Passage 15

全国卷Ⅱ

In 1973, I was teaching elementary school. Each day, 27 kids　 1 　“The Thinking Laboratory.” That was the　 2 　students voted for after deciding that“Room 104” was too　 3 　.

Freddy was an average　 4 　, but not an average person. He had the rare balance of fun and compassion（同情）. He would　 5 　the loudest over fun and be the saddest over anyone’s　 6 　.

Before the school year　 7 　, I gave the kids a special　 8 　, T-shirts with the words“Verbs Are Your　 9 　” on them. I had advised the kids that while verbs（动词）may seem dull, most of the　 10 　things they do throughout their lives will be verbs.

Through the years, I’d run into former students who would provide　 11 　on old classmates. I learned that Freddy did several jobs after his　 12 　from high school and remained the same　 13 　person I met forty years before. Once, while working overnight at a store, he let a homeless man　 14 　in his truck. Another time, he　 15 　a friend money to buy a house.

Just last year, I was　 16 　a workshop when someone knocked at the classroom door. A woman　 17 　the interruption and handed me an envelope. I stopped teaching and　 18 　it up. Inside were the“Verbs” shirt and a　 19 　from Freddy’s mother. “Freddy passed away on Thanksgiving. He wanted you to have this.”

I told the story to the class. As sad as it was, I couldn’t help smiling. Although Freddy was taken from us, we all　 20 　something from Freddy.

1. A. built　B. entered　C. decorated　D. ran

2. A. name　B. rule　C. brand　D. plan

3. A. small　B. dark　C. strange　D. dull

4. A. scholar　B. student　C. citizen　D. worker

5. A. speak　B. sing　C. question　D. laugh

6. A. misfortune　B. disbelief　C. dishonesty　D. mistake

7. A. changed　B. approached　C. returned　D. ended

8. A. lesson　B. gift　C. report　D. message

9. A Friends　B. Awards　C. Masters　D. Tasks

10. A. simple　B. unique　C. fun　D. clever

11. A. assessments　B. comments　C. instructions　D. updates

12. A. graduation　B. retirement　C. separation　D. resignation

13. A. daring　B. modest　C. caring　D. smart

14. A. wait　B. sleep　C. study　D. live

15. A. paid　B. charged　C. lent　D. owed

16. A. observing　B. preparing　C. designing　D. conducting

17. A. regretted　B. avoided　C. excused　D. ignored

18. A. opened　B. packed　C. gave　D. held

19. A. picture　B. bill　C. note　D. diary

20. A. chose　B. took　C. expected　D. borrowed