Ⅲ. Cloze:
Directions:Choose the best answer from the choices given to complete the passage
and blacken the corresponding letterA, B, C orD on the ANSWER SHEET.
In spring, chickens start laying again, bringing a welcome 26 of protein at winters end. So its no surprise that cultures around the world celebrate spring by honoring the egg.
Some traditions are simple, like the red eggs that get baked into Greek Easter breads. Others 27 the egg into a fancy art, like the heavily jewel-covered“eggs”that were favored by the Russians 28 in the 19th century. One 29 form of egg art comes to us from Ukraine.For centuries, Ukrainians have been drawing 30 patterns on eggs.Contemporary artists have followed this tradition to create eggs that speak to the 31 of our age: Life is precious, and delicate. Eggs are, too.
“Theres something about their delicate nature that appeals 32 me,”says New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast. Several years ago, she became interested in eggs and learned the traditional Ukrainian technique to draw her very modern characters.“Ive broken eggs at every stage of the process—from the very beginning to the very, very end.”But theres an appeal in that 33 .“Theres part of this sickening horror of knowing youre walking on the edge with this, that I kind of like, knowing that it could all 34 at any
second” .Chasts designs,such as a worried man alone in a tiny rowboat, reflect that delicateness. Traditional Ukrainian decorated eggs also spoke to those fears. The elaborate patterns were believed to offer protection 35 evil.“Theres an ancient legend 36
as long as these eggs are made,evil will not prevail in the world,”says Joan Brander, a Canadian egg-painter who has been painting eggs for over 60 years,. 37 the art from
her Ukrainian relatives.
The tradition, dating back to 300 B.C., was later. 38 into the Christian church. The old symbols, however, still 39 .A decorated egg with a bird on it, given to a young married couple, is a wish for children. A decorated egg thrown into the field would be a wish for a good 40 .
26. A. resourceB. sourceC. signD. produce
27. A. transferB. riseC. exchangeD.elevate
28. A. startB. startedC. startingD. starts
29. A. ancientB. antiqueC. establishedD. historic
30. A. contemporaryB. complicatedC. compulsoryD. complementary
31. A. anxietiesB. simplicitiesC. happinessD. affluence
32. A. aboutB. forC. toD. with
33. A. possibilityB. feasibilityC. vulnerabilityD. complexity
34. A. fall downB. fall backC. fall behindD. fall aparl
35. A. forB. toC. againstD. with
36. A. thatB. as thatC. for thatD. in that
37. A. have learnedB. having learnedC. learnedD. learning
38. A. incorporatedB. combinedC. removedD.sorted
39. A. insistB. surviveC. endureD.retain
40. A. yearB. cropC.yieldD. harvest
