Passage 14

全国卷I

While high school does not generally encourage students to explore new aspects of life, college sets the stage for that exploration. I myself went through this　 1 　process and found something that has changed my　 2 　at college for the better:I discovered ASL—American Sign Language（美式手语）.

I never felt an urge to　 3 　any sign language before. My entire family is hearing, and so are all my friends. The　 4 　language were enough in all my interactions（交往）. Little did I know that I would discover my　 5 　for ASL.

The　 6 　began during my first week at college. I watched as the ASL Club　 7 　their translation of a song. Both the hand movements and the very　 8 　of communicating without speaking　 9 　me. What I saw was completely unlike anything I had experienced in the　 10 　. This newness just left me　 11 　more.

After that, feeling the need to　 12 　further, I decided to drop in on one of ASL club’s meetings. I only learned how to　 13 　the alphabet that day. Yet instead of being discouraged by my　 14 　progress, I was excited. I then made it a point to　 15 　those meetings and learn all I could.

The following term, I　 16 　an ASL class. The professor was deaf and any talking was　 17 　. I soon realized that the silence was not unpleasant.　 18 　, if there had been any talking, it would have　 19 　us to learn less. Now, I appreciate the silence and the　 20 　way of communication it opens.

1. A. searching　B. planning　C. natural　D. formal

2. A. progress　B. experience　C. major　D. opinion

3. A. choose　B. read　C. learn　D. create

4. A. official　B. foreign　C. body　D. spoken

5. A. love　B. concern　C. goal　D. request

6. A. meeting　B. trip　C. story　D. task

7. A. recorded　B. performed　C. recited　D. discussed

8. A. idea　B. amount　C. dream　D. reason

9. A. disturbed　B. supported　C. embarrassed　D. attracted

10. A. end　B. past　C. course　D. distance

11. A. showing　B. acting　C. saying　D. wanting

12. A. exercise　B. explore　C. express　D. explain

13. A. print　B. write　C. sign　D. count

14. A. slow　B. steady　C. normal　D. obvious

15. A. chair　B. sponsor　C. attend　D. organize

16. A. missed　B. passed　C. gave up　D. registered for

17. A. prohibited　B. welcomed　C. ignored　D. repeated

18. A Lastly　B. Thus　C. Instead　D. However

19. A. required　B. caused　C. allowed　D. expected

20. A. easy　B. popular　C. quick　D. new