C．employees D．bills

　　解析：选D　尽管买棒球手套之前你需要支付各种账单。pay bills"支付账单"。salary"工资"，wage"薪水"，employee"雇员"，均不符合题意。

　　17．A.buy B．treat

　　C．pay D．invite

　　解析：选C　该句意思是说公司现在支付的薪酬还不够高。pay"支付"；buy"购买"；treat"对待"；invite"邀请"。文章末尾有暗示。

　　18．A.care B．expect

　　C．lack D．mind

　　解析：选A　我们公司确实很器重您，我们想让您知道您对我们相当重要。care"在意，重视"。下文有暗示。

　　19．A.carefulness B．thoughtfulness

　　C．likeliness D．happiness

　　解析：选B　这家便利店经理的体贴、同情和关爱感动了她。carefulness"认真"，likeliness"可能性"，happiness"幸福"，与题意不符。

　　20．A.moved B．scared

　　C．amazed D．awakened

　　解析：选A　经理的动之以情的做法感动了她。move"感动"。scare"恐吓"，amaze"震惊"，awaken"惊醒"，不符合语境。

　　Ⅱ.阅读理解

　　Christmas in the United States is traditionally a time of gift­giving and family gatherings. But small towns across the country have their own traditions.

　　Middleburg, a small town in the state of Virginia, is known for its horses. For more than 50 years, Middleburg has organized a yearly Christmas parade (游行). Men and women ride horses through the woods and fields. They follow hunting dogs as they search for a wild fox. But first, these hunters ride in the yearly parade, wearing their bright red hunting clothes and hats.

　　John Hale, a citizen of Middleburg says many city people visit his town. "We have a lot of people from an urban area that come to visit, but it incorporates a lot of the old traditions." The nighttime hayride is one such tradition. Small groups gather under the moonlight on an open wagon filled with hay. The passengers sing as farm horses pull the wagon slowly across the fields.

　　There are some newer traditions, too. Trey Matheu works at the nearby Salamander Resort. He says a visit to Middleburg is a chance to slow down for a day. He says Middleburg can be a calming, peaceful place without tension.

"Middleburg is an opportunity to take a step back, to take a deep breath, and understand that even though life is moving on at a very fast pace, there's really an opportunity where you're allowed to step off for a little bit."