IusedtobelieveintheAmericanDream，whichmeantajob，amortgage（按揭），creditcards，success．Iwanteditandworkedtowarditlikeeveryoneelse，allofus（36）chasingthesamething．Oneyear，throughaseriesofunha

Question

I used to believe in the American Dream，which meant a job，a mortgage （按揭），credit cards，success．I wanted it and worked toward it like everyone else，all of us （36）___  chasing the same thing．
One year，through a series of unhappy events，it all fell（37）___．I found myself homeless and alone．I had my truck and $56．I （38）___the countryside for some place I could rent for the （39）___  possible amount．I came upon a shabby house four miles up a winding mountain road （40）___  the Potomac River in West Virginia．It was （41）___，full of broken glass and rubbish．I found the owner，rented it，and （42）___a corner to camp in．
The locals knew nothing about me，（43）___slowly，they started teaching me the  （44）___of being a neighbor．They dropped off blankets，candles，and tools，and began （45）___around to chat．They started to teach me a belief in a （46）___American Dream-not the one of individual achievement but of （47）___．
What I had believed in，all those things I thought were （48）___for a civilized life，were nonexistent in this place．（49）___  on the mountain，my most valuable possessions were my （50）___with my neighbors．
Four years later，I moved back into （51）___．I saw many people were having a really hard time，（52）___their jobs and homes．I managed to rent a big enough house to （53）___a handful of people．There are four of us now in the house，but over time I've had nine people come in and move on to other places．We'd all be in （54）___if we hadn't banded together．
The American Dream I believe in now is a shared one．It's not so much about what I can get for myself； it's about （55）___  we can all get by together．

36．A．separately         B．equally         C．violently          D．naturally
37．A．off                B．apart           C．over               D．out
38．A．crossed            B．left            C．toured             D．searched
39．A．fullest            B．largest         C．fairest            D．cheapest
40．A．at                 B．through         C．over               D．round
41．A．occupied           B．abandoned       C．emptied            D．robbed
42．A．turned             B．approached      C．cleared            D．cut
43．A．but                B．although        C．otherwise          D．for
44．A．benefit            B．lesson          C．nature             D．art
45．A．sticking           B．looking         C．swinging           D．turning
46．A．wild               B．real            C．different          D．remote
47．A．neighborliness     B．happiness       C．friendliness       D．kindness
48．A．unique             B．expensive       C．rare               D．necessary
49．A．Up                 B．Down            C．Deep               D．Along
50．A．cooperation        B．relationships   C．satisfaction       D．appointments
51．A．reality            B．society         C．town               D．life
52．A．creating           B．losing          C．quitting           D．offering
53．A．put in             B．turn in         C．take in            D．get in
54．A．yards              B．shelters        C．camps              D．cottages
55．A．when               B．what            C．whether            D．how．

Answer 1

36．A　考查副词的词义辨析．所有的人都各自地追逐着同样的东西．separately各自地，分别地，符合题意．而equally平等地，violently猛烈地，暴力地，naturally自然地，皆不合题意．
37．B　 动词短语辨析．由不好的事及下文我独自一人无家可归，可知一切都失败了．fall apart崩溃，失败，符合题意．
38．D　动词词义辨析．我在乡下搜索寻找一个可以租的地方．search…for…搜索某一范围找某个东西，符合题意．
39．D　形容词词义辨析．由上文我只有56美元，可知是找一个最便宜的出租地，故选D项．
40．C　考查上下文理解与推测．在河流的上方用over．
41．B　考查上下文理解与推测，充满破玻璃和垃圾，可知是一个废弃的地方．abandoned 废弃的，遗弃的，符合题意．occupied忙碌的，被占的．
42．C　由上文房子充满破玻璃和垃圾，所以，要先清理出一个角落才能入住．clear清理，符合题意．
43．A　上句当地人不认识我，下句他们开始教给我，之间是转折关系，用but连接两个并列分句．
44．D　由下文"邻居们放下毯子，蜡烛，工具"等等，可知这是作邻居的艺术，故选D项．
45．A　邻居们放下东西，停下来聊天．stick around停留，逗留，符合题意．
46．C　考查上下文理解与推测．由下文"不是个人的成就，而是…"与我原本以为的完全不同，故选C项．
47．A　考查上下文理解与推测．由上文可知，作者感动的是邻里之间的和睦关系，故选A项．neighborliness睦邻，亲近，和睦，符合题意．
48．D　原本我认为对于城市生活必需的东西，故选D项．
49．A　由上文信息他的房子是在four miles up a winding mountain road可知这里的人们是住在山上，故选A项．
50．B　由上文12空处，可以看出，我最珍贵的财产就是我与邻居们的关系．故选B项．
51．C　考查上下文理解与推测．由move back搬回，可知又回到镇上，故选C项．
52．B　由下文我租了房子给人住，可以知道很多人失去了工作和房子，选losing．
53．C　我租了足够大的房子收留一些人，take in收留，留宿，符合题意．put in输入，turn in上交，get in收割，皆不合题意．
54．B　如果我们不联合起来，我们全都要住在收容所里．shelter收留所，遮蔽处，符合题意．
55．D　about后面的从句不缺主语、宾语、表语，因此不选what；也没有是否（whether）的意思；也没涉及时间（when）问题，因此只能选how．