55. A. idea　　　　　　　　　 B. life　　　　　 　 C. home　 　　　D. family　　 　　　

根据上文可判断出作者在讲自己的生活发生了变化。

5

On May 27, 1995, our life was suddenly changed. It happened a few minutes past three,　 36　 　my husband, Chris, fell from his horse as it　 37　 　over a fence. Chris was paralyzed (瘫痪) from the chest down, 　38　 　to breathe normally. As he was thrown from his horse, we entered into a life of 　39　 with lots of unexpected challenges(挑战). We went from the "haves" to the “have-nots". Or so we thought.

　　 　　40　 　what we discovered later were all the gifts that came out of　 　41　 　difficulties. We came to learn that something 　42　 could happen in a disaster . All over the world people　 43　 Chris so much that letters and postcards poured in every day. By the end of the third week in a　 44　 center in Virginia, about 35,000 pieces of 　45　 had been received and sorted.

　　　 As 　46　 , we opened letter after letter. They gave us 　47　 　and became a source of strength for us. We used them to 　48　 ourselves. I would go to the pile of letters marked with "Funny" if we needed a 　49　 , or to the "Disabled" box to find advice from people in wheelchairs or　 50　 in bed living happily and　 51　 .

　　　 These letters, we realized, had to be shared. And so 　52　 　we offer one of them to you.

Dear Chris,

　　　 My husband and I were so sorry to hear of your　 53　 　accident last week. No doubt your family and your friends are giving you the strength to face this 　54　 　challenge. People everywhere are also giving you best wishes every day and we are among those who are keeping you 　55　 .

Yours Sincerely,

Nancy Reagan

54. A. However　　　　　　 B. Otherwise　　 　 C. Therefore　　 　 D. Meanwhile 　　

meanwhile同时。How little 与limitless都说明人的渺小。

53. A. prove 　　　　　 B. guess　　 　　　 　　C. sense　　　　 D. expect　　 　　　

sense感觉。你能感觉到与世界相比你是多么渺小。prove证明；guess猜测；expect期望。

52. A. why　　　 　 　　B. when　　　　 　 C. how　　　　　 D. where　　 　　　

when引导时间状语从句，表示“当……的时候”。当你站在山上俯瞰沙漠时。

51. A. found　　 　　　 B. examined　　 C. watched　　　 D. reached　　 　　

find感觉，感受。根据下文所提供的情景“I couldn’t seem to find the fight words.”可判断出作者找不到合适的词描述对沙漠的看法。

50. A. luck　 　　　　 　　B. doubt　　　　 C. shock　　 　　　 D. danger　　 　　　

shock使人震惊的事，给人打击的事。根据上文可知，作者原来住在Boston这样的大城市中，现在搬到了沙漠地区，令人吃惊。luck幸运；doubt怀疑；danger危险。

49. A. desert　　 　 　　B. city　　　　　 C. state　　　　　 D. country　 　　　

根据下文中的desert可判断出作者搬到了沙漠地区。

48. A. of course　　 　　 B. in fact　　 　　 C. after all　　　 D. at least　　 　　

in fact事实上。因为作者从一个州搬到了另外一个州，所以对整个州来讲都是新来者。Of course当然；after all 毕竟；at least至少。

47. A. move　 　　　　　　　 　　B. dig　　　　　 　 C. pull　　　　 　 D. touch　　 　　　

touch触摸。因为仙人掌上有刺，所以这位老妇人叫他不要触摸。

45. A. bitterly　 　 　　B. easily　　　　 C. proudly　　 　 　D. eagerly 　　　

eagerly急切地。根据上文中的mysteries和下文中的explored可判断出作者急切地想探索新的居住环境。bitterly悲痛地;easily容易地;proudly骄傲地。

46 A as well　　　　 　B. as usual　　　 C. fight away　　 　D. on time　 　　　

as usual 照常。上文讲到作者急切地想探明周围的环境，一天下午他像平常一样出外探索。as well也；right away立刻；on time及时。