More and more of us are (1) the TV networks. That’ s not news, of course; there have been countless stories on their (2) audience. But I didn’ t realize how far out ! had dropped (3) I glanced at the Nielsen ratings of the top 71 shows. Of those 71 programs, I had not watched (4) one. (5) , I could count only five that I had ever seen in my entire life. And of those five, there isn’ t one I watch (6) .
Despite its popularity, I don’ t like happy family shows. They’ re (7) . If I watch a family show, I prefer something lifelike, such as "Death’ of a Salesman."
(8) the second - rated program, "A Different World," I’ ve never heard of it. If I want to see a different (9) , I’ ll drive to the west side of Chicago.
I (10) watch" Cheers," which is still (11) the top ten, but gave it up after Diana left and Sam began lusting after a career- crazed yuppie. Am I the only person in America who has never watched a segment of "Dallas" A while ago, I recall somebody important was killed on the "last (12) of the season and almost everybody in America was caught up in the hype. I watched wrestling that night; I’ ll bet the acting was (13) .
It’ s not (14) I’ m snobbish--I enjoy TV (15) as much as the next slob. But the (16) of truly trashy trash has declined. I was one of the first writers in America to recognize the greatness of Robin Leach’ s" Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous." So, what do I watch I still turn to the networks, (17) I have learned to exploit and cheat them. For example, I like football, but seldom watch it (18) . In stead, I (19) it and later play it back an my VCR, fast - forwarding through all the commercials, the announcers’ babble, the half- time drivel and even the huddles. I also watched movies, but only on some cable channels, (20) the networks.

A:better B:good C:worse D:awful

(He asked what) (had the weather been) like during my holidays and I (said) that (it had been awful).（　）

A:He asked what B:had the weather been C:said D:it had been awful

The weather is awful. I wish it ______ raining.

A:stopped B:would stop C:had stopped D:stops

The weather last summer was {{U}}awful{{/U}}.

A:bad B:fair C:dry D:hot

We had a very {{U}}awful{{/U}} earthquake here last year.

A:light B:terrible C:slight D:obvious

Pretty Good
When Spanish football club Barcelona paid US$35 million for Ronaldinho last summer, they weren’t buying a pretty face. "I am (51) ," admits the Brazilian superstar (超级明星). "But everyone has got a different kind of beauty. What I (52) have is charm."
Indeed he has. His buck teeth (龅牙), flowing hair, big smile, and of course his (53) skills are always eye-catching on the pitch. The 23-year-old striker (中锋) scored two goals in a 3-2 win over Deportivo La Coruna on March 1. It was Barcelona’s sixth win in a row and, thanks to their Brazilian’s 10-goal contribution, (54) looked like a poor season could now end a success.
Ronaldinho - full name Ronaldo De Assis Moreira - is one of many South Americans who learned their skills playing in the backstreets before (55) them off on the world stage.
Great things were (56) when Gremio signed him as a seven-year-old, and he soon became friends with Ronaldo, who was then the other young star of Brazilian football. It was Ronaldo who first called him Ronaldinho, which (57) Little Ronaldo.
He first (58) for his country in 1999 but it was at the 2002 World Cup where he showed his real worth, scoring an unbelievable free-kick in Brazil’s quarter-final victory (59) England.
"I have never failed to deliver in big matches," Ronaldinho says. "My game is based on improvisation (即兴表演). Often a forward does not have the time to decide whether to shoot or (60) . It is instinct that gives out the orders."
While he may not have David Beckham’s good looks, Ronaldinho has a (61) reputation off the pitch. At former club Paris Saint Germain, which sold him to Barcelona, he broke (62) rules by going out and enjoying the city’s nightlife.
"Without doubt, Ronaldinho is the most (63) player I have ever come across," says former PSG coach Luis Ferdandez. "The main (64) for any coach is that one player without discipline can hurt the whole team."
But Ronaldinho doesn’t think he has done anything wrong. "I am just a young person who enjoys (65) ," he says.

A:dangerous B:frightening C:brilliant D:awful

We had a very {{U}}awful{{/U}} earthquake here last year.

A:light B:terrible C:slight D:obvious

The weather last summer was awful.

A:bad B:fair C:dry D:hot