Passage 25

湖北省襄阳市2017年1月普通高中调研统一测试高三英语试题

From the window of my room, I could see a tall cotton-rose hibiscus（木棉树）. In spring, when green leaves were half　 1 　in mist, the tree looked very attractive,　 2 　with red flowers. This inspiring neighbor of mine often　 3 　my mind working. I regarded it as my best friend　 4 　.

However, when I opened the window one morning, to my amazement, the tree was almost　 5 　beyond recognition as a result of the storm　 6 　the night before. I was seized with a sudden sorrow at the thought“all the flowers are to fall.” I could not help　 7 　with emotion:the course of life never runs　 8 　, for there are so many ups and downs　 9 　twists and turns. The process of my life saw my beloved friends parting one after another. Isn’t it　 10 　to the flowers falling off the tree in the wind?

This event　 11 　from my memory as time went by. One day after I came home, I found the room hard to breathe in and opened the window　 12 　. Something outside caught my　 13 　and impress me. It was a plum tree（李树）with flowers　 14 　beautifully by the sunset. The surprise discovery filled me with pleasure. I wondered　 15 　I had no idea of some tough life restarting over the fallen petals（花瓣）when I felt sorry for the hibiscus.

When the last petal　 16 　, all the admiration for the hibiscus disappeared as if nothing was left, until the landscape was again decorated with the red plum flowers to　 17 　people of life’s alternation and continuity. Can’t it be said that life is actually a symphony, a harmonious　 18 　of loss and gain?

Standing by the window lost in thought for a long time, I realized that no scenery in the world remains　 19 　. As long as you keep your heart bathed in the sun, every dawn will present a fine start for you and the world will always be about　 20 　hopes.

1. A. buried　B. hidden　C. placed　D. trapped

2. A. dotted　B. surrounded　C. covered　D. marked

3. A. observed　B. prevented　C. set　D. bore

4. A. regularly　B. generally　C. narrowly　D. gradually

5. A. bare　B. vacant　C. blank　D. empty

6. A. effect　B. fault　C. damage　D. feast

7. A. sighing　B. yelling　C. swearing　D. teasing

8. A. lucky　B. simple　C. smooth　D. cozy

9. A. as many as　B. as well as　C. rather than　D. regardless of

10. A. due　B. contrary　C. familiar　D. similar

11. A. sank　B. quit　C. matured　D. faded

12. A. merely　B. actively　C. casually　D. fiercely

13. A. eye　B. nose　C. soul　D. mind

14. A. set up　B. set off　C. put up　D. put off

15. A. why　B. if　C. how　D. when

16. A. slipped　B. dropped　C. quit　D. broke

17. A. remind　B. warn　C. convince　D. rid

18. A. division　B. dilemma　C. composition　D. conflict

19. A. unlimited　B. unchanged　C. unspoiled　D. unexpected

20. A. vain　B. practical　C. previous　D. fresh