a month, 1 the railways, highways, and runways in the airfields. Ice wrapped and paralyzed (使瘫痪) the power and communication system. Many people were trapped in railway stations, bus stations and airports, and 2 in cars, buses and trains. Governments and people did everything they could 3 the snow disaster, and no one was 4 from cold and hunger. Gradually, trapped people all went back home safely. Many moving stories happened during the 5 . While fighting the snow, people forgot their animal friends until a moving story of a swallow couple was 6 on the internet.

　　The swallow couple had not eaten anything for several days 7 the snow. They tried to fly into people's home to warm themselves, but every house was closed 8 . They got to a side of a balcony (阳台) 9 wind could not reach. They jumped and flapped their wings to attract the attention of the people inside the house, who were busy with their own things. The wife's body was 10 , she could not move any longer. The husband came near and wrapped his wife with his wings. The husband lost his 11 soon because of his opened wings. The couple died in the cold and hunger, one 12 another.

The next morning, the housemaster went to the balcony to check his flowers and saw a 13 swallow outside the window pane. Touching it, he found that they were two embracing(拥抱) together. Thinking of the 14 the snow had brought to the people, he was 15 to tears. He took them in, giving them some warmness which they could not 16 any longer. He found a small cardboard box, filled it with some hay and 17 the swallow couple in. He buried them in the back garden.

In my hometown in the countryside, a swallow family live in the roof of my house. They come back from the 18 every spring to have babies. Then in autumn, when babies have grown up, they fly to the south for 19 . I wonder if they will come back this spring as they 20 .

1. A. protecting B. maintaining C. blocking D. keeping

2. A. even B. still C. yet D. nevertheless

3. A. fight B. fighting C. to fight D. fought

4. A. died B. killed C. escaped D. left

5. A. process B. procedure C. practice D. progress

6. A. common B. widespread C. well-known D. familiar

7. A. regardless of B. instead of C. in addition to D. because of

8. A. loosely B. tightly C. roughly D. lightly

9. A. where B. what C. which D. to which

10. A. frozen B. terrified C. worried D. scared

11. A. faith B. heart C. courage D. heat

12. A. fastening B. packing C. wrapping D. fixing

13. A. dead B. live C. lively D. lovely

14. A. need B. hardship C. poverty D. shortage

15. A. affected B. moved C. encouraged D. satisfied

16. A. find B. gain C. own D. feel

17. A. laid B. lay C. let D. allowed

18. A. west B. east C. south D. north

19. A. spring B. winter C. summer D. autumn

20. A. were B. had C. do D. did

三、阅读理解：

　　A

　　Marc Briol started his career at the age of 17 as an apprentice (学徒) at a hotel in Germany, but his experience in the kitchen started at 12, when he had to cook his own meals after school. The young chef with Belle-Vue, the European restaurant at the Grand Hyatt Shenzhen, believes a chef has to be honest and true to his food.

"If you look at the plate, it says exactly what I have done. You cannot cheat. If you try to take a shortcut, you will affect the taste," he says. "It is also what I appreciate in my job ---- direct communication with my customers."

At just 23, Briol was appointed chef of Belle-Vue in September, when his enthusiasm and inspiration won recognition.