Two weeks before Christmas, Mother told me we were going to my grandmother’s house for the holiday. Grandma and Uncle Henry lived on a farm some 15 miles out of town. They had no electricity or running water and 26 what I considered the “good things” in life. They 27 made no plans for Christmas. When Christmas Eve arrived, Mom told me in her best “I-mean-it” voice to 28 all the decorations from our tree. She packed those up 29 all the materials for a 30 turkey dinner.

Christmas morning 31 perfectly with the sun shining brightly across a fresh blanket of snow. 32 　I was angry silently in the backseat of the car as we made our 33 to grandma’s. This was going to be the 34 Christmas ever! Grandma was 35 to see us as we walked up to her door. “What on earth are you doing here?” she said.” We weren’t expecting 36 . It’s Christmas, and I don’t even have a turkey to cook for you.” “I knew 37 .” Mom said as we set boxes of goodies on the kitchen table. “That’s 38 we brought all with us.” “We 39 have a tree,” Mom insisted. “ 40 , what will we do with all these decorations?” Uncle Henry quickly caught Mom’s spirit. He called me to join him, and we found a perfect Christmas tree in the woods. Soon the house 41 fresh and piney as we decorated the pine tree, and the day 42 a festive air. The turkey dinner was very good, too. I was actually beginning to enjoy this unusual Christmas day!

Dessert was almost forgotten 43 Mom came out with the final surprise—a flaming pudding! “Merry Christmas, mother,” Mom said. “Dear me!” Grandma said with her mouth wide open. “I haven’t seen a flaming pudding since I left England before I was married.” Tears of 44 filled her eyes. I could not keep the tears 45 my eyes, either. I knew then that Mom had also given me the best Christmas present ever.

She had taught me what a beautiful thing it is to give.

26. A. wanted　　 B. lacked　　　 C. refused　　　 D. prepared

27. A. also　　　　　 B. still　　　　 C. never　　　　 D. hardly

28. A. replace　　　 B. collect　　　 C. remove　　　 D. cover

29. A. instead of　　 B. by the side of C. along with　　 D. in spite of

30. A. normal　　　 B. complete　　 C. fresh　　　　 D. separate

31. A. dawned　　　 B. passed　　　 C. broke　　　　 D. happened

32. A. But　　　　 B. So　　　　　 C. And　　　　 D. Then

33. A. decision　　 B. way　　　　　 C. wish　　　　 D. plan

34. A. last　　　　 B. busiest　　　　 C. best　　　　 D. worst

35. A. expected　　 B. crazy　　　　 C. surprised　　 D. ready

36. A. anyone　　　 B. others　　　　 C. someone　　 D. no one

37. A. you　　　　 B. it　　　　　　 C. that　　　　　 D. this

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

39. A. may　　　　 B. will　　　　　　 C. can　　　　 D. must

40. A. In short　 B. Therefore　　　 C. However　　 D. Or rather

41. A. improved　　 B. smelled　　　　 C. became　　 　D. changed

42. A. went on　　 B. put on　　　　 C. took on　　　 D. tried on

43. A. until　　　　 B. after　　　　　　 C. because　　　 D. unless

44. A. sadness　　 B. joy　　　　　　　 C. regret　　　 D. worry

45. A. inside　　　 B. back　　　　　 　 C. away　　　　 D. From

 Not until recently ____________ that Mike was the very person she had been searching for.

A. She discovered                    B. she had discovered  

C. did she discover                  D. had she discovered

 The school shop,        customers are mainly students, is located near the basketball courts.

A. which         B. that          C. whose       D. what

—How was your recent trip to the Universal Studio?

—I’ve never had 　one before.

A. an amazing　 B. a more amazing　 C. a most amazing　 D. the most amazing

 To get a much better grade, You should __________the notes again before the test.

A. turn over          B. get over         C. go over      D. take over

There is 　　　　 in what she said. She appeared to be warning us.

A. something　　　 B. anything　　　　 C. nothing　　　　 D. everything

—Have you ________ him to watch less TV?

—Yes，I have. But he didn’t listen to me.

A．persuaded       B. hoped          C．prevented         D．a(chǎn)dvised

I was about to tell him the secret ________ I heard a knock on the door.

A．a(chǎn)s         B．till        C．while        D．when

 Standing at the top of the hill，you will get a better ________of the whole city.

A．scene      B．scenery      C．sight        D．view

I haven’t seen my niece for ________long that I’ve forgotten what she looks like.

A．such         B．very         C．so      D．too