On Thursday afternoon Mrs Clake locked the door and went to the women’s club as usual. It was a pleasant way of ___1___ time for an old woman who lived ___2___.
When she came home she ___3___ something unusual. Had someone got in? The back door and the windows were all locked and there was no ___4___ of forced entry(进入). Had anything been taken? She went from room to room, ___5___, and found her camera and spare watch missing.
The following Thursday she went out at her ___6___ time, but didn’t go to the club. Instead, she took a short walk in a park ___7___ and came home, letting herself in through the ___8___ door. She settled down to wait and see what would happen.
It was 4 o’clock when the front doorbell rang. Mrs Clarke was ___9___ tea at the time. The bell rang again, and the next moment she ___10___ her letter-box being pushed open. Picking up the kettle of boiling water, she moved ___11___ towards the letter-box. A piece of ___12___ appeared through the letter-box, and then a hand. The wire turned and caught around the knob(原形旋钮) on the door-lock. Mrs Clarke ___13___ the kettle and poured the water over the hand. A ___14___ cry was heard outside as the wire ___15___ to the floor and the hand was pulled ___16___, which was followed by the sound of ___17___ feet.
It wasn’t long ___18___the police caught the thief. And Mrs Clarke was greatly ___19___ at the club for her successful ___20___.
1. A. saving B. passing C. stealing D. finding
2. A. lonely B. alone C. sadly D. easily
3. A. learned B. found C. sensed D. hoped
4. A. sight B. exhibition C. note D. sign
5. A. watching B. searching C. looking D. checking
6. A. late B. dinner C. usual D. own
7. A. faraway B. club C. nearby D. hurriedly
8. A. open B. back C. front D. broken
9. A. drinking B. making C. pouring D. planting
10. A. saw B. watched C. heard D. smelled
11. A. quietly B. loudly C. fast D. angrily
12. A. wood B. equipment C. chalk D. wire
13. A. discovered B. brought C. raised D. supported
14. A. soft B. gentle C. sharp D. loud
15. A. pushed B. put C. stuck D. fell
16. A. up B. forward C. back D. down
17. A. walking B. jumping C. running D. steady
18. A. after B. when C. before D. until
19. A. admired B. encouraged C. instructed D. supported
20. A. self-satisfaction B. self-protection C. self-respect D. self-service