第二节完形填空（20小题；每小题1分，满分20分）
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
“I can’t believe it．These blooms have lasted so long this year,” my wife said．
“I hadn’t really thought about it, but you are right．As much as I love lilacs （丁香）, they come and go so 36 ,” I said．
It has been incredibly 37 this year here in my back-yard．Our lilac tree has 38 the most blooms I have ever seen．The scent （香味） is so wonderful that I spend a lot of time just standing on our small deck 39 it all in．
Many of the 40 are hollow and almost broken, leaving me to believe it has 41 _ many springs．A few winters ago one of the biggest branches crashed to the ground under the 42 of melting snow．It 43 my heart．I guess I wasn’t 44 much from the old thing this year．But it is magnificent!
Since we have been 45 so much rain lately the flowers have become heavier．The 46_ tall branches seem to be under a lot of pressure．I can relate to that．There are big gaps because the branches are 47 ．
48 , today I noticed the first bunch of flowers turning brown．It won’t be long 49 _ they are all gone．But here’s what I’ve learned from it．
Some people are like fragrant flowers．They come into our lives ever so 50 and leave behind a scent that stays in our being．They 51 your day by just having had contact with them even if for a moment．You cannot possibly 52 a day without thinking about them．Their beautiful 53 gently touches your heart each time you hear their name．In the coldest, darkest days of the winter of my life, the 54 of them will get me through it all and bring a smile to my face and I will have “spring forever in my 55 ．”
36．A．slowly B．steadily C．gently D．fast
37．A．confusing B．exciting C．disappointing D．annoying
38．A．supplied B．raised C．produced D．presented
39．A．taking B．breathing C．bringing D．getting
40．A．branches B．leaves C．flowers D．fruits
41．A．seen B．won C．found D．missed
42．A．threat B．attack C．weight D．control
43．A．hurt B．broke C．struck D．cured
44．A．expecting B．learning C．judging D．borrowing
45．A．predicting B．lacking C．desiring D．experiencing
46．A．still B．even C．once D．just
47．A．lighter B．softer C．stronger D．lower
48．A．Sadly B．Luckily C．Hopefully D．Jokingly
49．A．when B．before C．after D．since
50．A．casually B．slowly C．secretly D．briefly
51．A．brighten B．waste C．ruin D．end
52．A．put off B．take up C．go through D．use up
53．A．expression B．appearance C．figure D．spirit
54．A．memory B．understanding C．sympathy D．tolerance
55．A．experience B．theory C．heart D．conscience