A (2020·辽宁五校协作体联考·改编)
Two years ago，with my friend's birthday quickly 1 ，he came to me with an unusual 2 ：instead of receiving presents，he wanted to do some acts of kindness.
I was 3 with such an idea.Giving instead of taking for the birthday was really different.I asked him how he could come up with such a 4 idea.He told me about a TED talk he had watched on generosity，which had 5 him.So we started to 6 creative things we could do.
Our university employed some security guards to 7 its students.They have to work 8 ，keeping watch for every corner throughout the university.For the most part it's a thankless job as most people grow 9 to seeing the guards all around and eventually 10 notice their presence，let alone acknowledge their efforts.
We decided to make a large pot of hot chocolate.We hired a car and asked the driver to take us around the campus where we knew the guards would be and we poured them each a cup of hot chocolate.The driver was 11 a bit doubtful about the entire plan but after a while he began helping us 12 the guards.We received many 13 and appreciative words.It was amazing to see a small act or even an intention of generosity can lift others' spirits.
I now realize that the special energy is created when you choose to think bigger than yourself and act in the 14 of others.You'll find it's actually the greatest 15 you've ever got，especially when it's your birthday.
【语篇解读】 本文讲述了作者帮朋友庆祝了一个特别的生日——给校园的保安送温暖。
1．A．ending B．passing
C．advancing D．approaching
D [根据空前的my friend's birthday quickly和空后的instead of receiving presents可知，朋友的生日快到了，故选approaching。approach意为“(时间上)靠近；接近”。]
2．A．order B．request
C．problem D．story
B [根据空后的instead of receiving presents, he wanted to do some acts of kindness可知，朋友提出了一个特别的请求，故选request。]
3．A．struck B．blessed
C．burdened D．bored
A [根据下一句中的was really different和下文内容可知，这个与众不同的请求打动了作者，故选struck。be struck with...意为“被……打动”。]
4．A．complex B．novel
C．familiar D．traditional
B [根据上一句中的Giving instead of taking for the birthday was really different.可知，作者认为朋友的这个请求与众不同，故选novel，意为“新颖的；新奇的”。]
5．A．controlled B．supported
C．inspired D．rewarded
C [根据空前的a TED talk he had watched on generosity并结合语境可知，是一个关于慷慨的TED演讲给了朋友灵感。故选inspired。]
6．A．plan out B．knock down
C．watch for D．hold back
A [根据上文可知，朋友提出了一个与众不同的请求；再结合空后的creative things we could do可知，此处表示作者帮助朋友开始周密地计划他们可以做的有创意的事情，故选plan out，意为“(周密地)计划”。knock down意为“拆毁”；watch for意为“密切注意；留意”；hold back意为“阻挡；抑制”。]
7．A．judge B．help
C．monitor D．protect
D [根据空前的some security guards并结合常识可知，保安人员是来保护学生的，故选protect。]
8．A．step by step B．around the clock
C．more or less D．now and then
B [根据空后的keeping watch for every corner throughout the university可知，保安们要密切监视学校里的每个角落，因此他们需要二十四小时不间断地工作，故选around the clock，意为“昼夜不停地”。step by step意为“一步步地”；more or less意为“几乎；差不多”；now and then意为“有时”。]
9．A．addicted B．devoted
C．attached D．accustomed
D [根据空前的it's a thankless job可知，保安是一份吃力不讨好的工作，因为大部分人对随处可见的保安都已习以为常，常常无视他们的存在，故选accustomed。]
10．A．barely B．just
C．always D．generally
A [根据空后的let alone acknowledge their efforts可知，人们往往不会肯定保安的辛苦付出，故可推测人们几乎不会注意到他们的存在，故选barely。]
11．A．finally B．initially
C．occasionally D．frequently
B [根据空后的but after a while he began helping us可知，司机后来开始帮助作者和朋友，故可推测起初他对作者和朋友的计划还是有所怀疑的。故选initially。]
12．A．remind B．track
C．spot D．recognize
C [根据上文可知，作者和朋友是在校内寻找保安，所以此处指司机也在帮助他们寻找保安，故选spot，意为“发现；注意到”。]
13．A．friends B．difficulties
C．greetings D．smiles
D [根据空后的and appreciative words可知，此处和“感恩的话”并列；结合选项可知，smiles符合语境，表示作者和朋友收获了很多笑脸。]
14．A．service B．place
C．charge D．memory
A [根据空前的think bigger than yourself可知，作者认识到不能只考虑到自己，而应该考虑更多，并且行动起来，服务他人，故选service。]
15．A．lesson B．attention
C．gift D．care
C [根据空后的you've ever got，especially when it's your birthday并结合第一段中的instead of receiving presents和birthday可知，此处指你会发现这是你得到过的最好的礼物，特别是在你生日这天，故选gift。]
