I was only eight years old when the Second World War ended, but I can still remember something about the　 31　　 celebrations in the small town where I lived on the day when the war in Europe ended. We had not 32　 much from the war where, though, like most children of my age, I often saw　 33　 houses in the streets and the very big　 34　 lorries passing through. But both at home and at school I had become　 35　 　to the phrases “before the war” and “when the war is over”. “Before the war”, obviously,　 36　　 had been better, though I was too young to understand why, 　　37　 there had been no bombs then, and people had eaten things like ice cream and bananas, which I had 　　38　 heard of. When the war was over we would go back to London, but this meant very 　　39　 to me. I did not remember what London was like.

What I remember now　 40　 　V-Day was the afternoon and the evening. Some boys and girls were collecting　 41　 and building an enormous bonfire(篝火). We stood and watched them for a time, and then I went home and 　42　 myself in with my key and waited for my parents to come back from work.

It was May and still broad 　43　 　when my mother arrived, and my father came in about an hour later. After dinner I said I wanted to　 44　 the bonfire, so when it got dark my father took me to the end of the street. The bonfire was very 　45　 　, and somehow people had collected some old clothes to　 46　　 “Hitler” with the moustache they had put on top of it. Just as we arrived, they set light to it. The flames 　47　 　soon. Everyone was cheering and shouting.

I stood beside my father until the　 48　 started to go down, not knowing what to say. He said nothing, either. He had　 49　 　in the First World War and remembered everything he had experienced. At last he said, “Well, that’s it, son. Let’s hope that this time it really will be the　 _50_one.”

30. Two middle aged passengers fell into the sea._______ neither of them could swim.

A. Truly　 B. Obviously　 C. Unfortunately　 D. To our relief

29. We worked for 10 years without finding anything! But we stuck with it and our patience finally ______.

A. gave out　 B. paid off　 C. used up　 D. wore out

28. _________, as it is about time we put an end to the meeting.

A. Make it short　　 B. Making it short

C. To make it short　 D. Having made it short

27. You ____ pay too much attention to your reading skill, as it is so important.

A. should　 B. cannot　 C. must　 D. needn’t

26. Your performance in the driving test didn’t reach the required standard. _____, you failed.

A. Altogether　 B. After all　 C. In other words　 D. At the same time

25. Safe driving is good driving because it takes into ________ the lives of other people.

A. accounts　　 B. consideration　 C. survival　　 D. catastrophe

24. Wealth has done nothing to reduce her ________ for success.

A. worry　 B. appetite　 C. anxiety　 D. standard

23. Being rich and hospitable, his parents used to entertain friends _________.

A. on a large scale　　 B. on the contrary　　 C. in detail　 D. at stake