Section B (18 marks)

Directions: Beneath each of the following sentences there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one answer that best completes the sentence.

I break off a piece of candy and take pleasure in its sweet outside and the bitter, dark chocolate inside, thinking of my own life. Being raised by a single parent was a bitter-sweet   36  , which gave me motivation and ambition.

 There were several years that have left an extremely bitter taste in my mouth .The first few months after my mother’s remarriage were sweet: baseball games, family trips to the mall, dinners and movies together. Then things   37  . Baseball became too expensive, and trips to the mall were   38   by days Emily and I spent lonely in our rooms under our stepfather’s   39  . Moreover, screaming matches between him and our mother always   40   dinner. We spent five years living in a family that had   41   a war field. Emily and I almost grew used to this situation. Then one evening, after another argument had   42  , we were left homeless . And later a friend of my mother let us stay with her. Instead of focusing on our economic problem, my mother   43   pushed me to struggle for success. She wanted me to lead a   44  life. She worked long hours every night to pay her bills.   45 , she would find time to read and play with Emily and me. Mom taught me the   46   of perseverance (坚持不懈) and education. 

And now, writing this essay with my favorite candy close at hand, I realize my family and I are at the best points of our lives. I haven’t let the trying times stop me from making   47  , both academically and personally. I know that a bitter environment can provide good learning experiences, and that success, even more than candy, is the sweetest treat of all. 

36. A. behavior B. adventure  C. activity D. experience

37. A. continued      B. changed C. ruined  D. disappeared

38. A. concerned      B. associated      C. provided      D. replaced

39. A. sympathy B. offers       C. orders  D. efforts

40. A. separated B. interrupted      C. harmed D. prepared

41. A. turned into     B. turned up C. turned down D. turned on

42. A. broke     B. caused C. erupted  D. delayed

43. A. mistakenly      B. obviously      C. selflessly       D. unwillingly 

44. A. important       B. difficult       C. dangerous D. comfortable

45. A. Instead  B. Otherwise C. Meanwhile  D. Therefore

46. A. value      B. cost  C. price D. theme 

47. A. mistakes  B. appointments    C. arrangements D. achievements
英语学习  /english/