How could it be? Nobody could explain __54___ Tabby did it. But those of us who were fortunate enough to know her and her family had ___55___ the magic, the kind that has its roots in love.

36.A. broken B. passed C. painted D. locked

37.A. strange B. active C. wild D. special

38.A. recall B. leave C. forget D. abandon

39.A. remote B. great C. fair D. potential

40.A. wondering B. stating C. seeking D. asking

41. A. stubborn B. active C. disabled D. patient

42. A. hospital B. shelter C. farm D. roadside

43.A. posted B. taken C. seen D. drawn

44.A. letter B. donation C. call D. enquiry

45.A. get B. run C. look D. break

46.A. often B. possibly C. never D. generally

47. A. successful B. normal C. temporary D. early

48. A. However B. Moreover C. Therefore D. Otherwise

49. A. learnt B. suffered C. heard D. differed

50A. indifferent B. uncomfortable C, unfortunate D. inseparable

51. A. since B. unless C. before D. though

52. A. explanation B. notice C. suggestion D. warning

53. A. arrival B. birth . C. return D. recovery

54 A. where B. how C. when D. whether

55. A. witnessed B. created C. achieved D. performed

第三部分：阅读理解(共两节，40分)

第一节(共15小题;每小题2分，共30分)

阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡该项涂黑。

A

Finding a New Spring

A tradesman was leading a caravan(商队) to another country to sell his goods. Along the way they came to the edge of a severe hot-sand desert. They learnt that during the daytime the sun heats up the fine sand until it’s as hot as charcoal, so no one can walk on it -- not even bullocks(小公牛) or camels! So the caravan leader hired a desert guide, one who could follow the stars, so they could travel only at night when the sand cools down. They began the dangerous night-time journey across the desert. A couple of nights later, after eating their evening meal, and waiting for the sand to cool, they started out again.

Later that night, the desert guide, who was driving the first cart, saw from the stars that they were getting close to the other side of the desert. He had also overeaten, so that when he relaxed, he fell asleep. Then the bullocks who, of course, couldn’t tell directions by reading the stars, gradually turned to the side and went in a big wide circle until they ended up at the same place they had started from! By then it was morning, and the people realized they were back at the same spot. They lost heart and began to cry about their condition. Since the desert crossing was supposed to be over by now, they had no more water and were afraid they would die of thirst. They even began to blame the caravan leader and the desert guide.

However, the leader himself didn’t lose courage. He began walking back and forth, trying to think out a plan. Remaining alert, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a small clump of grass. He thought, "Without water, no plant could live in this desert." So he asked his fellow travelers to dig up the ground on that very spot. They dug and dug, and after a while they got down to a large stone. He got down into the hole, put his ear to the stone, and heard the sound of flowing water.

A spring was found. All the people were overjoyed. They drank and bathed and washed the animals and cooked their food and ate. Before they left, they raised a high flag so that other travelers could see the new spring in the middle of the hot-sand desert. Then they continued on safely to the end of their journey.

56. Why did the tradesman and his caravan have to travel during the night?

A. To use less water while crossing the desert.

B. It was too hot to walk on the desert in the daytime.

C. They might be able to find the spring in the quiet night.

D. The guide could find a short way by following the stars.

57. Why did the group feel so desperate when they were back to the starting point?

A. They were in danger of dying of thirst.

B. They were running out of food.

C. Their guide had lost the way.

D. Their leader had lost heart.