps the greatest honor came when I was asked to read a book on tape.

But it   1   a long time to believe such good things could happen to me. When I was a youngster I stuttered(口吃)   2   badly that I was completely   3   to speak in public.

  4  , when I was 14, Professor Donald Crouch came to our school. He was a retired college professor. English was his   5   subject; poetry was his deepest love. He held a book of poems   6   it were a diamond necklace, turning pages as if uncovering treasures. When he heard our school was teaching Shakespeare and other classics, he could no longer   7   not being a part of our school.

When he   8   that I not only loved poetry but was   9   it, we became closer. There was, however, one   10   between us－Professor Crouch could not stand the   11   that I refused to read my poems to the class.

“Jim, poetry is   12   to be read aloud,” he said. “You should be able to speak those beautiful words.” I shook my head and   13  .

Then he tricked me. After handing in a poem, I waited for his   14  . It didn’t come. Instead, one day as the students gathered together, he challenged me.” Jim, I don’t think you wrote this.”

I   15   him in disbelief. “Why,” I started, anger flooding me. “of course I   16  !” “Well, then,” he said, “you’ve got to prove it by getting up and reciting it   17   memory.”

By then the other students had settled at their desks. With knees shaking, I walked up. For a moment I stood   18  . Then I began, and kept going. I recited my poem all the way through!

Afterwards, Professor Crouch congratulated me and 19   me to read other writers’ poetry before public.

Before long I discovered I did have a(n)   20   and found my fellow students actually looked forward to hearing me recite.

1．A．lasted                    B．took                    C．spent                  D．wasted

2．A．so                        B．fairly                   C．such                   D．rather

3．A．uncertain               B．unlikely               C．unbelievable         D．unable

4．A．So                        B．Besides                C．Then                   D．Therefore

5．A．good                     B．important             C．selected               D．favourite

6．A．even if                  B．so that                 C．as though            D．if only

7．A．protect                  B．help                    C．keep                   D．stand

8．A．learned                  B．recognized           C．decided               D．proved

10．A．difference            B．difficulty             C．promise               D．similarity

11．A．truth                   B．idea                     C．fact                    D．belief

12．A．said                    B．meant                  C．taught                 D．prepared

13．A．answered back     B．turned up             C．turned away        D．stuck to

14．A．correction           B．praise                  C．return                 D．comment

15．A．replied to             B．laughed at            C．pointed to            D．stared at

16．A．could                  B．did                      C．should                 D．had

17．A．with                    B．of                       C．from                   D．in

18．A．changeless           B．hopeless              C．careless               D．breathless

19．A．enabled               B．persuaded            C．encouraged          D．supported

20．A．voice                 B．sound                  C．appearance         D．interest

Today I am known for my voice. Perhaps the greatest honor came when I was asked to read The New Testament（《新约全书》）on tape .

         But it  21  a long time to believe such good things could happen to me. When I was a child, I stuttered（结巴）so badly that I was completely  22  to speak in public.

          23  when I was 14, Professor Donald Crouch came to my school. He was a retired college professor. English was his favorite subject and  24  was his deepest love. He held a book of poems as if it were a crystal,  25  pages as if uncovering treasures. When he heard that our school was teaching Shakespeare and other classics, he felt  26  for not being a part of our school sooner.

         When he  27  that I not only loved poetry but was  28  it, we became closer. There was, however, one  29 -- Professor Crouch could not stand the  30  that I refused to read my poems to the class.

    “Jim, poetry is  31  to be read aloud,” he said. “You should be able to speak those beautiful words.” I shook my head and  32  .

         One day he   33  me .

         After handing in a poem, I waited for his  34  . It didn’t come. Instead one day as the students had gathered together, he  35  me , “Jim, I don’t think you wrote this poem.”

         I stared at him in disbelief. “Why,” I started,  36  flooding me. “of course I did !” “Well, then,” he said, “you’ve got to prove it by getting up and reciting it from  37  .”

         By then the other students had settled at their desks. With knees shaking, I walked up to the front. For a moment I stood there  38  Then I began, and kept going. I recited my poem all the way   39  !

         Afterwards, Professor Crouch encouraged me to read other writers’ poetry before the public. I discovered I did have a(n)  40  and found my classmates actually looked forward to hearing me recite.

1.A．lasted       B．took    C．spent  D．wasted

2.A．impatient B．disabled      C．unable         D．impossible

3.A．But  B．Then   C．Besides        D．However

4.A．archaeology     B．art       C．architecture        D．poetry

5.A．drawing   B．turning        C．writing         D．finding

6.A．regretful  B．thankful       C．relieved      D．annoyed

7.A．decided   B．recognized C．learned       D．proved

8.A．reading    B．reciting        C．publishing   D．writing

9.A．problem  B．promise       C．agreement  D．difference

10.A．matter   B．fact     C．idea    D．belief

11.A．said        B．found C．prepared    D．meant

12.A．turned away  B．sat down     C．talked back D．gave in

13.A．greeted B．scolded       C．tricked         D．comforted

14.A．help       B．idea    C．reward       D．comment

15.A．challenged     B．attracted     C．noticed        D．talked

16.A．pride      B．anger  C．excitement D．joy

17.A．heart      B．beginning    C．mind   D．memory

18.A．panic      B．disappointed       C．breathless   D．aimless

19.A．down     B．up       C．around        D．through

20.A．voice      B．sound C．appearance         D．interest

   Today I am known for my voice. Perhaps the greatest honor came when I was asked to read The New Testament（《新约全书》）on tape .

       But it  21  a long time to believe such good things could happen to me. When I was a child, I stuttered（结巴）so badly that I was completely  22  to speak in public.

        23  when I was 14, Professor Donald Crouch came to my school. He was a retired college professor. English was his favorite subject and  24  was his deepest love. He held a book of poems as if it were a crystal,  25  pages as if uncovering treasures. When he heard that our school was teaching Shakespeare and other classics, he felt  26  for not being a part of our school sooner.

       When he  27  that I not only loved poetry but was  28  it, we became closer. There was, however, one  29 -- Professor Crouch could not stand the  30  that I refused to read my poems to the class.

    “Jim, poetry is  31  to be read aloud,” he said. “You should be able to speak those beautiful words.” I shook my head and  32  .

       One day he   33  me .

       After handing in a poem, I waited for his  34  . It didn’t come. Instead one day as the students had gathered together, he  35  me , “Jim, I don’t think you wrote this poem.”

       I stared at him in disbelief. “Why,” I started,  36  flooding me. “of course I did !” “Well, then,” he said, “you’ve got to prove it by getting up and reciting it from  37  .”

       By then the other students had settled at their desks. With knees shaking, I walked up to the front. For a moment I stood there  38  Then I began, and kept going. I recited my poem all the way   39  !

       Afterwards, Professor Crouch encouraged me to read other writers’ poetry before the public. I discovered I did have a(n)  40  and found my classmates actually looked forward to hearing me recite.

21．A．lasted                  B．took                    C．spent                  D．wasted

22．A．impatient             B．disabled               C．unable                 D．impossible

23．A．But                     B．Then                   C．Besides               D．However

24．A．archaeology         B．art                      C．architecture         D．poetry

25．A．drawing              B．turning                C．writing                D．finding

26．A．regretful              B．thankful               C．relieved               D．annoyed

27．A．decided               B．recognized           C．learned                D．proved

28．A．reading                B．reciting                C．publishing            D．writing

29．A．problem              B．promise               C．agreement           D．difference

30．A．matter                 B．fact                     C．idea                    D．belief

31．A．said                    B．found                  C．prepared              D．meant

32．A．turned away        B．sat down             C．talked back          D．gave in

33．A．greeted                B．scolded               C．tricked                D．comforted

34．A．help                    B．idea                     C．reward               D．comment

35．A．challenged           B．attracted              C．noticed                D．talked

36．A．pride                   B．anger                  C．excitement           D．joy

37．A．heart                   B．beginning             C．mind                   D．memory

38．A．panic                  B．disappointed         C．breathless            D．aimless

39．A．down                  B．up                       C．around                D．through

40．A．voice                  B．sound                  C．appearance          D．interest

The United States is already one year into a depression That was the news this week from the Na-tional Bureau of Economic Research. The downturn is the longest since a depression that began in 1981and lasted sixteen months.
Economists generally wait for production to shrink for six months in a row before they declare a re-cession. But the bureau, a private group, uses a wider set of information to measure the economy. Thenews only confirmed what many people already knew: that the world's largest economy is weak and maynot recover soon.
Worsening conclitions have led to a big drop in spending, especially on costly products like new cars. Even Japanese automaker Toyota saw its sales fall thirty - four percent in the United States in November from a year ago.
The heads of Chrysler, Ford and General Motors retumed to Congress this week to again ask for federal aid.  Congressional leaders denounced(指责) them two weeks ago after they came in private jets with no clear plans for saving their industry. This time, the chiefs drove to Washington in fuel- saving hybrid vehicles. And their companies presented detailed restructuring plans. The reguest for aid has risen from twenty-five billion dollars two weeks ago to thirty-four billion in loans and credit lines.
G.M. wants almost half of that, and says it needs four billion dollars this month. It warned that without support it cannot continue to operate.
Ford is in a better position, But the sharing of suppliers means it could be affected if G.M. or
Chrysler fails. Ford is asking for a nine billion dollar credit line in case it needs it.
Chrysler is the smallest and most trouble of America's Big Three. It says it needs a seven billion dollar loan by the end of the month.
Two days of congressional hearings began Thursday in the Senate Banking Committee. The chairman, Democrat Chris Dodd, said he would support helping the automakers for the good of the economy.
But the committee's top Republican, Richard Shelby, continued to express opposition to a bailout(贿政援助）．
A main root of the world financial crisis is the weak housing market in the United States. The Trea-sury Department has been under pressure to help troubled homeowners. Now comes news that the depart-ment is developing a plan aimed at reducing interest rates on mortgage loans(汽车贷款) for some buyers of homes. That could be good for homeowners trying to sell.
【小题1】From the first two paragraphs, we know       .