______ Tom’s parents really doubt is ________ he will recover from the serious disease soon.
A. That , that B. What , when
C. What , whether D. /, how
— Some Chinese students find it difficult to understand native speakers when in London.
— Exactly, _______they’ve learned a lot about grammar and known many words.
A. so that B. now that
C. as if D. even if
I live next door to a couple ______ children often made a lot of noise.
A. that B. which
C. when D. whose
______ her ambition of becoming a professional singer, she _____ very hard since an early age.
A. To realize , has been training B. Realizing , trained
C. To realize , was trained D. Realized , has trained
When my sister Diane began playing the violin, she was seven. How did she sound? Terrible. But she didn’t _______. At twelve, she asked our parents if she could _______ a full-time music school. They said no. Actually, everyone agreed that my sister _______talent.
I was better at my _______. My teacher had told my parents that I had great potential. So my parents found the best piano teacher in the area to _________me. But the only time he was _______was Saturday afternoons at 3 p.m. Back then, I was ______about the British TV shows “The Avengers”, which was aired every Saturday at 3 p.m. I let nothing take up my “Avengers” hour. So I _______ this amazing opportunity. Today, I don’t even have a _______ in my house.
My sister became an engineer, but she ________ stopped making music. When she was in her 40s, she switched careers. She went back to college, got a(n)_________in music education, and became a music teacher. She starts kids out on their first instrument and gives them all the encouragement and support she never________.
Recently, she and a pianist pal put on a recital. A big crowd of friends and family _______for her. As she played, I looked around at the audience. Everyone was _______enjoying the music. It occurred to me that I was the only person who remembered that 7 -year-old kid making those perfectly _______sounds and knew how far she had come, despite everything.
Talent is important. But enthusiasm is even more important.
1.A. advance B. quit C. reflect D. listen
2.A. inspect B. open C. attend D. visit
3.A. lacked B. spotted C. possessed D. admired
4.A. major B. project C. composition D. instrument
5.A. train B. examine C. correct D. challenge
6.A. successful B. skillful C. occupied D. available
7.A. sensitive B. crazy C. serious D. particular
8.A. jumped at B. turned down C. waited for D. opened up
9.A. tutor B. violin C. musician D. piano
10.A. never B. once C. already D. even
11.A. scholarship B. sponsor C. degree D. assistant
12.A. provided B. imagine C. received D. expected
13.A. voted B. feared C. stayed up D. turned up
14.A. obviously B. desperately C. appropriately D. anxiously
15.A. booming B. pleasing C. awful D. powerful
When I first met my new parrot, Chico, his wings had been cut short and he was stuck on the earth just like us humans. When the weather turned nice, I would take Chico outside. I ________ him on a branch of a tree, hoping to make him happier. At first he seemed confused. He walked back and forth on the branch looking ________ . He didn’t even flap his wings in an/a ________ to fly. Somehow he knew he was incapable.
One day Chico got especially excited. He paced back and forth and made an ________ amount of noise. Then all of a sudden he stopped and let out an even louder scream. He started ________ flapping his wings for the first time ever—then he lifted off the ________ like a space shuttle! I was amazed and ________. Little did I know his feathers had been growing back, and Chico had been waiting until the moment was ripe for ________!
Two days later Chico returned. First I tried to ________ him back with food, but he would not come near me. Then I took his ________ and put it away—still he would not come. Finally, I made him a firm promise that I would let him out every day if the weather was nice as long as he did come back. ________, he flew onto my shoulder.
From that day on, whenever the weather was good I would let him ________ early and he would fly around and be back before dark. The routine lasted for two months ________ suddenly Chico became ________. The vet said that he had been infected with a disease from the pigeons in the ________. Within a few days he died.
I was very sad. The ________ crossed my mind that if I had not set him free to fly, he would be still alive. But what ________ is there in being a bird if you can’t fly?
Chico made his first ________ for freedom on a late Monday afternoon in April. When will you make yours? You too can take a ________ when the conditions are right, knowing you too, in your own way, were built to fly. If you don’t set yourself free, what will be the ________ of your life?
1.A. brought B. seated C. caught D. chased
2.A. comfortable B. painful C. patient D. anxious
3.A. attempt B. stage C. journey D. path
4.A. serious B. first C. incredible D. accessible
5.A. slowly B. gently C. madly D. gracefully
6.A. ground B. branch C. window D. house
7.A. moved B. shocked C. delighted D. excited
8.A. patience B. exchange C. rescue D. escape
9.A. trick B. fasten C. seize D. expect
10.A. cage B. chain C. food D. feather
11.A. At last B. As usual C. Once in a while D. In the meantime
12.A. out B. off C. away D. alone
13.A. until B. while C. since D. although
14.A. active B. weak C. annoying D. miserable
15.A. forest B. community C. countryside D. neighborhood
16.A. fact B. thought C. concern D. detail
17.A. problem B. meaning C. interest D. mistake
18.A. relief B. willingness C. communication D. breakthrough
19.A. breath B. look C. holiday D. chance
20.A. success B. purpose C. contribution D. importance
