第二节完型填空（共20小题；每小题1分，满分20分）
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从36—55各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上涂黑。
A successful business man was growing old and wanted to choose a successor to take over the business. He called all the young executives together and said, I have to 36 and choose the next CEO from you.
They were 37 , but the boss continued. I am going to give you a very 38 seed. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and e back one year from today with 39 you have grown from the seed. I will then 40 the plants, and choose the next CEO.
Jim went home 41 . Everyday, he would water the seed and see 42 it had grown. Although he kept 43 his seed, nothing ever grew. Many weeks went 44 , still nothing. By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn't have a plant and he felt like a 45 .
A year later, they brought their plants to the CEO for 46 . When Jim arrived, he was 47 at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful.
The CEO greeted them. What great plants, trees, and flowers you have grown, said the CEO. Today one of you will be 48 the next CEO!
All of a sudden, the CEO 49 Jim at the back with his empty pot. The CEO asked him what had happened - Jim told him the story. He looked at Jim, and then 50 , The next CEO is Jim!
Jim couldn't believe 51 . Jim couldn't even grow his seed. How could he be the new CEO? the others said.
Then the CEO said, The seeds I gave you were boiled seeds; they were dead - it was not 52 for them to grow. Jim was the only one with the courage and 53 to bring me a pot with my seed in it. 54 , he is the one who will be the new CEO!
If you plant honesty, you will reap 55 . So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will reap later.
36. A. step down B. sit down C. settle down D. hand down
37. A. exhausted B. shocked C. annoyed D. embarrassed
38. A. special B. valuable C. mon D. expensive
39. A. how B. which C. where D. what
40. A. pare B. observe C. judge D. examine
41. A. heatedly B. excitedly C. desperately D. disappointingly
42. A. if B. unless C. until D. though
43. A. checking B. planting C. appreciating D. counting
44. A. down B. away C. by D. back
45. A. fool B. failure C. successor D. onlooker
46. A. direction B. application C. instruction D. inspection
47. A. amazed B. discouraged C. amused D. puzzled
48. A. performed B. voted C. considered D. appointed
49. A. spotted B. glanced C. stared D. noticed
50. A. announced B. stated C. confirmed D. whispered
51. A. it B. those C. themselves D. him
52. A. likely B. sure C. necessary D. possible
53. A. confidence B. honesty C. optimism D. diligence
54. A. Moreover B. However C. Therefore D. Besides
55. A. trust B. success C. power D. reputation 36---55 ABAAD CBAAC BDADA AADBC
网友回答
(答案→)36---55 ABAAD CBAAC BDADA AADBC
解析：
本文讲述了一位即将退休的企业领导人为了选择合适的接班人，故意给他们不能发芽的种子，让他们回家种植，一年后根据种植的情况选择新的领导人，大多人发现种子不能发芽后，为了掩饰自己，都找了其他的能发芽的种子，只有Jim非常诚实地把不能发芽的种子带了回去，结果他被选中了，我们从故事中领悟到诚实是一个人最重要的品质。
36. A. 此句意为“我不得不退休了，要从你们中间选择一个CEO”。step down“退休”，符合句意，其他选项中，sit down“坐下”；settle down“定居”；hand sth. down“传下来”。
37. B. 此处意为“年轻的主管们对老人的决定感到吃惊”。shocked “吃惊”，符合句意。exhausted“筋疲力尽的”; annoyed“烦闷的”；embarrassed“尴尬的”。
38. A. 此句意为“播种诚实，收获信任”。trust“信任”；success“成功”； power“力量；势力”；reputation“名誉”。
39. A. 老人说“给你们每人一颗特殊的种子”。special “特殊的”；valuable“贵重的”； mon“普通的”；expensive“昂贵的”。
40. D. 此处为介宾结构，what在with后面的宾语从句中做宾语。
41. C. 老人说“那时我将对你们种植出的植物进行断定，进而选择下一届CEO”。 pare“比较”; observe“观察”；examine“检查”；judge“断定”。
42. B. Jim兴奋地回到家中。heatedly“热情地”；desperately“拼命地”；disappointingly“使人失望地”；excitedly“兴奋地”。
43. A. 句意为“Jim每天都给种子浇水，看它是否生长”。
44. A. 此处意为“Jim每天都检查这个种子”。appreciating “欣赏”；counting“数数”；checking“检查”。
45. C. 此处为“几周过去了”。
46. B. “Jim感到自己像一个失败者”。 fool“傻瓜”；successor“继任者”；failure“失败者”；onlooker“旁观者”。
47. D. 此处意为“年轻人拿着他们的植株，给老人检查”。direction“指导”; application“申请”；instruction“说明”。
48. A. be amazed at“对……感到吃惊”。
49. D. 老人直接对新CEO进行任命，并没有进行选举故不选B。appoint “任命”；perform“表演”；vote“选举”；consider“考虑”。
50. A. 老人一眼就认出坐在后排抱空罐子的Jim. spot“认出”；glance“瞥见”；stare“盯着”；notice“注意到”。
51. A. 老人宣布结果。announce“宣布”; state“陈述；声明”；confirm“确定；证实”；whisper“耳语”。
52. A. It指代老人宣布的这件事。
53. D. It is not possible “……是不可能的”。
54. B. 老人说Jim是唯一一个诚实有勇气的人。confidence “信心”；honesty“诚实”；optimism“乐观”；diligence“勤奋”。
55. C. 结合上一句，此处为一个表示因果关系的副词。Moreover“此外”；however“然而”; besides“除……以外”。