1 . Directions: Read the following passage. Fill in the blanks to make the passage 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.

Sharing the sweetness

On the 25th of December, my mother expects her children to be present, exchanging gifts and eating turkey. When she pulls on that holiday sweater, everybody better gets festive. Of course, I would be the first Jones sibling     1     (go) rogue (叛逆). As the middle, artist child, I was going to do my own thing, making some new traditions. From a biography of Flannery O’Connor, I drew inspiration— I would spend the holiday at an artist colony!

No one took my new idea seriously. From the way my mother carried on, you would think I was divorcing the family. Still I held my ground and made plans for my winter adventure in New Hampshire. The MacoDowell Colony was       2     I could have wished for. About 25 to 30 artists were in attendance, and it was as artsy (艺术的) as I     3     (imagine). It felt like my life had become a strange independent film.

By Christmas Eve, I had been at the colony for more than a week. The novelty of snowy New England was wearing off, but I would never admit     4    . Everyone around me was having too much fun. Skiing! Deep conversation by the fireplace! What was wrong with me? This was the holiday       5     I’d always dreamed of. No artificial decoration. Not a Christmas sweater anywhere in sight. People here didn’t even say “Christmas,” they said “holiday.” Then why was I so sad?

Finally, I called home on the pay phone. My dad answered, but I     6     barely hear him for all the good-time noise in the background. He turned down the volume on the holiday album and told me that my mother was out shopping with my brothers. Now it was my turn to sulk (生闷气). They were having a fine Christmas       7     me.

Despite a heavy snowstorm, a large package showed up near my door at the artist colony on Christmas morning. Tayari Jones was written in my mother’s beautiful handwriting. I rushed to that parcel     8     I were five years old. Inside was a gorgeous red-velvet cake, my favorite,     9     (wrap) tightly in about 50 yards of bubble packaging. “Merry Christmas,” read the simple card inside. “We love you very much.”

As I sliced the cake, everyone gathered around. Mother had sent a genuine homemade gift. It was a minor Christmas miracle that one cake managed to feed so many. We ate it from paper towels with our bare hands,     10    (satisfy) a hunger we didn’t know we had.

2 . Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passage 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.

This weekend many families in America will celebrate Mother’s Day. The event dates back to   May 9, 1914,     1     America’s President Wilson   established the official     holiday. Some people had begun campaigning for the holiday a few years     2     (early).   Finally in 1914, the president made it official. He declared that each second Sunday in May     3     (dedicate) to thanking the nation’s mothers. He also ordered all government     buildings     4     (display) the national flag on that day. According to President Wilson, this was done “as a public expression of …love …for the mothers of our country.”

Before long, people in other   countries     5     (begin) asking for a similar   holiday to celebrate their mothers. Mexico celebrated its first official Mother’s Day on May 10, 1922. May 10th became their annual holiday because the country preferred a fixed date to     6     that changed.

Other countries are happy to share the day with the United States. Some on the list include Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Japan and Turkey.

Oddly enough, the U.S. Congress rejected a Mother’s Day resolution at first. Today, though, Mother’s Day is a highly popular holiday. It’s also very successful commercially. Along with giving cards,   candy   and flowers,     7     (take) moms out for brunch is a very popular gesture. America’s National Restaurant Association says Mother’s Day is the year’s most popular day for eating out.

But why do we honor our mothers? Many moms lovingly dedicate their lives to their children. Moms sacrifice time, sleep and often their own dreams. Moms try to provide a strong foundation     8     children   can   build   their   lives. With     9     (love)   care,   mothers guide their children toward adulthood.

When we consider everything our mothers have done for us, how can we not honor them? There’s no need to wait for a national holiday, though. Every day is a great opportunity to tell our mothers     10     they mean to us.