Ⅲ.完形填空
England was one of the first countries to set aside a day to recognize mothers. In the eighteenth century __1__ many people worked as household servants for the __2__，“Mothering Sunday” was __3__ for them to return home to be with their mothers. Though this __4__ stopped when the Industrial Revolution altered the working and living patterns of people, one __5__ for mothers was established as a holiday in the twentieth century.
In the United States, Mother's Day did not become a(n) __6__ holiday until 1915. Its establishment was due __7__ to the perseverance and love of one __8__，Anna Jarvis. Anna's mother had provided strength and support as the family __9__ their home in West Virginia and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania __10__ her father served as a minister. As a girl, Anna had helped her mother take care of her garden.
When Mrs Jarvis died on May 5, 1905，Anna was determined to __11__ her. She asked a minister at her church in West Virginia to give a sermon (布道) __12__ memory of her mother. On the same Sunday in Philadelphia, ministers there honored Mrs Jarvis and all mothers with a(n) __13__ Mother's Day service. Anna Jarvis began writing to congressmen, asking them to __14__ a day to honor mothers. In 1910，the governor of West Virginia proclaimed the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day and a year later every state __15__ it.
On Mother's Day morning, some American children __16__ the tradition of serving their mothers breakfast in bed. Other children will give their mothers __17__ which they have made themselves or bought in __18__. Adults give their mothers red carnations (康乃馨), the official Mother's Day flower. If their mothers __19__ they may bring white carnations to their grave sites. This is the busiest day of the year for American __20__. On the special day, family members do not want Mum to cook dinner!
文章大意：本文是一篇说明文。在早期，佣人们可以在某一个星期天回家陪伴母亲，这是早期母亲节的雏形，这说明英国是最早推行母亲节的国家之一。可是美国的安娜为现代母亲节的确立作出了突出的贡献。文章还介绍了现代母亲节的一些传统的习俗。
1.A.before B.since
C.until D.when
答案：D 根据语境可知，此处是指“当许多人做家庭佣人的时候……”。before在……之前;since自从……;until直到……，均不符合语境。
2.A.poor B.rich
C.living D.injured
答案：B 联系前面的“servants”可以推知，此处指富人。很明显，这里的语境中不是指the poor穷人;the living活着的人或the injured受伤的人。
3.A.protected B.changed
C.reserved D.persuaded
答案：C reserve意为“保留”，Mothering Sunday是专门留作他们回家和母亲在一起的日子。protect保护;change改变;persuade说服，均不符合语境。
4.A.custom B.form
C.habit D.plan
答案：A 根据文章的语境可知，此处是母亲节的风俗(custom)，其中干扰性最强的habit通常表示“习惯”之意。
5.A.Monday B.Wednesday
C.Friday D.Sunday
答案：D 根据上下文语境可知，此处指星期日。
6.A.ordinary B.official
C.regular D.common
答案：B 根据文章介绍的关于母亲节的历史可知，此处的意思是：到1915年母亲节才成为官方的(official)节日。ordinary普通的;regular规律的;common普遍的，常见的，均不符合语境。
7.A.nearly B.deeply
C.largely D.highly
答案：C 母亲节的设立在很大程度上(largely)是由于安娜所做的工作。nearly意为“几乎”;deeply意为“深刻地”;highly意为“高级地”，均和语境不符合。
8.A.daughter B.sister
C.mother D.waitress
答案：A 根据下文中的“Anna's mother had provided strength and support as the family...”可知，此处指女儿。根据文意可以排除sister, mother和waitress。
9.A.destroyed B.found
C.left D.made
答案：D 根据下文中的“As a girl, Anna had helped her mother take care of her garden.”可知，他们在这里安家落户。
10.A.when B.where
C.why D.how
答案：B 根据句子的结构可知，此处说明父亲工作的地点，故B项为正确答案。when指时间，why指原因，how指方式，所以A、C、D三项不对。
11.A.reward B.award
C.honor D.inspire
答案：C 母亲去世后，安娜决定向她的母亲表示尊敬(honor)。reward给以报酬;award奖励;inspire鼓舞。所以A、B、D三项与文意不符。
12.A.in B.at
C.on D.for
答案：A 根据上文中的“She asked a minister at her church”可知，她请牧师布道，以表示对她母亲的纪念。in memory of sb.意为“作为对某人的纪念”。
13.A.difficult B.expensive
C.simple D.special
答案：D 本文讲的是母亲节的来源。此处指牧师给母亲们特别的母亲节待遇。
14.A.put off B.give up
C.set aside D.get rid of
答案：C 安娜要求留出(set aside)一天以表示对母亲们的敬意。根据语境可知，此处没有“推迟(put off)，放弃(give up)或摆脱(get rid of)”之意。
15.A.understood B.celebrated
C.received D.prevented
答案：B 句中的it指母亲节，所以此处指庆祝(celebrate)母亲节。understand理解;receive收到;prevent阻止，均不符合文意。
16.A.support B.refuse
C.accept D.follow
答案：D follow意为“追随”。根据文章的意思可知，这里不是指“支持(support)，拒绝(refuse)或接受(accept)”，故选D项。
17.A.gifts B.letters
C.calls D.toys
答案：A 根据上下文的意思可知，这里指送给母亲礼物。其他选项letters, calls和toys不符合语境。
18.A.schools B.churches
C.hospitals D.stores
答案：D 此处是指在商店里买的东西，不是指学校(schools)，教堂(churches)或医院(hospitals)。
19.A.went ahead B.moved on
C.passed away D.stayed up
答案：C 此处白色的康乃馨和上文中红色的康乃馨相对应，再结合语境可知，此处是指去世的母亲。
20.A.departments B.restaurants
C.offices D.markets
答案：B 根据文章最后一句话中的“family members do not want Mum to cook dinner”可知，这里指餐馆很忙碌。department部门，office办公室，market市场，这些意思均和语境不符合。
