Passage 4

湖南省邵陽市2017屆高三1月大聯考

I grew up on a farm outside Port Clinton, Ohio. I was the youngest son, with four brothers and four sisters, plus a girl my folks took in. By the late 60s, most of us were　 1 　and had families of our own. One day,　 2 　we were visiting my parents in late summer or early fall, Dad mentioned he’d　 3 　wanted a Crimson King maple tree for the yard. Mom agreed that they were pretty.

Like many parents, mine were　 4 　to shop for something, so I　 5 　this was a great　 6 　to get them something they’d appreciate. I also thought if they wanted one tree, two would be even better. I　 7 　the price at work and decided it was a bit more than I could　 8 　—but all of my siblings agreed to give a hand.

In northern Ohio, we don’t plant maple trees at Christmas, so we decided to surprise Mom and Dad with a　 9 　Christmas in October before the ground froze. We asked my aunt　 10 　she’d help us with the deception（欺騙）, and she called my parents in　 11 　to say she was coming for a Sunday visit. Then my sisters and sisters-in-law went into　 12 　, planning a big holiday turkey dinner.

On the　 13 　Sunday, we all met at my house and loaded the trees in a pickup truck. I　 14 　as Santa Claus. Then off we went, nine or　 10 　cars　 15 　with people and food, plus the pickup.

When the caravan（隊伍）　 16 　my folks’house, Dad came rushing out of the back door, convinced something was　 17 　. He and Mom were　 18 　when we told them why we were there.

When Christmas　 19 　, of course, we couldn’t go to our parents’house empty handed, so Mom and Dad got double presents that year. Almost half a century later, I still drive by the old farmstead（農莊）and smile when I see those big, handsome　 20 　and remember giving a special gift to special people on Christmas in October.

1. A. divorced　B. married　C. born　D. friendly

2. A. once　B. since　C. while　D. if

3. A. casually　B. occasionally　C. hardly　D. always

4. A. hard　B. convenient　C. available　D. anxious

5. A. performed　B. figured　C. promoted　D. guaranteed

6. A. opportunity　B. performance　C. permission　D. access

7. A. watched　B. checked　C. noticed　D. tested

8. A. account　B. acquire　C. afford　D. advocate

9. A. common　B. usual　C. ordinary　D. special

10. A. if　B. why　C. that　D. what

11. A. detail　B. surprise　C. advance　D. excitement

12. A. fashion　B. direction　C. instruction　D. action

13. A. greeting　B. adjusted　C. chosen　D. predicted

14. A. looked up　B. took up　C. turned up　D. dressed up

15. A. covered　B. loaded　C. surrounded　D. crowded

16. A. arrived at　B. reached for　C. left for　D. headed for

17. A. adequate　B. wrong　C. beautiful　D. invisible

18. A. amazed　B. delighted　C. amused　D. confused

19. A. faded away　B. turned around　C. rolled away　D. rolled around

20. A. folks　B. pickups　C. trees　D. trucks