第二节：完形填空 (共20小题，每小题1.5分, 共30分)

通读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后在各题所给的A，B，C，D四个选项中，选出一个最佳答案。

What would I do for Carol’s 50th birthday? It was　  21  　that she  didn’t want a party, certainly not a surprise party(that was an agreement at our marriage).

“How about a small dinner with　  22  　? ”I asked.

“No, ”she said, “I hate being the center of　  23  　. ”

Still, the milestone had to be marked. 　  24  　wasn’t going to let her get away with a Stouffer’s frozen dinner and a movie video, 　  25  　this was all she said she wanted.

I thought and thought, and　  26  　making my decision, I sent letters to her friends, asking them for photos, poems, and letters. “Carol doesn’t　  27  　a party in person. . . but I’m hoping to　 28   　her a party in a book. ”I bought a(n)　  29  　with a friend’s advice, and　  30  　what I wanted.  For a few minutes at the end of every workday, I[    31  　pull out the marking pens and make up the　  32　 , Carol’s.

Photos of her in junior high, pictures of us　  33  　the boys, original songs, notes, cards, and poems. It made me　  34  　for all the years we had had toget her. The   35 　was more than the album. It was the love and friendship she had given to me and to our kids and to all her friends and family. You could　  36  　it on every page.

I wrapped it up and　  37  　it home. “Happy birthday, sweetie, ”I said. “It’s not a frozen dinner or a video, but it’s　  38  　you deserve. ”She cried. She doesn’t　  39  　like to cry, but I think she likes the book. She’s said so many times. And every time I remind her　  40  　putting it together was a gift to me.

21. A. amazing　  B. clear　　   C. unusual　   D. important

22. A . neighbours  B. children           C. friends          D. classmates

23. A. attention  B. comment          C. view    D. interest

24. A. She   B. It        C. He    D. I

25. A. for    B. or    C. and    D. but

26. A. before   B. after    C. when    D. once

27. A. want   B. have              C. hold    D. attend

28. A. make   B. choose    C. find    D. give

29. A. album      B. novel             C. mirror    D. Overcoat

30. A. went on   B. poured in          C. turned back      D. got away

31. A. could   B. should    C . would    D. might

32. A. decision   B. story    C. mind     D. book

33. A. for    B. around    C. with    D. except

34. A. grateful   B. worried   C. nervous   D. special

35. A. meaning  B. gift    C. party       D. world

36. A. count   B. read              C. express   D. improve

37. A. took   B. sent    C. placed    D. packed

38. A. how   B. why    C. which    D. what

39. A. normally  B. erely            C. really    D. obviously

40. A. whether   B. that    C. which    D. who