六、完形填空
By my early 40s, I had exhausted all the hobbies that were supposed to make me feel better about entering middle age. I had taken an improv(即兴表演) class, started learning a
new language, and launched myself into an unsuccessful pursuit of a craft. At the height of my low-grade 1, I decided to 2 ballet.
“But you’re not very 3,” my husband gently reminded me. He wasn’t wrong. I nearly 4 myself the one time I tried to lift my leg in an 5 to stretch. 6, my track record for committing to physical activity wasn’t great. But I was 7 to give it a try. I needed to 8 that my body was 9 of movement and grace.
I hadn’t expected any of it to 10. After all, this wasn’t my first time in a ballet studio. But this time around, the exact same things that had made me flee the studio as a 10-year-old now brought a certain 11. And while I’d expected my classes to be 12 demanding and my muscles to ache, I hadn’t anticipated that my teacher would change my way of being in the world.
When I was in low spirits due to my 13 of grace in the simple act, the teacher reminded me that ballet isn’t about perfection. “Rather, it’s about striving for perfection.”
Gradually, I became more ______ 14 ______ with the body. The idea that my body is still a work in progress ______ 15 ______ me. Ballet is forcing me to rethink my relationship with my body. Instead of noticing only the beginnings of older age, I’ve learned to stand with more confidence and courage. As for the imperfections? They’re part of being alive.
()1. A. satisfaction B. desperation C. embarrassment D. shock
()2. A. leave out B. pass down C. take up D. set aside
()3. A. flexible B. critical C. consistent D. delicate
()4. A. blamed B. eased C. injured D. expanded
()5. A. approach B. response C. stage D. attempt
()6. A. Thus B. However C. Moreover D. Nevertheless
()7. A. hesitant B. determined C. uncertain D. discouraged
()8. A. confirm B. extend C. impress D. release
()9. A. short B. aware C. fond D. capable
()10. A. limit B. grasp C. encounter D. stick
()11. A. joy B. confusion C. despair D. pride
()12. A. mentally B. socially C. physically D. emotionally
()13. A. ignorance B. lack C. variety D. bond
()14. A. adorable B. comfortable C. rigid D. tolerant
()15. A. encourages B. traps C. disappoints D. scares

1.B 2.C 3.A 4.C 5.D 6.C 7.B 8.A 9.D 10.D 11.A 12.C 13.B 14.B 15.A
【语篇解读】本文是一篇记叙文。文章主要讲述了40岁出头的作者尝试多种爱好无果后陷入低落,决心挑战芭蕾。虽身体不灵活、过往运动记录不佳,但在老师鼓励下接纳身体不完美,重拾自信,重新审视自己与身体的关系。
1. B 解析:根据上文内容可知,作者40岁出头耗尽所有本应让自己对中年感到释然的爱好,学即兴表演、新语言、手工艺均失败,可见她处于"绝望"状态。故选B。
2. C 解析:根据下文"After all, this wasn't my first time in a ballet studio."可知,此处指作者决定开始学习芭蕾。故选C。
3. A 解析:根据下文"I nearly 4 myself the one time I tried to lift my leg in an 5 to stretch."并结合语境可知,作者尝试抬腿伸展时差点受伤,说明此处丈夫提醒作者不够灵活。故选A。
4. C 解析:根据上文"He wasn't wrong."可知,作者认可丈夫的说法,自己不够灵活,因此她做抬腿伸展的动作差点受伤。故选C。
5. D 解析:in an attempt to do sth.意为"试图做某事",此处指作者试图拉伸。故选D。
6. C 解析:上文提到"肢体不灵活",下文补充"坚持体育活动的记录也不好",为递进关系,应用moreover。故选C。
7. B 解析:上文列举自身劣势(不灵活、难坚持运动),但but表转折,说明她"仍决心尝试"。故选B。
8. A 解析:根据上文作者决心尝试芭蕾以及结合语境可知,此处指作者想通过芭蕾证实自己的身体仍具备行动自如和优美流畅的特质。故选A。
9. D 解析:be capable of意为"能够做某事",此处指"身体有能力做出灵活优雅的动作"。故选D。
10. D 解析:根据下文"After all, this wasn't my first time in a ballet studio."可知,作者没指望芭蕾能坚持下去(毕竟不是第一次进芭蕾教室,且有过往失败经历)。故选D。
11. A 解析:上文"But this time around, the exact same things that had made me flee the studio as a 10-year-old now brought a certain"中but表示转折,由此可知,10岁时让作者逃离教室的事(芭蕾的难度、自身的笨拙),现在带来"某种乐趣"。故选A。
12. C 解析:根据下文"demanding and my muscles to ache"可知,"肌肉酸痛"是"身体上"的消耗,故此处指"预期课程会对身体要求高"。故选C。
13. B 解析:根据下文"of grace in the simple act"可知,此处指作者因在简单动作中缺乏优雅而情绪低落。故选B。
14. B 解析:根据上文"Rather, it's about striving for perfection."可知,老师的鼓励(芭蕾不在于完美,而在于追求完美)让作者逐渐对自己的身体更"自在"。故选B。
15. A 解析:根据上文"my body is still a work in progress"可知,"身体仍在进步中"这一想法"鼓励"着作者。故选A。