17. _____________ the ability to speak, so he had to communicate with his friends and family by using sign language.
  A. As he lost    B. He lost    C. Having lost      D. His being lost
18. With so many life’s challenges __________, the injured soldier was lucky to have a trained dog around to provide support.
A. overcame       B. overcoming      C. to overcome     D. being overcome
19. A recent research indicates that __________ when they are greatly encouraged by their parents, will the kids improve their ability of dealing with problems.
A. only   B. just   C. Still   D. yet
20. Dry stone walls, when properly __________, will last several lifetimes.
   A. is built    B. building    C. to build   D. built

第二節(jié)：完形填空（共20小題；每小題1分，滿分20分）
閱讀下面短文，掌握其大意，然后從21-40各題所給的四個(gè)選項(xiàng)（A、B、C和D）中，選出最佳選項(xiàng)，并在答題紙上將該選項(xiàng)標(biāo)號涂黑。
My teacher Miss Benson was the kindest creature on the earth. I was going to marry her when I grew up—__21__ she would wait. I couldn’t bear to miss one precious moment of her presence by   22   the classroom. I always raised my hands when she called for volunteers to gather   23   and bring them to her desk. That was the best chore of all. It made   24   getting near enough to her. I would arrange and rearrange the papers until they were in perfect order.
I started pestering my mother to put extra fruit  25  my lunch. I was never brave enough to hand it to Miss Benson directly, though. Each day the delicacy was put unobserved on her desk. And the   26  was always the same. She would come in and sit down. “How nice!” She would pick the fruit up, then   27  the room. “What thoughtful little child brought me this?” No one claimed the honor, least of all me. “  28  it be that I have a secret admirer?” she would ask. I would feel the red rising in my face, and I would sigh with   29  when Miss Benson put the fruit away and started the lesson.
One morning, the class was excited. The next day was Miss Benson’s birthday. My heart beat fast---I could give her something  30  . That afternoon was spent combing for wild flowers.  I found several kinds.
The next morning I hung back as others presented their gifts.   31  I went to the desk and gave the flowers to Miss Benson. She was pleased, and held it to   32  cheek for a moment.
The next Monday, Miss Benson was not in class. Then I was   33  to go to the principal’s office. When I arrived, I saw my mother. On a table were my flowers.
“Do you know   34  Miss Benson is today?” the principal asked. “  35  , sir,” I answered.
“Miss Benson,” he said. “is in the hospital, and you sent her there!”  I sat,   36  , in my chair.
“Do you know what you gave her?” he continued. I  37  , “some flowers.”
“They were poisonous!” He was angry. “How did you protect   38  when you picked them?”
“I didn’t know they were poisonous.” I cried.
I begged my mother to take me to the hospital. Miss Benson was in bed when we arrived. “I didn’t   39  to make you sick…” I said. Miss Benson smiled, “You wanted to give me something special, didn’t you?” I was filled with happiness. She was not mad at me.“And I’ll tell you a secret,” she continued. “When I am married, if I have a  40  , I would like him to grow up just like you.”