During these difficult days, my sister-- in-- law and I were 43 between hope and resignation. We 44 every visitor. We were grateful for their stories of people who had 45 comas and return to 46 . We listened when they talked knowledgeably about the stages of grief. We knew they cared. But many visitors came 47 the door talking, and kept talking. Was that how I had dealt with my nervousness when I didn't know 48 to say?

　　Then a/n 49 friend came to visit. He stood with us around the bed, looking at my brother's body. There was a long silence. Suddenly 50 with emotion, he said, "I'm sorry." There was another long pause. 51 , he hugged my sister--in--law and then turned to shake my hand. He held it a 52 longer than necessary and squeezed a little harder than 53 . As he looked at me, tears came to his eyes. And then he left. One week later, my brother died.

　　Years 54 passed and I still remember that visitor. I do not recall his name, but I'll never forget how he shared our grief, quietly and 55 and without awkwardness. His few words spoke volumes.

　　江蘇高考完形填空訓練選項：

　　36. A. added B. hooked C. put D. held

　　37. A. rhythmical B. loud

　　C. irregular D. harmonious

　　38. A. careful B. hopeful C. helpless D. useless

　　39. A. conversations B. considerations C. locations D. situations

　　40. A. words B. places C. roles D. choices

　　41. A. convince B. teach C. comfort D. serve

　　42. A. challenge B. adventure

　　C. experience D. opportunity

　　43. A. filled B. torn C. worn D. settled

　　44. A. appreciated B. expected C. depended D. evaluated

　　45. A. suffered from B. shaken off C. come down with D. kept out

　　46. A. reality B. origin C. function D. normal

　　47. A. in B. across C. over D. through

　　48. A. why B. what C. how D. when

　　49. A. casual B. expected C. close D. familiar

　　50. A. concentrated B. controlled

　　C. overcome D. disappointed

　　51. A. However B. Therefore C. Besides D. Finally

　　52. A. second B. lot C. great deal D. period

　　53. A. before B. possible C. usual D. past

　　54. A. had B. have C. are D. were

　　55. A. extraordinarily B. desperately C. nervously D. sincerely

　　江蘇高考完形填空訓練答案：

　　36.B 37.A 38.C 39.D 40.A 41.C 42.C 43.B 44.A 45.B

　　46.D 47.D 48.B 49.A 50.C 51.D 52.A 53.C 54.B 55.D