一、完形填空
Throughout my childhood, my mother had a special habit in the evenings. Sometimes she would knit(编织) hats for us, and other times, she baked cookies. But one day, she surprised us all by announcing(宣布), “I’m going to make a phone call to one neighbour every 1.” I was 16 then and couldn’t understand why she would spend her evenings talking to people she 2 knew.
One evening, I overheard(偶然听到) her conversation with a(n) 3 lady. She asked about the lady’s dinner and even discussed the roses in the park. When she 4 up, I questioned her about the choice of topics, finding them 5. With a kind smile, she explained, “I might be the only person she talked to today. So even the simplest conversations can make her feel she is cared for.”
It wasn’t until nearly 30 years later that I 6 the true influence of my mother’s nightly calls. The elderly often feel lonely for different reasons. As people age, they may experience the loss of friends and family members. This leads to a 7 social circle. Health problems can make it harder for the elderly to join in social activities. They might feel like they are being forgotten or no longer valued. 8 regular social connections, they may experience sadness, boredom(无聊) and a sense of 9. Long periods of feeling lonely can even lead to feelings of depression and anxiety(焦虑).
My mother’s calls 10 them to the world outside. Her conversations were more than just friendly talks—they were lifelines for lonely elderly.
() 1. A. morning B. noon C. afternoon D. night
() 2. A. hardly B. suddenly C. never D. probably
() 3. A. strange B. young C. elderly D. homeless
() 4. A. stood B. hung C. jumped D. looked
() 5. A. unimportant B. fun C. unpleasant D. possible
() 6. A. imagined B. remembered C. realized D. guessed
() 7. A. smaller B. larger C. closer D. wider
() 8. A. By B. Without C. Through D. From
() 9. A. happiness B. freedom C. emptiness D. duty
()10. A. left B. chose C. reminded D. connected