Signs can sometimes be seen at the entrance of a house, expressing that a tramp（流浪汉） has passed. This special sign-language is frequently 36 by tramps to inform their 37 whether the host of a certain house is friendly or unfriendly, and to 38 them the trouble of making unnecessary calls.
Quite 39 one day, I came across a real tramp. He was such a rare sight these days that I stood some distance away and watched him. He was dressed just as a tramp should be 40 , old worn trousers, and a jacket many sizes too big for him. On his head there was a battered old hat and his boots were so old and worn; they were almost ing into 41 . But the man himself looked cheerful as if he had not been a 42 in the world. He rubbed his nose with his forefinger, 43 a funny turn, laid a small parcel by the front gate, and began 44 a sign made by a former caller. Although the sign was meaningless to me, it must have been 45 , for the tramp’s face lit up with 46 . He entered the front gate confidently and rang the bell. When the door opened, I saw him 47 his hat but couldn’t hear his words. The 48 was very short indeed, for no sooner had he spoken a few words than the door closed fiercely in his face. I felt 49 for him as he walked 50 out of the house, But just as quickly, his face lit up again and he moved quickly towards the gate. There he stopped, looked at the sign, and 51 his head seriously as if he had made a bad mistake. 52 deeply into his pockets, he produced a piece of chalk, rubbed out the 53 sign and made a new one in its place. He stared at it for a moment smiling to himself, then gathered his 54 , pushed back his hat and began walking towards the next house at an unhurried 55 , whistling as he went along.
【小题1】A．employedB．madeC．takenD．put up【小题2】A．parentsB．classmatesC．fellowsD．friends【小题3】A．shareB．saveC．giveD．put【小题4】A．in a wayB．by mistakeC．by the wayD．by chance【小题5】A．withB．inC．byD．on【小题6】A．a fashionB．a designC．piecesD．blocks【小题7】A．successB．careC．failureD．family【小题8】A．gaveB．got C．setD．made【小题9】A．drawingB．kissingC．correctingD．studying【小题10】A．pleasedB．strangeC．funnyD．exciting【小题11】A．surpriseB．satisfactionC．worryD．disappointment【小题12】A．riseB．put onC．raiseD．throw【小题13】A．conversationB．introduction C．quarrelD．greeting【小题14】A．happyB．frightenedC．worriedD．sorry【小题15】A．cheerfulB．sadlyC．bravelyD．eagerly【小题16】A．wavedB．swungC．shookD．nodded【小题17】A．DiggingB．StealingC．PuttingD．Looking【小题18】A．appearingB．movingC．shiningD．existing【小题19】A．belongingsB．clothesC．umbrellaD．stick【小题20】A．stepB．positionC．paceD．situationA
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(答案→)A
解析：流浪汉们常将他们所使用的特殊符号画在住户的墙上，告知同行这家主人是否友好，可否去拜访．本文讲述一个流浪汉根据符号的指引去一户人家乞讨，结果却吃了闭门羹．后来他发现是符号错了。
【小题1】A employ使用。这种特殊的符号常被流浪汉用来告知同行是否可以进入该户人家乞讨。put up张贴，据下文，符号是画在墙上，故不可选。B、c两项不合文意．
【小题2】C 据上下文是指告知同行。同行不一定都是朋友，故排除D项。
【小题3】B 据上文知，有了这种符号，流浪汉们就可省下做一些不必要的拜访的麻烦，故选B。put，give与文童矛盾；且put搭配不当；spare词义不对。
【小题4】D 短语辨析。A在某种程度上B错误C随便说一下D偶然；从后半句came across得知为巧遇by chance。
【小题5】B be dressed in穿着……的衣服。本句意为“他的穿着正像一个流浪汉，破旧的裤子，大得极不相称的夹克”。
【小题6】C e into pieces指流浪汉衣衫槛楼，几乎“成为碎片”。
【小题7】C care此处为名词，意为“忧虑”。流浪汉对自己的窘境似乎并不感到忧虑。failure失败，属于“伤心事”之列。
【小题8】D 动词辨析。A给B得到C设立D进行，做；意为“滑稽地转了一个圈”。
【小题9】D 据上下文知这里是“研究”，“仔细看”那个符号，想弄清它代表的意思。
【小题10】D 指符号有帮助favorable，提供了好消息。
【小题11】B 对从中得到的好消息很满意，估计自己会讨到东西。
【小题12】C raise one’s hat=take one’s hat off to sb. 脱帽(把帽于举一下)致敬。
【小题13】A 名词辨析。A对话B介绍C争吵D问候；流浪汉与主人之间的谈话。
【小题14】D 形容词辨析。A开心B害怕C担忧D难受；看到他悲伤地走出来，我为他感到难过。
【小题15】B 副词辨析。A高兴B悲哀C勇敢D急切；吃了闭门羹之后情绪低落，悲伤。
【小题16】C 动词辨析。A挥手B摇摆C摇头D点头；其他选项词义不当。
【小题17】A 动词辨析。A挖B偷C放D看；把手插到口袋里去找东西。
【小题18】D 形容词辨析。A出现的B移动的C闪亮的D存在的；把现存符号擦去，再画一个新符号。
【小题19】A 名词辨析。belongings此处为名词，指流浪汉携带的物品。
【小题20】C pace这里指步伐节奏．流浪汉迈着不紧不慢的步伐，吹着口哨继续往下家去乞讨。