With a thoughtful sigh, Helen turned away from the window and wa1ked back to her favourite armchair. __her brother never arrive? For a brief moment, she wondered if she really cared that much.
Over the years Helen had given __waiting for Martin to take an interest in her.
Her feelings for him had gradually __until now, as she sat waiting for him, sheexperienced no more than a sisters. __to see what had __of her brother.
Almost without __, Martin had lost, his job with a busy publishing company after spending the last eight years in New York as a key figure in the US office. Somehow the two of them hadnt __ to keep in touch and, left alone, Helen had slowly found her __ in her own judgment growing. __the wishes of her parents, she had left university halfway __ her course and now, to the astonishment of the whole family, she was __a fast-growing reputation in the pages of respected art magazines and was actually earning enough to live __ from her paintings.
Of course, she __no pleasure in Martins sudden misfortune, but she couldnt __ looking forward to her brothers arrival with __ satisfaction at what she had achieved.
词汇:
Armchair /,ɑ:mt , ɑ:m-/ n. 扶手椅 reputation /,repjutei n / n.名声，名誉声望
curiosity /,kjuri siti/ n. 好奇心，好奇 misfortune / misf :t n / n. 不幸;灾祸，灾难
confidence / k nfid ns / n. 信心;言任 satisfaction /,s tisf k n / n. 满意，满足
astonishment / st ni m nt / n. 惊讶;令人惊讶的事物
注释:
1. take an interest in ... : 对产生兴趣
2. become of sb. / sth. ...: 发生情况;遭遇
3. to the astonishment of ... :令惊讶的是
练习:
1. A) Could B) Should C) Would D) Ought
2. A) in B) up C) out D) away
3. A) depressed B) weakened C) lowered D) fainted
4. A) wonder B) idea C) curiosity D) regard
5. A) become B) developed C) arisen D) changed
6. A) caution B) warning C) advice D) signal
7.A) minded B) concerned C) worried D) bothered
8. A) dependence B) confidence C) certainty D) courage
9. A) Ignoring B) Omitting C) Avoiding D) Preventing
10. A) along B) down C) through D) across
11. A) gaining B) reaching C) starting D) opening
12. A) for B) by C) with D) drop
13. A) made B) took C) drew
14. A) help B) miss C) fail D) on
15. A) soft B) fine C) quiet D) still
答案与题解:
1. C 考查情态动词。根据句意哥哥将永远不再回来了吗?有应该应意思的 B ，D 选项 应该排除。只有 would 有将要的意思，符合句意。故选 C。
2. B 考查介词搭配。此句句意为这些年来，海伦已经放弃了等待马丁对她产生兴趣 give in 意为屈服，让步 give up 意为放弃，符合句意 give out 意为 分发，公布give away 意为泄露，出卖。故选B
3. B depress 偏重表达数量的减少或价值的降低 weaken 一般来说偏重情感方面的减弱、变谈;lower 偏重在数量或质量上的减少或降低;faint 偏重于视觉的变淡、模糊。此 句表达的是 Helen 对他的感情的慢慢变淡，故选 B
4. C 此句表达的是 Helen 非常急切地想知道她的哥哥到底发生了什么事的一种急切的好奇的感觉，故四个选项中只有 curiosity 最贴切，故选 C。
5. A become of sb. /sth. ... .是短语，意为发生某种情况;遭遇 。故选 A。
6. B 根据上下文可知，Martin 在没有任何征兆的情况下就失去了工作。caution 指警察的口头警告 ，advice 意为劝告、忠告 ，signal 意为信号、暗号，只有 warning 有征兆、前兆之意。故选 B。
7. D 此句句意为在某种程度上他俩不会因为彼此的联系或不联系而烦扰，其中 A 选项mind 意为介意B 选项 concern 意为担心、担忧C 选项 worry意为使担心、使焦虑， 只有 D 选项 bother 有烦扰之意。故选 D。
8. B 此句表达的是 Helen 对自己的判断的信心0 A 选项 dependence 意为依靠、依赖C选项 certainty 意为确定性、无疑. D 选项 courage 意为勇气、胆量B 选项 confidence 可 与介词 in 搭配，意为对有信心。故选 B。
9. A ignore不顾、不理、忽视 ，omit省略、疏忽 ，avoid 回避、避免 ，prevent 防止、预防。此句表达的是不顾及、忽视父母的愿且。故选 A。
10. C 此句强调的是在学业过程中，故应用 through 一词;across强调横穿，故选 C。
11. A gain 意为获得、博得 ，reach 意为达到 ，start 意为开始 ，open 意为打开,此句表达获得声誉。故选 A。
12. D 考查介词搭配。而且她的画作足以维持生活。Live for 意为盼望，为而生活live by 意为以为生live with 意为忍受，承认而 live on 意为靠生活与句意相符。故选 D。
13. B 短语 take no pleasure in ... 不以为乐/感到高兴。故选 B。
14. A 短语 couldnt help doing sth. ... 情不自禁做某事。故选 A。
15. C soft 意为柔软的，自ne 意为好的，quiet 意为暗中的、未表露的 ，still 意为静止的、不动的。此句表达 Helen的那种未言语的欣慰之情，故选 C。