12. ---Nowadays, buyers accustomed to prices moving upward just adopt a wait-and-see attitude.

---If they continue to _____, then our company is closing down.

A. fish in the air B. sit on the fence

　　C. fly off the handle D. beat around the bush

13. The children wrote magical stories together, _____ imaginary worlds of romantic and military adventure.

A. to spin B. spinning C. having spun D. to have spun

14. He was offered a position at the local church school, _____ he went to the Cambridge.

A. after when B. since which C. after which D. since when

15. ---There are probably aliens living here on earth.

---_____! I can't believe you said that.

A. Come on B. Forget it C. Go ahead D. Allow me

第二节 完形填空（共20小题；每小题1分，共20分）

请认真阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

I don't talk with passengers on airplanes. My flight time is 16 for turning the pages of a good book. That changed, 17 , on a flight from Tampa to Newark when I sat next to her ---the lady in Seat 26B.

　　After 18 my seat, I opened my book.

　　Then she 19 me. "And where are you traveling to? Home or on vacation?"

　　"Heading home," I closed my book. "You?"

　　"Oh, home, too," she began, "I come from a(n) 20 family. Nine kids! I'm the oldest 21 alive---eighty-nine!" And then she laughed, joyfully. I wouldn't have 22 she was nearly ninety, though.

　　"Good book?" she asked, pointing to my paperback.

　　"Yes. Do you read?"

　　"Oh, I don't have 23 to read," she replied.

　　I'm sixty years younger than 26B, yet she's the one who's too busy to read? What on earth could she be doing with her 24 ?

"Well," she began, "I work at Costco. There are 25 nice people. There are also the 26 ones, but I enjoy them, too!" She laughed again, and I 27 her