SECTION B
Directions: For each blank in the following passage 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.
It was early spring. The sun was strong and warm. I went over the hillside fields behind my village, 36 buntings and linnets, the birds I loved most.
I turned along a bush between two fields where I had seen the birds before, but on this fine day almost the first birds that I saw were winter visitors. I was 37 not to see a bunting straightaway, but I went on, stopping occasionally to look at the black-thorn (黑刺李) flowers in the bush, and 38 I did hear a bunting singing. Or was it? Was I not perhaps turning a note of skylark (云雀) song into that of the song I was hoping to hear?
But the bunting’s song was pretty clear, and within a few minutes I was proved
39 . The song was coming from the bush, and as I approached 40 I saw the brown bird resting in a small tree. It opened its mouth, and 41 once more. Then it flew off. It was the only one I saw that day, but at least I had found one of the birds I had 42 .
It was not until I was on my way back home that I caught sight of some 43 . I saw five of them gathering on the ground when I was just coming back beside the 44 where I had found the bunting. As I came nearer, they flew up, spreading their tails so that their white edges 45 to look like a white fan in the sky. Then, to my 46 , some big pigeons suddenly came flying and joined the linnets. A moment later they had all 47 — but I had fulfilled my hopes for the day.
36.A. looking at B. looking for C. looking up D. looking after
37.A. disappointed B. dismissed C. dissatisfied D. disturbed
38.A. directly B. gradually C. suddenly D. immediately
39.A. proper B. right C. useful D. true
40.A. sadly B. hurriedly C. proudly D. quietly
41.A. danced B. ate C. sang D. shouted
42.A. observed B. noticed C. expected D. described
43.A. linnets B. skylarks C. pigeons D. buntings
44.A. bush B. road C. grass D. black-thorn
45.A. widened B. enlarged C. lengthened D. expanded
46.A. knowledge B. pleasure C. amusement D. honour
47.A. gathered B. lost C. missed D. gone