第二节：完形填空（共20小题；每小题1分，满分20分）
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从36－55各题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
The House Fairy
As young parents, my husband and I felt that at age 6 and 8, our children were old enough to be cleaning their rooms and making their beds. But they thought   36  . My complaints, repeating myself, even self-justified shouting were landing on   37    ears. I felt frustrated (沮丧的) , and very often a whole afternoon’s scolding would end with their   38   into tears, I realized I needed to   39   my methods of “mothering”.
One day while they were at school, I had great fun   40   their rooms. On their desks, in plain   41  , I left the cards: “Dear Bill (the other card was   42   to Sarah), your room was messy this morning and I’m sure you like it clean. Love, the House Fairy.”   43   arriving back, the children were   44   excited to receive the little note from the House Fairy. The next day, their rooms were fairly tidy. Sure enough, there was another note from the House Fairy         45   for them, thanking them for their nice “gift” of a clean room and   46   asking them to play a certain violin   47  . Each day, thank--you notes would be worded differently to keep the ideas   48  .
Sometimes the House Fairy would propose a little   49  : “If you can finish your homework today and   50   it before dinner, I’ d like to watch a particular television program with you tonight.” Sometimes some colored markers or other little items would be left in   51
of jobs especially well done the day   52  .
53   I can’t remember how long “the House Fairy” continued leaving her love notes. When they were no longer age appropriate (合适的), we used various versions of Post-Its. The bathroom mirror became the   54   centre of our home. Appointments, notices about visiting relatives, lesson schedules, and changes in plans could be posted.
We all benefited from and   55   the idea of sharing reminders and daily details of life through notes. I believe the true legacy of the House Fairy notes survives in our frequent and enjoyable communication.
36.  A. different      B. no             C. otherwise        D. doubtful
37.  A. side          B. deaf           C. neither           D. either
38.  A. crying        B. breaking        C. bursting          D. bumping
39.  A. adjust        B. adopt          C. access            D. addict
40.  A. to tidy        B. tidying         C. tidied            D. tidy
41.  A. distance       B. words         C. speech           D. sight
42.  A. sent          B. read           C. delivered         D. addressed
43.  A. As           B. At             C. Of             D. Upon
44.  A. more than     B. rather than       C. no more than     D. other than
45.  A. asking        B. waiting         C. praying         D. expecting
46.  A. politely       B. friendly         C. gently          D. toughly
47.  A. music        B. song             C. piece           D. tone
48.  A. respectable    B. uninteresting     C. incredible        D. fresh
49.  A. challenge     B. question         C. suggestion       D. advice
50.  A. go with       B. go through       C. look up         D. look into
51.  A. response      B. answer          C. praise          D. honor
52.  A. ahead         B. before          C. over           D. ago
53.  A. Actually       B. Even so        C. Even if         D. Though
54.  A. reminder      B. main            C. memory        D. life
55.  A. learned          B. appreciated      C. shared          D. thanked