Long long ago, there was a small village. This village had a 36 tradition. At the beginning of every year, any boy who had reached the age of 18 was given land and money to build a home. The boy had to 37 his home before winter. If his home failed to endure the cold weather in winter, the villagers could not 38 him in any way.
One 39 , Paul and Marc reached their 18. They 40 their land and money and decided to search nearby villages for ideas on building their homes. In each village, they found the nicest 41 and talked to the owners. Each owner gladly offered 42 .
After Marc saw several homes, he 43 the best ideas and went back to his own land. Paul, 44 , continued collecting more ideas. Soon he had so many great ideas that he began to 45 some of them. But he always believed he could find even better ideas in the next village.
Marc began building his home. He had several false starts, 46 his home gradually rose from his land. By fall, Marc had finished his home. It wasn't perfect, but it was strong and he could 47 it later. Paul enjoyed all the beautiful homes and 48 with home owners. The first snow came and Paul, realizing he was running out of time, 49 back to his land. He built the best home he could in the time he had, but it was 50 . The first winter storm destroyed his home and he froze to 51 . The villagers mourned for him.
Marc 52 the winter. Each year, Marc searched for other good ideas he could use to make his own home look better. He became a leader in the village, 53 a family, and lived a happy, content life.
We all build and improve our own mental homes. It’s 54 and fun for us to search for ideas from other mental home owners, but we only improve our own mental home if we actually 55 the best ideas.
【小题1】A．hopefulB．strangeC．literaryD．cultural【小题2】A．findB．makeC．buy D．plete【小题3】A．encourage B．helpC．scoldD．persuade【小题4】A．winterB．summerC．spring `D．autumn【小题5】A．receivedB．exchangedC．recognizedD．advised【小题6】A．girlsB．jobsC．presentsD．houses【小题7】A．roomsB．drinksC．adviceD．attention【小题8】A．gatheredB．expectedC．createdD．understood【小题9】A．similarlyB．finallyC．furthermoreD．however【小题10】A．believeB．forgetC．replaceD．doubt【小题11】A．becauseB．althoughC．soD．but【小题12】A．repairB．rebuildC．improveD．sell【小题13】A．achievementsB．conversationsC．strugglesD．arguments【小题14】A．rushedB．droveC．flewD．moved【小题15】A．funnyB．weakC．smallD．amazing【小题16】A．deathB．blindnessC．sadnessD．illness【小题17】A．experiencedB．lovedC．spentD．survived【小题18】A．broughtB．earnedC．raisedD．contacted【小题19】A．easyB．slowC．dangerousD．special【小题20】A．realizeB．bringC．applyD．collectB
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(答案→)B
解析：本文讲述了很久以前，有个小村庄，有个奇怪的传统，男孩到了18岁，在那年年初就给他一些钱和土地，让他自己在那年冬天以前盖好房子，任何人不能帮他，结果有一年Marc和 Paul成年了。他们就去各村去走访征求大家的盖房的意见，Marc在走访了一些村民，有了自己的想法，就回去盖房去了，而Paul还是继续走访收集资料，可是当他看到时间不多了，就急匆匆地把房盖好了，可是第一场雪就把他的房子给毁了，他被冻死了，而Marc后来成了村里的领导。通过这个故事告诉我们，无论是精神世界还是物质世界，一些想法的寻找是简单的，但是想法的运用却是另外一回事。
【小题1】考查形容词辨析。由下文对这个传统的描述来看，这个传统很独特，所以四个词中只有strange (奇怪的)符合语境。语境为：很久很久以前，有一个小村庄有着一个奇怪的传统。每到年初，已成年的男孩就会拿到一块地和资金(自己动手)去修建自己的房屋。hopeful 有希望的；literary 文艺的，书本的；cultural文化的。故选B。
【小题2】考查动词词义辨析。这里指的是在冬天到来前就要完成房屋的修建,所以用plete，意思是：完成。倒数第三段 “By fall, Marc had finished his home．”中有同义词复现：finish。故选D。
【小题3】考查动词词义辨析。 倒数第三段“The first winter storm destroyed his home and he froze to 51 ．The villagers mourned for him．”告诉我们，由于Paul修建的房子不好，被冻死了，人们都来哀悼他，但没有帮助他度过寒冬，由此可以看出，在这一奇怪的传统中，别人是不能提供帮助的，所以选help。故选B。
【小题4】考查据语境选词。上一段告诉我们，成年的男孩是在每年的年初(At the beginning of every year)拿到一块地和资金的，四个选项中只有spring(春天)符合境。故选C。
【小题5】考查动词辨析。对应第一段提到的was given，所以这里选receive意思是：收到。exchange 交换；recognize 认出，承认；advise 建议，忠告。故选A。
【小题6】考查据语境选词。前文告诉我们，他们要建的是房子，这是在外出考察，自然是找最好的房子和房主交谈以获得如何建好房子的建议。文中有多处同义词home的复现。故选D。
【小题7】考查名词词义辨析。每一位房主都很乐意提供给他们(关于如何建好房子的)建议。所以选advice。可以从“Soon he had so many great ideas that he began to 45 some of them．”中的idea得到启示。故选C。
【小题8】考查动词辨析。Marc 参观了几栋房子，把房主们提供的建议搜集起来，所以选gather。意思是：搜集。44空后的“continued collecting more ideas”有同义词复现。expect 期待，预料；create 创造；understand理解。故选A。
【小题9】考查副词辨析。考查动词辨析。Mar开始建房，而Paul却仍在继续搜集如何建房的建议，两者之间是转折关系，所以用however。故选D。
【小题10】考查动词辨析。由于搜集的好的修建房屋的方法太多了，以至于都忘了一部分，所以用forget。 believe 认为，相信；replace代替；doubt怀疑。故选B。
【小题11】考查连词辨析。“He had several false starts”和“his home gradually rose from his land”之间是转折关系，所以用but。故选D。
【小题12】考查动词辨析。倒数第二段 “Each year, Marc searched for other good ideas he could use to make his own home look better．”中的make his own home look better，说的就是他所修的房子可以在建成后随时改良，所以用improve。repair 修理、修补；rebuild重建；sell卖。故选C。
【小题13】考查名词辨析。第二段的“In each village, they found the nicest 41 and talked to the owners．”可知，应该选conversations，意思是：谈话、会话。故选B。
【小题14】考查动词辨析。冬天来了，第一场雪使Paul意识到建房子所剩的时间不多了，所以自己便急匆匆地往回赶，所以选rush，意思是：冲、奔，急匆匆的赶。故选A。
【小题15】考查形容词辨析。由后面的“The first winter storm destroyed his home”可以看出，由于动工时间较晚，时间紧，他修的房子不牢固，所以选weak，意思是：不牢固的。Funny滑稽的；small小的；amazing令人吃惊的。故选B。
【小题16】考查名词辨析。下一句“The villagers mourned for him”告诉我们，村民们都去哀悼他，由此可知他被冻死了，所以选death。故选A。
【小题17】考查动词辨析。这里指的是Marc由于修好了房子，顺利渡过了冬天，所以用survive，意思是：从困境中挺过来。故选D。
【小题18】考查动词辨析。raise 养育。句意为：(后来)他成了村里的领导，养育了一家人，幸福满意的生活着。如果把 A 项后加上up，也是正确的。故选C。
【小题19】考查形容词辨析。上面的故事告诉我们，建议和想法的寻找是简单的，而实践才是困难的，所以选easy。故选A。
【小题20】考查动词辨析。这里指的是最好的想法的“应用”，所以选apply。故选C。