Directions: For each blank in the following passages there are four words or phrases marked A, B, C and D. Fill in each blank with the word or phrase that best fits the context.

(A)

Farmers, as we all know, have been having a hard time of it lately, and have turned to new ways of earning income from their land. This involves not only planting new kinds of crops, but some 　55　 　ways of making money, the most unusual of which has got to be sheep racing. Yes, you heard me 　　56　 　! A farmer now holds sheep races on a regular basis, and during the past year over 100, 000 people have 　57　 　to watch the race. “I was passing the farm on my way to the sea for a holiday, ” one punter (赛马经纪人)told me,　 “ and I thought I’d have a look. I didn’t believe it was serious, to tell you the truth.” According to a regular visitor, betting on sheep is more interesting than betting on horses. “At proper horse races everyone has already studied the form of the horse 　58　 , and there are clear favorites. 　　59　 　nobody has heard anything about these 　60 　! Most people find it difficult to tell one from another in any case.” I stayed to watch the races, and I must admit that I found it quite 　61 . In a usual sheep race, half a dozen sheep race down hill over a course of about half a mile. Food is waiting for them at the other end of the 　62 　just to give them some encouragement, I ought to add ! The sheep run surprisingly fast, 63 　they have probably not eaten for a while. Anyway, the crowd around me were obviously enjoying their day out at the races, 　64　 　by their happy faces and the sense of excitement.

55．A．common 　　　　　　 B．strange 　　　　　　 C．swift 　　　　　　　　　 D．illegal

56．A．honestly 　　　　　　 B．surprisingly 　　　 C．completely 　　　　　 D．correctly

57．A．showed off 　　　　 B．brought up 　　　 C．turned up 　　　　　　 D．looked forward

58．A．behind time 　　　　 B．in progress 　　　 C．in advance 　　　　　 D．in time

59．A．But 　　　　　　　　　　 B．Therefore 　　　　 C．Moreover 　　　　　　 D．Otherwise

60．A．horses 　　　　　　　 B．sheep 　　　　　　　 C．races 　　　　　　　　　 D．stories

61．A．exciting 　　　　　　　 B．dangerous 　　　　 C．boring 　　　　　　　　 D．peculiar

62．A．race 　　　　　　　　　 B．hill　　　　　　　　　　 C．track 　　　　　　　　　 D．field

63．A．if 　　　　　　　　　　　 B．so 　　　　　　　　　　 C．yet 　　　　　　　　　　 D．although

64．A．observing 　　　　　 B．judging 　　　　　　 C．considering 　　　　 D．inferring

54．The engine of the ship was out of order and the bad weather 　　　　　the helplessness of the crew at sea.

　　　 A．added to 　　　　　　　 B．resulted from 　　 C．turned out 　　　　　 D．made up

53．Her talent and experience 　　　　　her to the respect of her colleagues.

　　　 A．permitted 　　　　　　 B．qualified 　　　　　 C．deserved 　　　　　　 D．entitled

52．Life is tough in the city. In order to lose their 　　　, some people drink alcohol.

　　　 A．temper 　　　　　　　　 B．mood 　　　　　　　 C．consciousness 　　 D．pressures

51．Those who change mobile phones frequently will pay a heavy price for being 　　　.

　　　 A．graceful 　　　　　　　 B．fashionable 　　　 C．particular 　　　　　　 D．feasible

50．One of the consequences of our planet’s being warming up is a(n)　　　 　in the number of natural disasters.

　　　 A．result 　　　　　　　　　 B．account 　　　　　　 C．reason 　　　　　　　　 D．increase

49．Tony is 　　　the guidebook, looking for information about Japan, where he will travel soon.

　　　 A．tracing 　　　　　　　　 B．skipping 　　　　　 C．inspecting　　　　　　 D．scanning

48．Broadly speaking, I would agree with Shirley, though not 　　　.

　　　 A．widely 　　　　　　　　 B．thoroughly 　　　　 C．entirely 　　　　　　　 D．extensively

47．My grandfather is as 　　　　as a young man and hates sitting around doing nothing all day.

　　　 A．enthusiastic 　　　　 B．energetic 　　　　　 C．talkative 　　　　　　　 D．sensitive

46．“I don’t think it’s my 　　　　　that the TV blew up. I just turned it on, that’s all,” said the boy.

　　　 A．error 　　　　　　　　　 B．mistake 　　　　　　 C．fault 　　　　　　　　　 D．duty