A Welcome Gift
Dario and his mother loved their new apartment.The living room was large enough for their piano.That night, the two of them__1__side by side at the piano.They played jazz music to celebrate their new home.The loud__2__filled the room and made them feel very happy.
The next morning，__3__， their happiness disappeared.Someone had left a__4__under their door during the night.One of their neighbors had written to complain (抱怨) about the sound of the piano.Dario's mother asked the building superintendent (管理员) if he knew anything about it.But he said that they were all__5__people and he couldn't imagine any of them had done that.Later that morning, Dario suggested that they write a letter to their__6__and apologize for their playing.
“Maybe we could go and__7__everyone in person，” his mother said.
“What if we invite them to come here for a__8__instead？” Dario asked.
They both loved the__9__.Over the next few days, they sent out invitations and prepared desserts__10__their guests.They decorated the apartment with streamers (彩带) and party lights.
Finally, the day of the party__11__.Some guests brought presents.Others brought flowers.Some even brought desserts to__12__.One woman, Mrs Gilbert，__13__Dario's mother with a book of piano music by Chopin.
“I heard you playing the other night，” she said.“The sounds woke me out of bed.I__14__that you might play like this every night.So I wrote a short note.I hope you don't think I disliked the playing.”
Dario's mother smiled at Mrs Gilbert.“I think maybe we__15__you an apology，” she said.“I didn't__16__how late it was when we were playing.Maybe we should play some quieter music at night.”
“You play, you play！” Mrs Gilbert said.“I like what you play! Just not so loud at night.” She pointed to the book she had given them.“These songs are not such__17__music.”
“These songs are beautiful music，” Dario's mother said.“We will be__18__to play them in the evening.”
“And we won't play so loud or late！” Dario said.He was already looking forward to__19__the new music.More than that, however, he was happy to see the big smile on his mother's face.It gave him a feeling of__20__and made him feel that they were home at last.
本文讲述的是邻里冲突的故事。一对母子乔迁新居后的当天晚上一起弹奏钢琴进行庆祝，但第二天却收到了邻居充满抱怨的字条。母子商讨决定举办一个聚会向邻居表达歉意。在参加聚会的邻居中，写抱怨字条的女士向母子赠送了一本轻音乐的书，邻里最终皆大欢喜。
1．A.sat B．stood C．lay D．walked
答案：A
解析：据下文的play jazz music可知，他们坐下弹奏钢琴。
2．A.voice B．ring C．music D．cry
答案：C
解析：据语境中的jazz music可知，这里是指爵士乐这种声音大的音乐。
3．A.therefore B．however C．otherwise D．instead
答案：B
解析：据上下文逻辑关系，他们晚上庆祝得非常开心，第二天这种开心就消失了。故应选however表示前后的转折。therefore “因此”；otherwise “否则”；instead “反而”。
4．A.note B．poster C．bill D．report
答案：A
解析：根据语境中的under their door和后面文中So I wrote a short note.判断，门缝下出现的是note(纸条)。poster “海报”；bill “账单”；report “报告”。
5．A.proud B．rich C．lucky D．nice
答案：D
解析：此空与后面的he couldn't imagine any of them had done that形成对比关系。句意为“但是他说这里住的人都很友好，他想象不出有人干了这件事”。nice “友好的”；proud “骄傲的”；lucky “幸运的”；rich “富有的”。
6．A.neighbors B．friends C．relatives D．audiences
答案：A
解析：据上下文，写纸条的是邻居，因此道歉信也应该是写给邻居。friend “朋友”；relative “亲戚”；audience “听众，观众”。
7．A.blame B．instruct C．question D．visit
答案：D
解析：根据语境，他们要向邻居道歉，所以要亲自拜访。blame “责备”；instruct “指导”；question “质疑”。
8．A.party B．concert C．show D．play
答案：A
解析：根据后文第11空处信息可知，他们决定改登门拜访为举办聚会。concert “音乐会”；show “演出”；play “戏剧”。
9．A.experience B．idea C．performance D．action
答案：B
解析：这里是母子在谈论如何向邻居道歉，想出了举办party的主意，母子都很喜欢这个想法。experience “经历，经验”；performance “表演”；action “行为”。
10．A.to B．with C．for D．from
答案：C
解析：根据语境可知，他们发出邀请并为客人们准备了甜点。
11．A.continued B．arrived C．passed D．finished
答案：B
解析：根据语境可知，准备多日的聚会终于到来了。
12．A.order B．sell C．share D．advertise
答案：C
解析：根据语境可知，有的客人带来鲜花，有的还带来甜品，当然是和参加聚会的人分享。
13．A.treated B．presented C．helped D．served
答案：B
解析：Mrs Gilbert 赠送给母亲一本肖邦钢琴曲的书。present，“赠送，呈现”；treat“款待，对待”；help“帮助”；serve“招待”。
14．A.promised B．admitted C．agreed D．worried
答案：D
解析：Mrs Gilbert讲述纸条的事情。她表达的是自己当时的担心。promise “承诺”；admit “承认”；agree “赞成”； worry“担忧”。
15．A.give B．send C．offer D．owe
答案：D
解析：根据上下文可知，Mrs Gilbert和Dario的妈妈冰释前嫌，但Dario的妈妈觉得仍欠邻居一个道歉。owe “亏欠”。
16．A.realize B．remember C．understand D．accept
答案：A
解析：根据上下文可知，当时Dario和妈妈弹琴时没意识到时间已经晚了。
17．A.sweet B．strange C．funny D．loud
答案：D
解析：据此空前Just not so loud at night.以及上文Maybe we should play some quieter music at night.推断书里的音乐不是特别吵的音乐。sweet “甜美的”；strange “奇怪的”；funny “有趣的”。
18．A.brave B．sorry C．happy D．afraid
答案：C
解析：据上文描述，Dario和妈妈应该很高兴在傍晚弹奏这些音乐。brave “勇敢的”；sorry “抱歉的，遗憾的”；afraid “害怕的”。
19．A.changing B．practicing C．recording D．writing
答案：B
解析：根据语境，他们接受了Mrs Gilbert送给他们的书，接下来应该是期待练习新曲了。
20．A.equality B．freedom C．warmth D．sympathy
答案：C
解析：由相邻语句中出现的the big smile on his mother's face和feel that they were home可以推断和睦的邻里关系给了新搬来的居民温暖的感觉。warmth “温暖”；equality “平等”；freedom “自由”；sympathy “同情”。
