第二节完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。
When middle-aged Alex quit his job and made up his mind to become a freelance (self-employed) writer, no one could tell for sure whether he would succeed or not. He found a cold storage room in a building, set up a(n) 36 typewriter and settled down to work.
After a year or so, however, Alex began to 37 himself. He found it was difficult to earn his living by 38 what he wrote. But Alex determined to put his dream to the test -- 39 it meant living with uncertainty and fear of 40 . This is the shadowland of hope, and 41 with a dream must learn to live there.
One day Alex got a call, “We need a(n) 42 , and we’re paying $6,000 a year.” $6,000 was 43 money in 1960. It would enable Alex to get a nice apartment, a used car and more. 44 , he could write on the side. 45 the dollars were dancing in Alex’s head, something 46 his senses. He had dreamed of being a 47 -- full time. “Thanks but no,” Alex said 48 , “I’m going to stick it out and write.”
After Alex got off the phone, he 49 everything he had: two cans of vegetables and 18 cents. Alex put the cans and cents into a 50 bag, saying to himself, “There’s everything you’ve made of yourself so far.”
Finally his work was 51 in 1970. Instantly he had the kind of fame and success that 52 writers ever experience. The shadows had turned into limelight.
Then one day, Alex 53 a box filled with things he had owned years before. 54 was a paper bag with two cans and 18 cents. Suddenly he 55 himself working in that cold storage room. It reminds Alex, and anyone with a dream, of the courage and persistence it takes to stay the course in the shadowland.
36. A. expensive B. priceless C. excellent D. used
37. A. doubt B. trust C. regret D. hate
38. A. buying B. selling C. reading D. appreciating
39. A. what if B. now that C. even though D. as if
40. A. failure B. success C. loss D. perspiration
41. A. someone B. nobody C. anyone D. none
42. A. writer B. boss C. manager D. assistant
43. A. little B. real C. false D. high
44. A. Still B. Besides C. However D. Therefore
45. A. If B. Because C. As D. But
46. A. cleared B. destroyed C. hurt D. struck
47. A. writer B. dancer C. driver D. assistant
48. A. hurriedly B. slowly C. firmly D. hesitantly
49. A. pulled apart B. pulled out C. pulled down D. pulled back
50. A. plastic B. paper C. cloth D. metal
51. A. published B. completed C. written D. punished
52. A. poor B. few C. famous D. great
53. A. picked B. searched C. sought D. found
54. A. Outside B. Below C. Inside D. Above
55. A. reminded B. called C. described D. pictured