第二节 完形填空(共20小题;每小题2分,满分40分)
阅读下列短文,掌握其大意,然后从36—55各题的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中选出能填入相应空白处的最佳选项。并将答案写在答题卡上。
John Henry was a young man, and he was one of the best steel-drivers in the country,He cjould work for hours without missing a beat, People said he worked so fast that his 36 moved
Like lightening
One day,a salesman came to the work area with a new 37 machine by powered steam, He said it could drill holes 38 than twelve men working together, The railroad company 39 to buy the machine if it worked as well as the

salesman said.
The supervisor(监工头) said,”I have the best steel-driver in the 40 , He can beat more than twenty men working together,”The salesman 41 the statements. He said the company could have the machine without cost 42 he was faster, The supervisor told John about it and said “How about a 43 ?” John Henry looked at the machine and saw 44 of the future, He saw machines taking 45 of America’s best laborers, He saw himself and friends 46 and standing by a road ,asking for food, He saw men losing their families and their 47 as human beings , John Henry told the supervisor he would never let the machine take his job, His friends all cheered.
The competition began, John Henry 48 his hammer and started working. At first, the steam-powered drill worked two times faster than he did, 49 he started working with a hammer in each hand. He worked faster and faster. In the mountain , the dust was so 50 that most men would have had trouble 51 . After a while , the machine was pulled from the tunnel , It had broken down, . But John Henry 52 working faster and faster. At last he became weak ,and his heart 53 . John Henry fell to the ground .”I beat them,” Then he took his 54 breath.
Soon, the steam drill and other machines replaced the steel-drivers ,.Many 55 left their families, looking for work, They took the only jobs they could find, As they worked, some sang about John Henry,
36.A broom, B hammer C hand D sleeve
37.A washing B drilling C sewing D flying

38. A quickly B slower C faster D fast

39. A managed B allowed C refused D planned

40 A family B class C film D country

41. A doubted B hated C disagreed D decided

42. A when B if C unless D despite

43. A lesson B race C unless D despite

44.A images B faces C plans D signs

45. A the place B the room C the space D the air

46. A excited B unemployed C moved D encouraged

47. A food B rights C wages D houses

48.A touched B kicked C kissed D stamped

49. A Otherwise B But C Then D However

50. A thin B big C high D thick

51. A laughing B talking C breathing D singing

52.A stopped B kept C enjoyed D suggested

53. A burst B worked C ran D lived

54.A own B deep C best D last

55. A laborers B women C villagers D salesmen