完型填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30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。
LAST weekend, I helped my friend Alex get money for poor children at Crossroads Mall He  36  needed volunteers, especially of the female. I decided that this was a pretty good  37  , so the next day I got ready to go.
I arrived at Crossroads about five minutes  38  , and helped Alex and   39  of the volunteers. There were only three  40  at first, and we figured we might as well get started  41  just waiting for more to arrive. I held the   42  , and suddenly felt extremely shy. I did not  43  asking people for donations. In fact, I’m usually one of those people who try to   44  those boring stands and ask you for a little contribution. For heaven’s sake, I can contribute to a few,   45  I cannot alone  46  every single cause in the world!
I really didn’t like the idea of asking anyone for donations to our cause.   47  , I watched my friends speak to the strangers, and noticed that they were extra polite to everyone—no matter whether they  48  . I realized that   49  I wasn’t pushy（强求的）, it would be okay, and my conscience could be  50  .
I pasted on a large smile, and started asking people passing by. My mouth tripped over words, and I continually said “um” while I thought of the correct terms.   51  I talked to more and more people. Not only improved, but also started noticing small  52  . Instead of saying “donate”, which made most people walk away  53  .I started suing the word “contribute”. I added the phrase “every little bit counts”, and people started to donate small amounts in larger quantities. As the day went on, I learned how to pull on the hearts of the   54  , and I became a successful fundraiser.
At the end of the day, we all gathered at Alex’s house and   55  how much money we raised. I was so surprised; We raised over $300! We celebrated, and went home tired, but satisfied that we helped a great cause.

A．every B．much C．desperately D．too

A．cause B．business C．affair D．career

A．earlier B．early C．later D．late

A．the other B．others C．another D．the rest

A．passers—by B．teachers C．volunteers D．people

A．instead of B．but C．in spite of D．in place of

A．signal B．signature C．sing D．symbol

A．appreciate B．like C．want D．need

A．annoy B．flee C．meet D．avoid

A．and B．but C．or D．so

A．do B．support C．make D．create

A．What’s more B．Besides C．Whatever D．However

A．donated B．gave C．came D．passed

A．as soon as B．as far as D．as short as

A．at ease B．with happiness C．in silence D．in surprise

A．As B．Before C．Since D．During

A．actions B．hoopes C．wishes D．trends

A．slow B．fast C．slower D．faster

A．goers B．passers-by C．students D．strangers

A．thought B．looked at C．counted D．decided