_______about wild plants that they decided to make a trip to Madagascar for further research.

A.So curious the couple was

B.So curious were the couple

C.How curious the couple were

D.The couple was such curious

第三部分 阅读理解（共20小题；每小题2分，满分40分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
A flock of hungry pigeons were flying across the sky in search of food. Having traveled a long distance, they felt tired and settled down on a tree. Just below the tree, they saw grains strewn（抛洒）all over the ground. The pigeons were happy to have found enough food to eat. All the pigeons came down from the tree and started eating the grains. As they were doing so, a huge net fell on them and trapped them all.
The pigeons were taken aback. They noticed a hunter sitting at a distance from the tree, a bow and arrow in hand. The pigeons realized it was the hunter who had trapped them in the net. The hunter got up and began to move towards the pigeons.
The leader of the pigeons spoke,“ Friends, we are in great trouble. The hunter will catch us if we do not act swiftly in a few seconds. There is only one option available at this moment. Let all of us use our force together and fly up along with the net. If all of us use our force and fly together, we can fly carrying the net along with us. Let us start now.”
All the pigeons agreed with him and flew high carrying the net along with them, After traveling enough distance away from the hunter, the pigeons settled on a tree and carefully came out of the net one by one and thus escaped the evil design of the hunter.
56. Who strewed the grains over the ground?
A. A villager.      B. The hunter.       C. The pigeon owner.  D. The writer.
57. The word “_________” has the closest meaning to the underlined word “option“.
A. reason         B. choice           C. action            D. opinion
58. How did the pigeons react when they got trapped?
A. They didn’t know what to do.         B. They tried to fly in all directions.
C. They remained rather calm.           D. They decided to fight for their lives.
59. This story wants to tell us that ________.
A. two heads are better than one         B. confidence will save everyone
C. teamwork can work wonders          D. actions speaker louder than words

Elizabeth Clay decided to go home and spend the holiday with her parents. The next day she drove her old car home along the road. ___36___ she found she got a flat. The 22-year-old student ___37___to stop her car by the side of the road in the winter night and opened the trunk. no ___38___ tire.

At this time, a car ___39___. Paul and Diane told Clay to ___40___ them to a service station near their ___41___. They arrived to see that it had no suitable tires to ___42___ with her car. “Follow us home,” said Paul.

The couple called around to find a tire. No___43___. They decided to let her use their own car. “Here,” Paul said, handing Clay a ___44___ of keys, “Take our car. We ___45___ be using it over the holiday. ”

Clay was ___46. “But I’m going all the way to South Carolina, and I’ll be gone for two weeks,” she ___47___ them.

“We know,” Paul said. “We’ll be ___48___ when you get back. Here’s our number if you need to ___49___ us. ”

Unable to believe her eyes, Clay watched as the ___50___ put her luggage into their car and then ___51___ her off. Two weeks later she ___52___ to find her old car cleaned inside and out with three new tires and the radio ___53___.

“Thank you so much,” she said. “How much do I ___54___ you?” “Oh, no,” Paul said, we don’t want any money. It’s our ___55___. ” Clay realized that while it might have been their pleasure, it was now her duty to pass on their “do unto others” spirit.

36. A. Suddenly     B. Finally       C. Immediately      D. Fortunately

37. A. afforded      B. wanted       C. allowed      D. managed

38. A. spare    B. free    C. full     D. empty

39. A. passed  B. stopped      C. paused       D. started

40. A. help     B. push   C. take    D. follow

41. A. garage  B. house  C. shop   D. hotel

42. A. agree    B. match C. go      D. deal

43. A. way      B. message     C. success       D. luck

44. A. set B. number      C. pair    D. chain

45. A. can’t    B. shouldn’t    C. mustn’t      D. won’t

46. A. satisfied       B. worried      C. astonished  D. disturbed

47. A. persuaded    B. advised      C. reminded    D. promised

48. A. happy   B. here    C. away   D. busy

49. A. get in touch with B. keep in touch with

C. be in touch with        D. put in touch with

50. A. repairmen    B. cleaners      C. friends       D. couple

51. A. sent      B. shook  C. watched     D. drove

52. A. shocked       B. happened    C. returned     D. came

53. A. loaded  B. fixed   C. tied     D. rebuilt

54. A. owe      B. lend    C. give    D. offer

55. A. wish     B. job     C. duty    D. pleasure

Recently, a couple in New Zealand were forbidden from naming their baby son 4Real. Even   36  New Zealand has quite free rules about   37  children, names beginning with a   38  are not allowed. They decided to call him Superman   39 .

In many countries around the world,   40  names for children are becoming more popular. In Britain, you can call a child almost   41  you like. The only restrictions(限制) on parents   42  to offensive(冒犯的) words such as swear words.

  43 parents choose names which come from  44 culture. For example, there have been six boys named Gandalf  45 the character in the Lord of the Rings(指环王) novels and films.   46 , names related to sport are fairly common –   47 1984, 36 children have been called Arsenal(阿森纳) after the football team. Other parents like to 48 names, or combine names to make their own  49 names, a method demonstrated (证实的) by Jordan, the British model,  50  recently invented the name Tiaamii for her daughter by 51 names Thea and Amy (the two grandmothers).

Some names which were previously   52  as old-fashioned have   53  popular again, but the most popular names are not the strange   54 . The top names are fairly   55 , for example, Jack, Charlie and Thomas for boys and Grace, Ruby and Jessica for girls.

There’s a small cross by the side of Highway128, near the town o Boonville. If this cross could talk, it would tell you this 16 story:

Seven years ago my brother, Michael, was at a friend’s farm. They decided to go out for dinner. Joe arrived and 17 to drive—after just one 18.

19, the four friends traveled the winding road. They didn’t know where it would end ---- 20 did. Suddenly, they turned 21 into the opposite lane(车道), running into an oncoming car.

22 home we were watching E.T. on video in front of a warm fire. Then we went to bed. At 2:00 am a police officer 23 my mom with the shocking 24. Michael had been killed.

In the morning, I 25 my mother and sister crying. I stood there 26. “What’s wrong?” I asked, rubbing my 27 eyes.

Mom took a deep breath. “Come here…”

Thus began a difficult 28 through grief, where all roads lead to nowhere. It 29 hurts to remember that day.

The only thing tat helps is telling my story, 30 you will remember it 31 you want to get into a car with someone who has had a drink ---- even just one drink.

Joe chose the road to 32. He was convicted of manslaughter(过失杀人罪) and served time. However, the real punishment is 33 the consequences(后果) of his actions. He left us 34 and ache in our hearts that will never go away, a nightmare that will 35 him--- and us ---- or the rest of our lives. And a small cross by the side of Highway 128.