The Power of Story
When my dog Gracie disappeared six years ago, I really learned what I believe. Gracie escaped from our backyard around 2:00 p.m. We searched the neighborhood for hours but had no 21 . We put up advertisements, and by dark, we returned home, exhausted(精疲力竭).
On the second day, I called my animal doctor, the SPCA, and the animal shelter(收容所). Nothing. I felt lost.
If I knew Gracie had been 22 , I would have been heartbroken. If I knew she was caught somewhere, I would save her. If I knew she had found a better home, I would be 23 yet relieved(放心的). But how do I deal with the unknown? Wait patiently? Search endlessly? Give up?
The third day, while I was searching in the woods with my friend Rhea, I told her losing Gracie was like losing faith(信任) in everything. Rhea smiled and said, "You know, maybe Gracie’s on a great adventure." It seems 24 , but I felt better then. Rhea’s words 25 me what, as a writer, I surely have faith in: the power of story.
As one writer said, all we have is stories. It’s what holds our life together. We call stories science, some stories myth(神话), but imagine hearing for the first time that the world may be round. Such stories only become real when we 26 them. And some stories are never supported with scientific facts, but they still seem to hold true.
For example, ten years earlier, I’d dreamt that I should get a 27 , and by that evening, Gracie came into my life. When people would ask what kind of dog she was, I would say Muppet wolf terrier(小猎狗). It was something I 28 because I believed Gracie was half dog, half wolf.
So why not imagine now that she was off on an adventure exploring her wolf side?
The fourth day started with me finding a 29 on the sidewalk, I’d always thought of finding money as a good sign. And I was sure Gracie would come home on the fifth day. I guess it was another story to hold on to.
On Day Five, I was at a friend’s house when her phone rang. I knew immediately it was news about Gracie. And I was right. When I finally saw her in my hallway, I cried. "My wolf days are 30 ." Gracie seemed to say. "I’m back to being a dog".
Or so is the story I choose to believe.
21. A. luck B. reason C. good D. problem
22. A. kept B. sold C. stolen D. killed
23. A. mad B. worried C. sad D. moved
24. A. right B. strange C. reasonable D. real
25. A. ordered B. warned C. reminded D. suggested
26. A. hear B. know C. believe D. read
27. A. dog B. prize C. story D. house
28. A. looked up B. built up C. set up D. made up
29. A. card B. coin C. phone D. book
30. A. lasting B. exciting C. short D. over
三、阅读理解(本大题有15小题，每小题2分，共30分)
阅读A、B两篇短文，从每小题所给的四个选项中，选出能回答所提问题或完成所给句子的最佳答案，并将答题卡上对应的选项涂黑。
A
Interesting festivals in the world
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Throwing tomatoes — Spain(西班牙) #FormatImgID_0# Spain takes "tomatoes fights" to a whole new level. But the tomatoes are being thrown, not eaten. The festival takes place during the last Wednesday in August. Trucks (卡车) carry tomatoes into the square. People rush to the tomatoes and throw them into the crowd. |
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Rolling cheese — England #FormatImgID_1# This festival is celebrated on the last Monday in May. It takes place on Cooper’s Hill. A large wheel of cheese (奶酪) is roiled down Cooper’s Hill. The festival is actually a race where people run down the hill after the rolling cheese. The first person to cross the finish line at the bottom of the hill wins the cheese. |
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Burning man — The United States #FormatImgID_2# The Burning Man Festival lasts a week. It is from the Monday before Labor Day to Labor Day(which falls on the first Monday in September in America). The festival takes place in the Black Rock Desert. The best part of the festival is the burning of a large sculpture of a man. |
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#FormatImgID_3#Pouring water — Thailand The Songkran Festival is the celebration of the New Year in Thailand. Rather than a single day, Thailand celebrates the New Year from April 13th to April 15th. Thai people run after each other, pouring water. Songkran is one of the most important reasons why foreigners travel to the beautiful land. |
，我们将会及时处理。
