第二节：完形填空(共20小题：每小题1.5分，满分30分)
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从16～35各题所给出的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项。
Years of living with a lisp had taught me it was better not to say anything than to speak and risk embarrassment. As a result of my ___16____, I felt distanced from most of my peers. “Kathy? Oh, she’s quiet.” That’s what most people would say when they ___17___me, as if “Quiet” were part of my ___18___. I was okay with that. I didn’t need to be ____19.____.
Last September, however, that all ____20____. I started my creative writing class with Ms. Haist. Every day we would be given a different writing task and, if we wished, we could ____21____what we had written. I ___22___ listening to others read their work and thinking: “That will never be me. I’ll never have the ___23___to do that.”
One day, I was really ____24____with what I had written and wanted to share. My heart was beating wildly as I raised my hand. Those____25____little voices were ringing in my ear, “You have a lisp, remember? ___26___, you writing isn’t that good. Be quiet.” I was about to ___27____my hand when I met Ms. Haist’s encouraging eyes.
I swallowed the voices down and let my real voice ___28___. I could hear it ___29___as I read, and I could hear every stutter and mistake. I finished reading, waiting to be laughed at. __30___, I heard claps from the class and praise from Ms. Haist.
The next day, I did it ___31___. Soon I was reading out loud nearly every day. Gradually, I realized that ___32___my lisp, the class and the teacher always appreciated my writing. Now I may still not be the most ___33___, social person, but I’ve become better at oral presentations. I ___34___read my poetry out loud at reading club.
Every time those little voices try to tell me to be quiet, I think of all the encouragement I received in class and I know that I ___35____to be heard.
16. A. embarrassment B. excitement C. humor D. silence
17. A. heard from B. talked of C. called on D. looked for
18. A. name B. opinion C. duty D. business
19. A. seen B. heard C. followed D. protected
20. A. disappeared B. returned C. developed D. changed
21. A. examine B. practice C. share D. copy
22. A. regret B. consider C. imagine D. remember
23. A. time B. courage C. patience D. evidence
24. A. busy B. strict C. pleased D. disappointed
25. A. tired B. urgent C. funny D. cheerful
26. A. Besides B. Otherwise C. Therefore D. Normally
27. A. touch B. wave C. extend D. withdraw
28. A. go down B. die away C. come out D. calm down
29. A. shaking B. singing C. shouting D. deepening
30. A. Sadly B. Hopefully C. Honestly D. Unexpectedly
31. A. again B. alone C. already D. anyway
32. A. thanks to B. instead of C. despite D. except
33. A. serious B. outgoing C. nervous D. hardworking
34. A. even B. still C. only D. seldom
35. A. fear B. agree C. deserve D. pretend
