39. A. safe　　 B. fast　　 C. short　　 　D. slow

38. A. after　　 B. until　 　 C. while　　 D. before

37. A. growing　 B. putting　 C. planting　 D. laying

36. A. hit　　　 B. fought　 C. won　　 D. beaten

20. A. gain　　　　　 B. to gain　　　　 C. have gained　　　 D. gaining

14

Scott and his companions were terribly disappointed. When they got to the South Pole, they found the Norwegians(挪威人)had 　36 　them in the race to be the first ever to reach it. After 　37　 　the British flag at the Pole, they took a photograph of themselves 　38 　they started the 950-mile journey back.

The journey was unexpectedly 　39 　and the joy and excitement about the Pole had gone out of them. The sun hardly 　40 . The snow storms always made it impossible to sight the stones they had 41 　to mark their way home. To make things 　42 . Evans, whom they had all thought of 　43 　the strongest of the five, fell badly into a deep hole in the ice. Having 　44　 　along for several days, he suddenly fell down and died.

The four who were 　45 　pushed on at the best speed they could 　46 . Captain Oates had been suffering for some time from his 　47 　fact; at night his feet swelled(肿胀) so large that he could 　48　　 　put his boots on the next morning, and he walked bravely although he was in great 　49 　. He knew his slowness was making it less likely that 50　 　could save themselves. He asked them to leave him behind in his sleeping-bag, but they refused, and helped him 　51 a few more miles, until it was time to put up the 　52 　for another night.

The following morning, 53 　the other three were still in their sleeping-bags, he said. “I am just going outside and may be 54 some time.” He was never seen again. He had walked out 　55 　into the snow storm, hoping that his death would help his companions.

19. A. pleased　　　 B. familiar　　　　 C. busy　　　　　　 D. fond

18. A. sense　　　　 B. help　　　　　 C. study　　　　　　 D. entrance

17. A. for　　　　　 B. against　　　　 C. with　　　　　　 D. from

16. A. would like　　 B. feel like　　　　 C. prefer to　　　　 D. would rather

15. A. build　　　　 B. make　　　　　 C. buy　　　　　　 D. do