第二节语法填空(共10小题；每小题l 5分．满分l5分)
阅读下面短文，按照句子结构的语法性和上下文连贯的要求，在空格处填入一个适当的词或使用括号中词语的正确形式填空，并将答案填写在答题卡标号为16—25的相应位置上。
One day a farmer’s donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously ___16___ hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed ___17_______ (cover) up anyway; it just wasn't worth ___18____ to save the donkey.
He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel（铲） and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized ___19___ was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone’s amazement, he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He _20_______ (astonish) at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt __21____ hit his back, the donkey was doing something _22______ (amaze). He would shake it off and take a step up.
__23____ the farmer’s neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal; he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over __24____ edge of the well and happily ran off!
Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells just ___25___ not giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.