.
第二节:完形填空（在每题给出的四个选项中，只有一项是最符合题目要求的。共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）
Joseph Henry was an American scientist who served as the first Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. He used to tell a rather 26 story about his childhood. His grandmother, who 27 him, once paid a cobbler（修鞋匠）to make him a pair of 28 .
The man measured his 29 and told Joseph that he could choose between two 30 : a rounded toe or a square toe. Little Joseph couldn’t 31 . It seemed to be such a huge decision; 32 , it would become his only pair of shoes for a long time.
The cobbler 33 him to take a couple of days to make up his 34 . Day after day, Joseph went into the shop, sometimes three or four times a 35 ! Each time he looked over the cobbler’s shoes and tried to decide. The round-toed shoes were 36 , but the square toes looked more 37 . He continued to put off his decision. He wanted to make up his mind, but he just couldn’t decide!
Finally, one day he went into the 38 and the cobbler handed him a parcel 39 in brown paper. His new shoes! He raced home. He 40 off the wrapping and found a beautiful pair of leather shoes, one with a rounded toe and the other with a 41 toe.
I learn a 42 here about decisions: If I don’t make decisions myself, others will 43 make them for me. Better than I make them myself.
And if I choose 44 from time to time, that’s okay, too. At least I won’t have to 45 shoes that don’t match. Besides, I’ll probably do better the next time.
26. A. scary B. meaningful C. miserable D. humorous
27. A. protected B. educated C. prevented D. raised
28. A. trousers B. gloves C. shoes D. socks
29. A. feet B. arms C. legs D. back
30. A. ways B. styles C. kinds D. types
31. A. agree B. respond C. believe D. decide
32. A. in all B. above all C. after all D. at all
33. A. invited B. allowed C. ordered D. promised
34. A. mind B. loss C. story D. time
35. A. year B. month C. week D. day
36. A. new B. practical C. expensive D. big
37. A. convenient B. valuable C. fashionable D. useful
38. A. church B. office C. hospital D. shop
39. A. wrapped B. covered C. hidden D. tied
40. A. put B. tore C. took D. went
41. A. long B. short C. square D. round
42. A. language B. mistake C. skill D. lesson
43. A. secretly B. probably C. quickly D. sadly
44. A. actively B. poorly C. wisely D. carefully
45. A. wear B. mend C. buy D. remove
