Close 1 ( 2009 广东)
Jane was Jane was walking round the department store. She remembered how difficult ___31___ was to choose a suitable Christmas present for her father. She wished that he was as easy ___32___ (please) as her mother, who was always delighted with perfume.
Besides, shopping at this time of the year was not ___33___ pleasant experience: people stepped on your feet or ___34___ (push) you with their elbows (肘部), hurrying ahead to get to a bargain.
Jane paused in front of a counter ___35___ some attractive ties were on display. “They are real silk,” the assistant tried to attract her. “Worth double the price.” But Jane knew from past experience that her ___36___ (choose) of ties hardly ever pleased her father.
Jane stopped where a small crowd of men had gathered. She found some good quality pipes ___37___ sale. She did not hesitate for long: although her father smoked a pipe only once in a while, she knew that this was a present which was bound to please ___38___.
When Jane got home, with her small but well-chosen present in her bag, her parents were already ___39___ table having supper. Her mother was excited. “Your father has at last decided to stop smoking,” Jane ___40___ (inform).
Cloze 2 ( 2008 广东)
Chinese proverbs are rich and they are still widely used in Chinese people’s daily life. 31 these proverbs there are often interesting stories. For example, the proverb , “ plucking up a crop____32 ( help) it grow”, is based on the following story.
It is said that a short-tempered man in the Song Dynasty ( 960---1279) was every anxious to help ___ 33____ rice crop grow up quickly. He was thinking about 34 day and night. But the crop was growing much slower than he expected.
One day, he came up with an idea 35 he would pluck up all of his crop a few inches. He did do the next day.
He was very tired 36 doing this for a whole day, 37 he felt very happy since the crop did “ grow” 38 ( high).
His son heard about this and went to see the crop. Unfortunately the leaves of the crop began to wither.
This proverb is saying we have to let things go in their 39 ( nature) course. Being too anxious to help an event develop often 40 ( result) in the contrary to our intention.
Cloze 3 ( 2007 广东)
I was on my way to the
I had noticed three hens running free in my hostess’s courtyard and that night one of them ended up in a dish on my table. 37 villagers brought me goat’s cheese and honey. We drank together and talked 38 ( merry ) till far into the night.
When the time came for me say goodbye to my friends in the village, I wanted to reward the old woman 39 the trouble I had caused 40 .