II. Cloze 20%

Directions:  For each blank in the following passages there are four words or phrases marked A, B, C and D. Fill in each blank with the word or phrase that best fits the context.

A lecturer was giving a lecture to his students on stress management. He 21a glass of water and asked the audience, “How 22 do you think this glass of water is?”

The students’ answers 23 from 20g to 500g.

“It does not matter on the absolute 24 . It depends on how 25 you hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it is OK. If I hold it for a(n) 26 , I will have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you will have to 27  an ambulance. It is exactly the 28 weight, but the longer I hold it, the 29 it becomes.” The whole audience became silent, lost in thought.

After a moment, the lecturer continued, “ 30 we carry our burden all the time, 31 , we will not be able to carry on with the burden becoming increasingly heavier, 32 heavy for us to bear.

“What you have to do is to 33 the glass, rest for a while 34 holding it up again.”

As is shown in the story above, we have to put down the burden periodically, 35 we can be refreshed and are able to carry on.

So before you 36 home from work tonight, put the burden of 37 down. Don’t carry it back 38 . You can pick it up tomorrow.

Whatever burden you are having now on your 39 , let it down for a moment if you can.

Life is short,  40 it!

21. A. supported            B. drank                C. needed                        D. raised

22. A. heavy                 B. pure           C. sweet                       D. many

23. A. differed             B. ranged              C. numbered                 D. limited

24. A. weight            B. volume             C. height                     D. quantity

25. A. tight                   B. long                  C. difficult                   D. high

26. A. day                  B. second              C. hour                D. half

27. A. require                  B. invite          C. call                D. ask

28. A. proper                  B. same         C. right                      D. usual

29. A. less                  B. lighter              C. more                   D. heavier

30. A. If                     B. Unless         C. While                   D. Since

31. A. now and then    B. little by little        C. sooner or later      D. sometimes

32. A. too              B. so              C. rather                D. Quite

33. A. put away       B. put down          C. put aside            D. put back

34. A. after            B. for              C. by                       D. before

35. A. so that                B. even if            C. as if                D. as soon as

36. A. leave                  B. clean                C. approach                  D. return

37. A. life                  B. duty                      C. task                     D. work

38. A. home                  B. office             C. company             D. family

39. A. shoulders            B. heart              C. body                   D. hands

40. A. do                   B. like                C. love                D. Enjoy