本刊试题研究中心

I was about to explain the meaning of the word “gossamer” （蛛丝） to my five-year-old students.We were learning a poem. I ______1_because one of them was waving his hand at me.

“Yes?” I asked.

“Once I got caught in a spider web _____2_I didn't see it,” the boy said.

“That's gossamer! ” I shouted, nearly jumping up. “Gossamer things are hard to see.” Gossamer is also how I might describe the voices of _______3_young children. I can only hear them when I am close enough. They are not the children speaking with ease. They are the children whose faces are _______4_if I call on them, or whisper （低语） “I don't know” even when they do _______5_. I don't want them to ______6_. I want them to be comfortable being ______7_.

Shy children usually have less practice in speaking, especially when there are other more children ______8_to talk. It's a loud world. Though shy children may appear ______9_to be in the background, they are losing opportunities to participate. Without practice, fear of speaking _______10_.

It takes about three weeks, a small bit of _______11_each day, for each of my 17 students to learn a poem. So far, they have memorized more than five. And now, an obvious _______12_has happened.The “shyest” children are as eager to read aloud as the _______13_ones.

Practice is an excellent way to increase _______14_of shy children while learning a poem. And it is practice that makes them enjoy the _______15_of the language.

1. A. stopped B. breathed C. argued D. reflected

2. A. or B. until C. because D. although

3. A. curious B. shy C. intelligent D. anxious

4. A. round B. blue C. red D. strange

5. A. play B. ask C. walk D. know

6. A. get up B. take up C. turn up D. give up

7. A. focused B. respected C. heard D. told

8. A. eager B. slow C. careful D. worried

9. A. embarrassed B. puzzled C. amazed D. satisfied

10. A. hides B. grows C. disappears D. falls

11. A. research B. practice C. benefit D. discussion

12. A. accident B. change C. debate D. event

13. A. healthy B. familiar C. outgoing D. impressive

14. A. excitement B. pressure C. resource D. confidence

15. A. beauty B. method C. trouble D. speed