Group 2

Passage 11

河南省豫南九校2017屆高三下學期質量考評（五）

That holiday morning I didn’t have to attend school. Usually, on holidays, Mother　 1 　me to sleep in. And I would certainly take full advantage of it. On this particular morning,　 2 　, I felt like getting up early.

I stood by my window overlooking the　 3 　, having nothing better to do. But as it turned out, I was soon to learn about something　 4 　in life.

As I watched several people go by, get into their cars and go off, I　 5 　an old man on a bicycle with a bucket on its　 6 　and a basket rags and bottles on its back-carriage. He　 7 　from one car to another, washing and cleaning them. From the water on the ground, it seemed that he had already　 8 　washing and cleaning about a dozen or more cars. He must have begun to work quite early in the morning.

Several thoughts　 9 　my mind as I watched him work. He wasn’t well-dressed. He had on a pair of shorts and a(n)　 10 　T-shirt. The bicycle he rode was not by any means the kind modern　 11 　would want to be seen riding on. But he seemed　 12 　with life. There he was, working hard at his small business,　 13 　at passers-by and stopping to chat now and then　 14 　elderly men and women on their way to the market nearby.

There was a noticeable touch of　 15 　in the way he seemed to be doing things—　 16 　the windscreen, then standing back to admire it; scrubbing the wheels and　 17 　, standing back to see what they look like after the scrub.

It was a　 18 　to learn, I felt. At no age need one have to beg for a　 19 　if one has good health and is willing to work hard. For a while I felt　 20 　of myself. Young as I am—just sixteen, and there was this old man who must have been usefully engaged perhaps before the sun appeared above the horizon.

1. A. forces　B. allows　C. causes　D. forbids

2. A. otherwise　B. therefore　C. however　D. besides

3. A. parking lot　B. bus stop　C. school　D. market

4. A. interesting　B. surprising　C. awful　D. useful

5. A. noticed　B. recognized　C. called　D. assisted

6. A. back　B. handle　C. wheel　D. seat

7. A. searched B. left　C. moved　D. wandered

8. A. stopped　B. started　C. intended　D. finished

9. A. crossed　B. slipped　C. disturbed　D. inspired

10. A. attractive　B. shiny　C. simple　D. expensive

11. A. repairmen　B. businessmen　C. drivers　D. cyclists

12. A. busy　B. content　C. careful　D. bored

13. A. waving　B. looking　C. laughing　D. pointing

14. A. about　B. for　C. with　D. like

15. A. worry　B. respect　C. sympathy　D. pride

16. A. cleaning　B. fixing　C. replacing　D. covering

17. A. still　B. yet　C. again　D. soon

18. A. lesson　B. subject　C. skill　D. fact

19. A. business　B. living　C. success　D. right

20. A. tired　B. doubtful　C. fearful　D. ashamed