Question

"I've been writing a book, John. Do you think anyone would be interested in __1__ it?" said the old lady.

John took __2__ the papers from her shaking hand and seated her in a chair. He remembered her rich __3__ in the early days of the Old West. He looked through the papers, "It's good, Grandma," he said gently. Then realizing that she couldn't hear him, he shouted __4__ her ears. "I think it's very good. I'll __5__ it to a publisher."

Ten days later, he reported that the publisher had had time to read only a few__6__. But he was so impressed that he had sent $100 for an option(买版权).

__7__money would be given as an advance(预付款). Every month John __8__ $100 for her with a letter from the publisher telling about the progress of the book.

One morning, three months after her 100th birthday. Grandma didn't get up. The doctor told her that she couldn't__9__more than a few days. She was ready to go, but she first wanted her book to be in __10__. John promised that he would get it very soon.

Grandma __11__ on until the day the book came into her hands with the title and her name on the cover. Though she couldn't see it, she could __12__ it. She __13__ felt her name with her fingers, tears in her eyes. Two hours later, she died peacefully, __14__ holding her book.

Her granddaughter took up the book and opened it. "Why, it's just blank pages!" she cried in __15__.

John's face turned __16__. Then the girl understood. There __17__ was a book. Grandma couldn't hear the little bell when the typewriter came to the __18__ of the line. She would keep on working, not knowing the whole sentences and sometimes the paragraphs were __19__. John did not tell her, for he couldn't take away her only __20__. It was John himself who had written the letters and sold his car to pay the advance.

1. A. buying B. publishing C. reading D. lending

2. A. away B. over C. on D. off

3. A. sufferings B. experiences C. thoughts D. neighbors

4. A. between B. out of C. into D. up

5. A. throw B. put C. send D. lift

6. A. novels B. copies C. pages D. books

7. A. Some B. Much C. Enough D. More

8. A. brought B. borrowed C. spent D. stole

9. A. die B. read C. last D. write

10. A. time B. bookstore C. sale D. print

11. A. talked B. wrote C. gave D. held

12. A. read B. sell C. hear D. touch

13. A. proudly B. quickly C. careful D. slow

14. A. still B. yet C. always D. then

15. A. anger B. joy C. surprise D. tears

16. A. white B. red C. angry D. surprise

17. A. indeed B. certainly C. hardly D. never

18. A. middle B. last C. end D. beginning

19. A. missing B. finished C. completed D. ended

20. A. hope B. book C. life D. paper

Answer 1

1. B。老太太正在写一本书,她问约翰是否会有人对出版此书有兴趣。 2. B。约翰从老太太颤抖的手中接过手稿。take over是固定词组,意为"接过来;拿过来"。 3. B。experience在本句中是可数名词,意为"经历"。 4. C。由于老太太年纪大听觉不好,所以约翰冲着老太太的耳朵大声说话。 5. C。约翰说他将把书稿送给出版商看。 6. C。由only决定了此处应该填pages。 7. D 8. A 9. C。last在此处是动词。本句意为"医生告诉她活不了几天了"。 10. D。in print是固定词组,意为"印刷"。 11. D。老太太一直坚持活到书出版拿到手中的那一天。 12. D。尽管她看不见,但是她还能触摸得到。 13. A 14. A 15. C 16. B 17. D 18. C 19. A 20. A。 约翰没有把实情告诉老太太,因为他不想把她惟一的希望带走。是约翰本人写的信并支付的预付款。