As new students at an university in Boston, many of us were unfamiliar with the campus but consequently late for class. One professor, however, was particular intolerant of being late, making clear that no excuse would be acceptable. So when a girl student came in his class one morning late, we expected the worst results. Then the professor demand the reason for her coming late. “I was being waiting on line to buy your new book,” she replied very nervously. Looked at the rest of the class, the professor asked, “Well, why were the rest of you late?”

We all like to think that we are perfect to a fault. And whose fault is that? Not mine.

Recently, my husband and I got up at the   21   of 4 am to catch an early   22   to New York. We were extremely   23   perhaps because we were sleep-walking. And we were all ready when the taxi came to   24   us 45 minutes later.

It was a quiet   25   to the airport. We didn’t even chat, because he was enjoying his new iPod. At the airport, the taxi   26   to let us get off, at which point the iPod guy   27   me and said, “We don’t have our   28 .”

“You are   29   right?” I replied, for he   30   lied like that.

“No. I mean it. Did you bring it down? I didn’t”

“What do you mean, you didn’t?” I shouted. “All our things are there.”

“How   31  !” I was thinking, “You’re always   32   to do things like bringing down luggage. This is your fault,   33   now, we may   34   our flight.” I didn’t say that out loud, 35  . He already knew how I felt.

The experience showed I had a hard time accepting   36  .But what do you think of me? Psychologists think that the best way to assess ourselves is   37   the eyes of others. We often don’t recognize that we’ve done wrong.

Oh, and that missing suitcase? We went home   38   in the taxi, picked it up, returned to the airport and made it through with minutes to   39  .

Later, while walking along Broadway, I noted how   40   I was. I hadn’t said a thing about his forgetting our suitcase at home.

― Please tell Bruce he has won the first prize in the maths contest.

― ________! He never did so well before.

A. Congratulations             B. Good luck                C. That’s right              D. What a good surprise

All the other students at the meeting seemed to know each other and I began to feel ________.

A. left out                         B. given away               C. turned down            D. fallen behind

The worst financial crisis in a century has hit America, ________ home values  fall, pensions disappear and 760,000 workers out of work this year.

A. making                    B. made                  C. to make               D. has made

You ________ have written so long an article. The teacher said 100 words would be enough.

A. mustn’t                       B. needn’t                  C. couldn’t                 D. wouldn’t

---Mum! Jack has broken my toy!

---________ Accidents will happen.

A. What is the matter?            B. Doesn't matter.          C. No trouble at all.       D. Why not?

Class regulations require ________ is the last to leave the classroom ________ off all the lights.

A. who; should turn   B. whom; shall turn            C. whomever; turns       D. whoever; turn

So difficult ________ it to work out the problem that I decided to ask Tom for advice.

A.I did find                   B.I have found           C. have I found        D. did I find

― Will you be ________ this afternoon, John?

― It depends. I’m afraid I’ll be called by my manager.

A. available                   B. suitable                C. convenient              D. accurate