As she walked round the huge department store, Edith reflected how difficult it was to choose a suitable Christmas present for her father. She wish that he was as easy to please as her mother, who was always delighted with perfume.
Besides, shopping at this time of the year was a most disagreeable experience; people trod on your toes, poked you with their elbows and almost knocked you over in their haste to get to a bargain ahead of you.
Partly to have a rest, Edith paused in front of a counter where some attractive ties were on display. "They are real silk", the assistant assured her, trying to tempt her. "Worth double the price. " But Edith knew from past experience that her choice of ties hardly ever pleased her father.
She moved on reluctantly and then quite by chance, stopped where a small crowd of man had gathered round a counter. She found some good quality pipes on sale—and the prices were very reasonable. Edith did not hesitate for long: although her father only smoked a pipe occasionally, she knew that this was a present which was bund to please him.
When she got home, with her small well chosen present concealed in her handbag, her parents were already at the supper table. Her mother was in an especially cheerful mood, "Your father has at last to decide to stop smoking. " She informed her daughter.
Edith’s father ______.

A:did not like present B:never got present C:preferred ties D:was difficult to choose a present for

By comparing past problems with present ones, the author draws attention to the ______.

A:significance of this crisis B:inadequacy of governments C:similarity of the past to the present D:hopelessness of the situation

(A great many) teachers (firmly) believe that English is one of the (poorest-taught) subjects in high schools (at present).

A:A great many B:firmly C:poorest-taught D:at present

The sun was shining quite brightly as Mrs Grant left her house, so she decided not to (16) an umbrella with her. She got on the bus to the town and before long it began to rain. The rain had not stopped (17) the bus arrived at the market half an hour later. Mrs Grant stood up and absent-mind-edly(心不在焉地)picked up the umbrella that was (18) on the seat in front of her.
A cold voice said loudly, That is mine, Madam!
Suddenly remembering that she had come out without her umbrella, Mrs Grant felt (19) for what she had done, trying at the same time to take no notice of the unpleasant (20) the owner of the umbrella was giving her.
When she got off the bus, Mrs Grant made straight for a shop where she could buy an umbrella. She found a pretty one and bought it. Then she (21) to buy another as a present for her daughter. Afterwards she did the rest of her (22) and had lunch in a restaurant.
In the afternoon she got on the homeward (回家的)bus with the two umbrellas under her arm, and sat down. Then she (23) that, by a curious coincidence (巧合), she was sitting next to the woman who had made her feel (24) that morning.
That woman now looked at her, and then at the umbrellas. "You’ ve had quite a good (25) , " she said.
Ⅱ.完形填空/Cloze

A:day B:meal C:journey D:present

The sun was shining quite brightly as Mrs Grant left her house, so she decided not to (16) an umbrella with her. She got on the bus to the town and before long it began to rain. The rain had not stopped (17) the bus arrived at the market half an hour later. Mrs Grant stood up and absent-mind-edly(心不在焉地)picked up the umbrella that was (18) on the seat in front of her.
A cold voice said loudly, That is mine, Madam!
Suddenly remembering that she had come out without her umbrella, Mrs Grant felt (19) for what she had done, trying at the same time to take no notice of the unpleasant (20) the owner of the umbrella was giving her.
When she got off the bus, Mrs Grant made straight for a shop where she could buy an umbrella. She found a pretty one and bought it. Then she (21) to buy another as a present for her daughter. Afterwards she did the rest of her (22) and had lunch in a restaurant.
In the afternoon she got on the homeward (回家的)bus with the two umbrellas under her arm, and sat down. Then she (23) that, by a curious coincidence (巧合), she was sitting next to the woman who had made her feel (24) that morning.
That woman now looked at her, and then at the umbrellas. "You’ ve had quite a good (25) , " she said.
Ⅱ.完形填空/Cloze

A:day B:meal C:journey D:present

The sun was shining quite brightly as Mrs Grant left her house, so she decided not to (16) an umbrella with her. She got on the bus to the town and before long it began to rain. The rain had not stopped (17) the bus arrived at the market half an hour later. Mrs Grant stood up and absent-mind-edly(心不在焉地)picked up the umbrella that was (18) on the seat in front of her.
A cold voice said loudly, That is mine, Madam!
Suddenly remembering that she had come out without her umbrella, Mrs Grant felt (19) for what she had done, trying at the same time to take no notice of the unpleasant (20) the owner of the umbrella was giving her.
When she got off the bus, Mrs Grant made straight for a shop where she could buy an umbrella. She found a pretty one and bought it. Then she (21) to buy another as a present for her daughter. Afterwards she did the rest of her (22) and had lunch in a restaurant.
In the afternoon she got on the homeward (回家的)bus with the two umbrellas under her arm, and sat down. Then she (23) that, by a curious coincidence (巧合), she was sitting next to the woman who had made her feel (24) that morning.
That woman now looked at her, and then at the umbrellas. "You’ ve had quite a good (25) , " she said.
Ⅱ.完形填空/Cloze

A:day B:meal C:journey D:present