17. A. it B. you C. that D. this
18. A. caused B. advised C. persuaded D. inspired
19. A. experience B. encouragement C. lesson D. story
20. A. special B. stable C. difficult D. smooth
B
I was busy preparing for my daughter’s wedding. To save money， I gathered flowers from several friends who had large magnolia（木蘭） trees. Their white blooms and green leaves would make beautiful arrangements____ 1____ the dark wood inside the hall.
The night before the wedding， we ____ 2____the hall with magnolias. I thought the music， the ceremony， the reception — and____3 ____ the flowers — would be remembered for years.
The big day arrived. I went to the hall to do a final ____4____. When I opened the door， we felt a____5 ____ of hot air. I almost fainted____6 ____I saw all the beautiful white flowers were black. The air conditioner was ____7 ____， and on that hot summer day， the flowers____ 8 ____.
I didn’t have time to drive back to our____9____ ， gather more flowers and return in time for the wedding. I prayed to find someone____10____to give me flowers！
As____11 ____the hall， I saw magnolia trees in the distance. I ____ 12____ a house and knocked on the door. An old man____ 13____. When I told him what had happened， he said， “I am ____ 14____ to help you！” He climbed a ladder， ____ 15____large boughs and handed them down to me. Minutes later， as I lifted the last armload into my car trunk， I said， “Sir， you’ve made the mother of a bride____16 ____ today.”
He said， “When my wife’s____ 17____ got worse， she needed me. But now， she has died and nobody needs me. Do you know what I was____ 18 ____ when I handed you those magnolias？ I felt I was needed.”
I drove back to the hall， filled with ____19 ____ . On my daughter’s wedding day， I also realized that being needed makes ____20 ____happy.
1. A. from B. against C. for D. beyond
2. A. visited B. planned C. decorated D. supplied
3. A. naturally B. fairly C. extremely D. especially
4. A. check B. correction C. arrangement D. addition
5. A. lot B. rush C. flash D. storm
6. A. for B. as C. because D. since
7. A. repaired B. fixed C. robbed D. broken
8. A. hurt B. lacked C. died D. breathed
9. A. streets B. hometown C. markets D. stores
10. A. willing B. eager C. ready D. sure
11. A. extended B. called C. left D. dropped
12. A. missed B. passed C. arrived D. approached
13. A. answered B. reflected C. responded D. replied
14. A. grateful B. glad C. fateful D. anxious
15. A. collected B. chose C. cut D. destroyed