Unit 4 Global warming课时作业

learning about language

第一节.完形填空(共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分)

　　It was a bitter，cold evening in northern Virginia many years ago.The old man's beard was glazed by winter's frost while he waited.He was waiting for a 1 across the river.The wait seemed so 2 that his body became numb and stiff.He watched 3 as several horsemen rounded the bend.

　　He let the first one 4 without an effort to get his attention.Then another，and another.Finally，as the last rider neared the spot where the old man sat like a snow statue，the old man caught the rider's 5 and said，"Sir，would you mind giving an old man a ride to the other side？"

　　Stopping his horse，the rider 6 ，"Sure." Seeing the old man was 7 to lift his half­frozen body from the ground，the horseman got down and helped the old man onto the horse.

　　The horseman took the old man not just across the river，but to his destination.As they neared the tiny but cozy cottage，the horseman's 8 caused him to ask，"Sir，I noticed that you let several other riders go by without making a(n) 9 to get a ride.Then I came up and you 10 asked me for a ride.I'm curious why，on such a bitter winter night，you would wait and ask the last rider. 11 I had refused and left you there？"

　　The old man 12 himself slowly down from the horse，looked at the rider straight in the eyes and replied，"I've been 13 here for some time.I think I know people pretty good." He continued，"I looked into the eyes of the other riders and immediately saw there was no 14 for my situation.It would have been 15 even to ask them for a ride.But when in your eyes，kindness and compassion were 16 ．I knew， 17 ，that your gentle spirit would welcome the opportunity to give me help in my time of need."

Those heart­warming 18 touched the horseman deeply."I'm most grateful for what you have said，" he told the old man."May I never get 19 busy in my own affairs that I fail to 20 the needs of others with kindness and compassion."With that