There was once a famous king whose name was Tamerlane. Like Alexander the Great, he _36 to bee the master of the whole world. So he raised a great _37 and made war on other countries. He conquered(征服，打败） many kings and 38 many cities. But at last his army was beaten; and Tamerlane escaped alone from the field of 39 .
For a long time he wandered in 40 from place to place. His enemies were 41 him. He was about to lose all hope.
One day he was 42 under a tree, thinking of his failure. He had now been a wanderer for twenty days. He couldn’t 43 any longer. Suddenly he saw a small object climbing up the trunk (树干) of the tree. He looked more 44 and saw it was an ant, 45 a grain of wheat（麦粒）as large as itself.
There was a 46 in the tree only a little way above, and that was the home of the ant.
“You are 47 , Mr. Ant,” he said, “but you are carrying something that is too heavy for you.” Just as he 48 , the ant lost its footing and fell to the ground. But it 49 held on to the grain of wheat. Tamerlane _50 the little insect. It tried the second time, the third time ... the twentieth time — but always with the same 51 . Then it tried the twenty-first time. 52 , one little step at a time, it climbed across the rough place where it had 53 so often. The next minute it climbed 54 into its home, carrying the grain of wheat. “Well done!” said Tamerlane, “you’ve taught me a lesson. I, too, will try, try again, 55 I succeed.”
And this he did.
【小题1】A．failedB．learnedC．choseD．wished【小题2】A．partyB．family C．armyD．group【小题3】A．burnedB．defendedC．rebuiltD．developed【小题4】A．businessB．battleC．sportsD．wheat【小题5】A．peaceB．reliefC．puzzlement D．fear【小题6】A．fighting againstB．looking forC．caring aboutD．calling on【小题7】A．lyingB．singingC．sleepingD．practicing【小题8】A．grow up B．get aroundC．carry onD．stay up【小题9】A．quickly B．excitedlyC．seriouslyD．closely【小题10】A．eatingB．carryingC．discoveringD．picking【小题11】A．holeB．caveC．leafD．flower【小题12】A．hungryB．smallC．braveD．smart【小题13】A．discussedB．explainedC．plainedD．spoke【小题14】A．onlyB．stillC．alsoD．even【小题15】A．watchedB．touched C．helpedD．guided【小题16】A．goalB．methodC．resultD．reason【小题17】A．HurriedlyB．Gently C．SlowlyD．Sadly【小题18】A．stoppedB．appearedC．preparedD．fallen【小题19】A．worriedlyB．safely C．freelyD．calmly【小题20】A．tillB．afterC．ifD．becauseD
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(答案→)D
解析：文章讲述了一位战败的国王在一直蚂蚁的鼓励之下，重振雄风获得成功的故事，告诉我们人生贵在坚持。
【小题1】D 像亚历山大大帝一样想统治整个世界, 这是帖木儿的梦想。故此处选wished。
【小题2】C 根据本空后war推断, 帖木儿集结了一支庞大的军队(army), 然后与各国交战。
【小题3】A 与本空前conquered并列:他征服了许多国王, 摧毁了(burned)很多城邦。
【小题4】B 由前一句他的军队被打败了可知, 他只身一人从战场(battle)上逃离了。
【小题5】D 名词辨析：A. peace和平 B. relief宽慰 C. puzzlement困惑D. fear恐惧，根据上文描写他的失败，这里是害怕的，in fear。
【小题6】B 他战败了, 他的敌人自然会到处搜寻(looking for)他, 所以他惊恐地(in fear)东躲西藏。
【小题7】A 从本空后thinking of his misfortunes可以推断:他没有做其他事, 只是躺(lying)在树下思考。
【小题8】C 他独自一人东躲西藏了二十多天, 应该处于崩溃的边缘, 所以不能坚持(hold out)下去了。
【小题9】D 他一开始只是看到一只小东西在树干上爬, 他仔细(closely)一看, 发现是只小蚂蚁。
【小题10】B 由倒数第二段出现的carrying the grain of wheat可知, 这只蚂蚁搬着(carrying)一粒跟它一样大小的麦粒往上爬。
【小题11】A 由本空后home判断:树干上的一个小洞(hole)就是蚂蚁的窝。
【小题12】C 此处是说蚂蚁太勇敢了。
【小题13】D 此处指当他说这番话时。
【小题14】B 由But一词可知, 尽管它从树上掉了下来, 但它仍然(still)抓着那粒小麦。
【小题15】A 上下文就是他所观察到的(watched)情况。
【小题16】C 由下文蚂蚁进行第二十一次尝试后终于成功可知, 它前面所进行的二十次尝试的结果(result)都一样——掉在了地上。
【小题17】C 从下文的one little step at a time可知是slowly，慢慢地。
【小题18】D 由one little step at a time可推测, 它慢慢地(slowly)跨过了那个经常让它掉下来的(fallen)坎。上文fell有提示。
【小题19】B 最后, 它安全地(safely)爬进了蚂蚁窝。
【小题20】A 蚂蚁坚持的精神深深鼓舞了帖木儿, 所以他决定像蚂蚁一样, 去努力奋斗, 直到(till)成功。