第二节　完形填空(共20小题; 每小题1分, 满分20分)

What I noticed first about my new parrot, Chico, was that he couldn’t fly. His wings had been cut short and he was stuck on the　31　just like us humans. When the weather turned nice, I took Chico outside. I sat him on a branch of a tree, hoping to make him　32　. At first he seemed　33　. He walked back and forth on the branch looking anxious or nervous. He didn’t even flap his wings in an attempt to fly. Somehow he knew he was　34　.

One day Chico got especially excited. He paced back and forth and made an incredible amount of　35　. Then all of a sudden he stopped and let out an even louder scream. He started　36　flapping his wings for the first time ever—then he lifted off the　37　like a space shuttle! I was amazed and　38　. Little did I know his feathers had been growing back, and Chico had been　39　until the moment was ripe for escape!

Two days later Chico　40　. First I tried to trick him back with food, but he would not come near me. Then I took his　41　and put it away—still he would not come. Finally, I made him a firm promise that I would let him　42　every day if the weather was nice as long as he did come back. 　43　, he flew onto my shoulder.

From that day on, whenever the weather was good I would let him out early and he would fly around and be back before dark. The　44　lasted for two months before suddenly Chico became　45　. The vet said that he had been infected with a disease from the pigeons in the neighborhood. Within a few days he died.

I was very sad. The　46　crossed my mind that if I had not set him free to fly, he would be still alive. But what　47 　is there in being a bird if you can’t fly?

Chico made his first break for　48　on a late Monday afternoon in April. When will you make yours? You too can take a　49　when the conditions are right, knowing you too, in your own way, were built to fly. If you don’t　50　, what will be the purpose of your life?

31. A. floor　　  B. earth　    C. scene　  　　D. road

32. A. smarter         B. healthier

C. happier          D. stronger

33. A. disappointed       B. determined

C. excited          D. confused

34. A. incapable        B. disabled

C. wrong          D. stupid

35. A. noise         B. progress

C. energy          D. consideration

36. A. sl owly         B. gently

C. madly          D. gracefully

37. A. ground   B. tree     C. cage    D. branch

38. A. moved         B. shocked

C. delighted         D. excited

39. A. struggling        B. pacing

C. flying          D. waiting

40. A. left          B. returned

C. survived         D. recovered

41. A. cage    B. feather    C. chain    D. food

42. A. in    B. out     C. off     D. alone

43. A. As usual        B. At that moment

C. Once in a while        D. At the same time

44. A. action   B. attempt    C. routine    D. effort

45. A. active   B. injured    C. sad     D. ill

46. A. fact          B. concern

C. thought          D. detail

47. A. sense         B. mistake

C. interest          D. problem

48. A. life    B. freedom    C. fun    D. food

49. A. break   B. holiday    C. chance   D. look

50. A. keep yourself busy      B. cheer yourself up

C. let yourself down       D. set yourself free