阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。
[2019·武汉调研]Paul looked out of the window of the classroom and sighed. The driveway was still __1__ and it was getting dark. His dad had said that he would __2__ him up by 5：30, but it was almost seven and Paul hadn't heard a word from him. Paul __3__ to do some of his reading homework. __4__， he couldn't help thinking of his dad. He knew that his dad had a __5__ and a life, but he couldn't __6__ why he was always breaking his __7__.
The next day at school, Paul didn't __8__ his math homework. Paul's teacher noticed his unusually __9__performance and asked him why. Paul didn't want to __10__ him. He knew that if he started talking, a flood of __11__ would pour out. He just wanted to be alone with his __12__， so he sat there __13__， not even looking at the teacher. “Well Paul, you can't have this thing eat you up. The sooner you get it off your __14__， the sooner you can __15__.”
As Paul walked home from school, he __16__ the things the teacher had told him. Paul knew that he hadn't __17__ himself recently. Maybe he stopped doing his work because he was looking for __18__ from his father. He knew his teacher was __19__ and decided to take the teacher's advice. When Paul got home, by a hearttoheart talk with his dad, he __20__ his feelings and finally understood his dad.
体裁：记叙文 题材：人物故事 主题：情感转变
【语篇解读】 文章主要讲述了一个男孩在等他的父亲接他放学，可是他的父亲一直都没有出现，这导致他心情郁闷，甚至不能上交他的作业，最后他的内心产生了一些改变。
1．A.dusty B．noisy
C．empty D．leafy
答案与解析：C 根据下文中的“His dad had said that he would... him up by 5：30, but it was almost seven and Paul hadn't heard a word from him.”可知，天色已晚，车道仍然是空的，保罗的父亲还没来。empty意为“空的”，符合语境。
2．A.lift B．pick
C．call D．put
答案与解析：B 根据空前的The driveway和下文可知，保罗的父亲之前曾说会在5：30之前开车来接他，但是快到7：00了父亲仍没有来。pick up意为“接载，搭载”，符合语境。
3．A.tried B．seemed
C．preferred D．pretended
答案与解析：A 根据语境可知，保罗努力做一些阅读作业，但是却总忍不住想他的父亲。try意为“努力”，符合语境。
4．A.Undoubtedly B．Honestly
C．Thus D．However
答案与解析：D 设空处前的“do some of his reading homework”和设空处后的“he couldn't help thinking of his dad”为转折关系。however意为“然而；可是”，符合语境。
5．A.job B．problem
C．qualification D．document
答案与解析：A 根据语境及设空处后的and a life可知，保罗知道父亲有自己的工作和生活。job意为“工作”，符合语境。
6．A.believe B．analyze
C．confirm D．understand
答案与解析：D 根据空前的“He knew that his dad had a．.. and a life, but he couldn't”可知，保罗虽然知道父亲有自己的工作和生活，但是他不能理解为什么父亲总是食言。understand意为“理解”，与前半句中的knew相呼应，符合语境。
7．A.records B．barriers
C．promises D．habits
答案与解析：C 根据上文可知，保罗的父亲告诉他会在5：30之前开车来接他，但是快到7：00了他仍没有来，由此可知，父亲食言了。break one's promise意为“食言”，符合语境。
8．A.turn over B．turn in
C．complete D．do
答案与解析：B 根据下文中的“Paul's teacher noticed his unusually... performance and asked him why.”可知，保罗第二天上学没有上交他的数学作业。turn in意为“上交”，符合语境。
9．A.poor B．superior
C．memorable D．strong
答案与解析：A 根据语境可知，保罗并没有上交作业，所以在老师看来，这是不寻常的不好的表现。poor意为“不好的；差的”，符合语境。
10．A.disturb B．interrupt
C．tell D．track
答案与解析：C 根据下文中的“He knew that if he started talking, a flood of... would pour out.”可知，保罗不想告诉老师原因。tell意为“告诉”，符合语境。
11．A.homework B．revision
C．inquiries D．emotions
答案与解析：D 根据上文可知，保罗并不想告诉老师自己表现差的原因，因为他觉得一旦开始谈论，他就将会向老师倾诉许多情绪。emotion意为“情绪；情感”，符合语境。
12．A.study B．pain
C．responsibility D．sympathy
答案与解析：B 根据上文可知，保罗的父亲总是不能遵守他对保罗的承诺，所以他很伤心，此处指保罗只想带着这种痛苦的情绪，一个人待一会儿。pain意为“疼痛；痛苦”，符合语境。
13．A.quietly B．tentatively
C．voluntarily D．unconditionally
答案与解析：A 根据上文中的“Paul didn't want to... He knew that if he started talking, a flood of... He just wanted to be alone with his... so he sat there.”可知，保罗不想回答老师的问题，只想一个人待一会儿，所以他安静地坐在那里。quietly意为“安静地；秘密地；平稳地”，符合语境。
14．A.routine B．plan
C．chest D．curriculum
答案与解析：C 根据上文中的“you can't have this thing eat you up”可知，老师在劝说保罗，此处应指老师建议保罗尽快把心中的烦恼一吐为快，get sth. off one's chest表示“倾吐心中的烦恼”，符合语境。
15．A.heal B．remember
C．continue D．leave
答案与解析：A 根据语境可知，此处指老师建议保罗越快倾吐心中的烦恼，就能越快地治愈(内心的痛苦)。heal意为“治愈”，符合语境。
16．A.gave up B．reflected on
C．heard of D．dreamed about
答案与解析：B 根据文章最后一段中的“He knew his teacher... and decided to take the teacher's advice.”可知，保罗在放学回家的路上仔细思考老师告诉他的事情。reflect on意为“仔细思考”，符合语境。
17．A.persuaded B．encouraged
C．defended D．been
答案与解析：D 根据上文可知，保罗因父亲总是不信守对自己的承诺而感到难过，一直不在状态。not be oneself表示“不在状态”，符合语境。persuade意为“说服，劝说”；encourage意为“鼓励；支持；促进；鼓动”；defend意为“辩护”。
18．A.freedom B．expectation
C．guidance D．attention
答案与解析：D 根据上文可知，保罗没有上交作业，再结合常识可知，他这么做的原因可能是想在他父亲那里寻求关注。attention意为“注意力；关心”，符合语境。freedom意为“自由，自主”；expectation意为“期待；预期；指望”；guidance意为“指导，引导”，故选D项。
19．A.kind B．right
C．objective D．qualified
答案与解析：B 根据设空处后的“and decided to take the teacher's advice”可知，保罗认为老师的建议是对的，决定接受老师的建议。right意为“正确的”，符合语境。kind意为“善良的；友好的”；objective意为“客观的”；qualified意为“有资格的；合格的”，故选B项。
20．A.hid B．strengthened
C．expressed D．abandoned
答案与解析：C 根据上文及空后的feelings可知，保罗向父亲表达了自己的感受，最后理解了父亲。express意为“表达”，符合语境。hide意为“隐藏”；strengthen意为“加强”；abandon意为“放弃”。
