II. Grammar and Vocabulary
Section A
Directions: After reading the passages below, fill in the blanks to make the passages coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank.
(A)
About dancing bears
Young bears are captured in the wild, separated from their mothers, and taught by a trainer to become dancing bears in conditions of unimaginable cruelty.
The young animals are forced on to sheets of really hot metal and, (25) ______ (escape) the pain,
the bears alternate lifting up one paw (爪子) and then another while music is played. The process
is repeated again and again (26) ______ the animals automatically begin to raise their paws – to “dance” – in fear of the pain, even when there are no metal sheets.
As the bears get older, the trainers keep them under control by imposing pain. They do this by putting rings through the bears’ highly sensitive noses and jaws. The pitiful truth is (27) ______ they are not put to sleep for this painful process. Chains (28) ______ (attach) to the rings so the trainers can control the animals, (29) ______ weigh up to 350 kilograms, with only a slight pull on the chains.
The bears’ nails are c ut several times a year and their teeth broken or removed in order that they cannot get their trainers (30) ______ (injure). The bears also suffer with an inadequate diet usually (31) ______ (consist) of white bread, sugar and cheap fruit juices. All these cause the bears serious physical health problems (32) ______ ______ many of them display strange behavior such
as swaying (摇摆) and pacing as they cannot follow natural behavioral patterns and instincts.
(B)
The Power of Good
It was Mother’s Day morning la st year and I was shopping at our local supermarket with my
five-year-old son, Tenyson. As we were leaving, we realised that only minutes (33) ______ (early) an elderly woman had fallen and hurt (34) ______ badly. She was embarrassed and clearly in shock. Fortunately, her husband was with her and many people had stopped to help out. Walking towards the scene, Tenyson became very upset about (35) ______ had happened to the elderly couple. He said to me, “(36) ______ (fall) over in front of everyone isn’t much fun.”
Near the entrance of the supermarket, a charity group had set up a stall selling flowers. Tenyson suggested that we should buy the lady a flower. “It will make her feel better,” he said. I was amazed that he would have this sweet idea, so I asked the flower seller if I (37) _____ buy a flower for the elderly lady because my son wanted to give it to her to cheer her up. “Just take it,” she replied. “I can’t take your money for such wonderful gesture.”
By then a nurse (38) ______ (arrive), and was attending to the woman. As we walked up to her, Tenyson became frightened by all the blood and medical equipment. Instead I gave (39) ______ flower to the woman’s husband. The old man thanked us both, then bent down and gave it to his wife, telling her who it was (40) ______. Despite being badly hurt and shaken, the old lady looked up at Tenyson with love in her eyes and gave him a little smile.
Section B
