Question

I got laid off at 53 from a senior management position in a restaurant. And I knew it was going to be hard to find another job in the 1. (competition) working market. My age put me at 2. disadvantage. But I also knew it was time for me 3. (realize) my lifelong dream of owning a restaurant.4. was most difficult was that in order to make this happen, I needed to find an 5. (exist) café that wasn’t doing well. It couldn’t be better if its owner was ready to quit his business. With great 6. (lucky) I found just what I wanted eight blocks from home. Since I had never financially planned for this day, I had to borrow money from friends as well as 7. (relative). I, together with my wife,8. (be) ready to start off. We changed the name to Black Dog Coffee, the menu, the recipes and the look of the cafe, and my wife did great job of designing. Eighteen years later, we’re still here and doing 9. (well) than ever. I’m grateful 10. the layoff and the opportunity to pursue my dream.

Answer

1.competitive

2.a

3.to realize

4.What

5.existing/existent

6.luck

7.relatives

8.was

9.better

10.for

【解析】本文主要讲了作者失业了，由于年龄的原因，找工作很困难，于是作者决定追求自己的梦想，开一家餐馆。

1.考查形容词。修饰名词market，用形容词，所以填competitive。

2.考查冠词。泛指“一种不利条件”，且disadvantage的首字母发音是辅音，所以填不定冠词a。

3.考查固定句型。It’s time for sb. to do sth.是某人做某事的时候了，是固定句型，所以填to realize。

4.考查主语从句。___4___ was most difficult是一个主语从句，引导词在从句中作主语，所以填what。

5.考查非谓语动词。exist与其逻辑主语Café之间是主动关系，所以用现在分词作定语，所以填existing/existent。

6.考查固定短语。with great luck非常幸运，是固定短语，所以填luck。

7.考查名词单复数。我不得不向朋友们和亲戚们借钱。“亲戚们”是复数意义，所以用名词复数，填relatives。

8.考查时态。发生在过去的事情，用一般过去时，所以填was。

9.考查比较级。由than ever，可知这里用比较级，所以填better。

10.考查固定短语。我对失业充满了感激，它给了我追求梦想的机会。be grateful for对……心存感激,是固定短语。

名师点睛：小题4考查主语从句。现对主语从句的用法进行总结，在句中作主语的从句叫主语从句。1.由what等连词引导的从句，在主语从句中, what = the thing(s) that,它本身在从句中充当某个成分,或是主语,或是宾语,其含义为"所做/说/想的"。2.由that引导的主语从句，that在主语从句中不充当具体的句子成分,也无实际词义,只起连接作用,而且当它在句首时，不能省略。3.由whether或if引导的主语从句，whether与if皆可引导主语从句,但放在句首常用whether。4.由whoever, whatever等引导的主语从句，whoever = the person who或anyone who。who也可以引导主语从句，但只表示"谁"，如:Who will win is not important.

anyone与the person皆不能引导从句。5.由it作形式主语引起的主语从句，that从句作主语时,常用it作形式主语,而把that引导的主语从句放到句后.在下列情况下,一般使用形式主语it,将主语从句放在句尾。1)谓语是seem，appear， be (im)possible， be a pity， be a wonder, be likely等。如: It seemed certain that this would win the prize. 2)在It is known... ; It is said... ; It is hoped... ; It is believed...等句型中.如: It is said that our school football team won.

3)主语从句也可以用it作形式主语,以wh-连接的句子作真实主语,放到句子后面.如:

It doesn't matter what you say. 注意: 1)有时在"It is necessary(important, suggested等)+ that从句"结构中, that从句常用"should +动词原形"形式来表示虚拟语气，其中should常可省去。2)在此结构中,要注意句子结构的变化。