历年高考完形填空

2014全国高考汇编之完型填空 一（2014安徽卷）In 2012, I had just recovered form a serious illness when I received an invitation to a writers conference in Orlando, Florida. My family persuaded me that a(n) 36 might be just what the doctor ordered, so off I 37 . Arriving in the Sunshine State was rather tiring, but I 38 to catch a taxi to my 39 and settle in. Next morning, I took another 40 to the shopping centre to buy a few souvenirs. 41 I went to a cafe to have lunch, but all the tables were 42 . Then I heard a friendly voice saying, You can 43 my table.I gratefully sat down with the 44 lady and we had a happy lunch together. As the 45 drew to a close she asked how long I would be in Orlando. I had already told her that I hadnt 46 a car, and hadnt realised how 47 taking taxis would he, After a while she said, My dear, dont use any more taxis. Im retired and it would be my pleasure to 48 you wherever you wish. I told her that I couldnt put her to that 49 ,but she brushed aside my protests (反对). She asked me where I was 50 and next morning she was waiting at my apartment at the 51 time to take me to Disney World. She spent some time with me before leaving me to 52 alone. At the end of the day, she 53 to take me back to my accommodation. I 54 her money but she refused to take any. Ill never forget that wonderful lady who, through her 55 , filled my brief holiday in Florida with wonderful memories.36A. holiday B. ceremonyC. operationD. experiment37A. kept B. went C. droppedD. knocked38A. intended B. promised C. managedD. deserved39A. hospital B. companyC. universityD. accommodation40A. colleague B. passenger C. suitcaseD. taxi41A. Instead B. First C. LaterD. Once42A. classifiedB. occupiedC. decoratedD. painted43A. share B. reserveC. setD. possess44A. oldB. poor C. innocentD. stubborn45A. journey B. mealC. speechD. interview46A. donated B.repairedC. hired D. guided47A.convenient B. worthwhileC. unfortunateD. expensive48A.inspire B. entertainC. callD. drive49A.businessB. argument C. troubleD. challenge50A.working B. stayingC. movingD. shopping51A.appointedB.limitedC. favourite D. regular52A. digestB. explore C.perform D. calculate53A.forgotB. refusedC. returnedD.preferred54A.sentB.lentC. offered D. owed55A.confidenceB. dignityC.curiosityD. kindness【考点】考察故事类完型填空【文章大意】刚刚从疾病中恢复的我到奥兰多去参加写作会议，在这个陌生的地方一位位老人用她的善良让我的假期充满了美好的回忆。36.【答案】A 【试题解析】考察名词词义辨析及上下文串联。A假期；B仪式；C手术；D实验；句义：在2012年我刚刚从一次严重的疾病中恢复过来，我收到了一个邀请我去奥兰多参加作家会议。我家人说服我一个这样的假期也许是医生要求我做的事情。生病的人需要假期来恢复身心。另外根据文章最后一句filled my brief holiday in Florida可知也应该指假期。故A正确。37. 【答案】B 【试题解析】考察动词固定搭配。Keep off远离，不靠近；go off走开，离开，去.；drop off减少；knock off使减少，使降低；本句中的副词off提前，主语是代词I所有使用全部倒装。句义：所以我就去了那里。故B正确。38. 【答案】C 【试题解析】考察动词词义辨析及上下文串联。A打算，意图；B允诺；C设法做到；D应该得到；到达这个阳光灿烂的州是很让人疲惫的，但是我还是设法找到一辆出租车来到我的住宿点住了下来。故句义可知虽然很困难，但是我还是做到了。故C正确。39. 【答案】D 【试题解析】考察名词辨析及上下文串联。A医院；B公司；C大学；D食宿点；根据53空后take me back to my accommodation可知我乘坐出租车来到了会议安排的住宿点。故D正确。40【答案】.D 【试题解析】上下文串联。A同事；B乘客；C手提箱；D出租车。横线前面的another说明是指我又找了一辆出租车去购物中心买纪念品。故D正确。41. 【答案】C 【试题解析】考察副词辨析及上下文串联。A代替，而不是；B首先；C后来；D曾经；根据上句我去购物中心，之后我又去了餐厅吃午饭。是later后来，表示时间的顺接。故C正确。42. 【答案】B 【试题解析】考察动词词义辨析及上下文串联。A分类；B占据；C装饰；D画；当我到了餐厅的时候，所有的位置都被占了。没有空余的位置留给我了。故B正确。43. 【答案】A 【试题解析】考察动词词义辨析及语境理解。A分享；B保留；C设置；D拥有；就在这时，我听见一个友好的声音说：你可以和我坐一起。本句中的share表示两个人共用一个桌子。故A正确。44. 【答案】A 【试题解析】考察形容词辨析与上下文串联。A年老的；B贫穷的；C无辜的，幼稚的；D固执的；根据48空前Im retired and it would be my pleasure 可知她已经退休了，那么肯定年级教大。故A正确。45. 【答案】B 【试题解析】考察名词词义辨析及上下文串联。A旅行；B餐，饭；C演讲；D采访；当吃饭接近尾声的时候，她问我来奥兰多多久了。根据句义说明B正确。46. 【答案】C 【试题解析】考察动词词义辨析。A捐献，捐助；B维修，修理；C雇佣；D指导；我已经告诉她我没有雇佣汽车，也就是说在此期间我一直都是乘坐出租车。故C正确。47. 【答案】D 【试题解析】考察形容词辨析及上下文串联。A方便的，便利的；B值得的；C不幸的；D昂贵的；我告诉她我没有租车，也不知道在这里乘坐出租车有多贵。根据句义可知谈论的坐车的价格问题。故D正确。48. 【答案】D 【试题解析】考察动词词义辨析及上下文串联。A鼓励，激励；B娱乐；C打电话；D驾车带某人；她告诉我她已经退休了，很乐意带着我去我想去的地方。也就是说做我的司机。故D正确。49. 【答案】C 【试题解析】考察名词词义辨析及语境串联。A生意；B争论；C麻烦；D挑战；我告诉她我不能这样麻烦她。因为我们只是第一次见面就这样麻烦地方是很不合适的。故C正确。50. 【答案】B 【试题解析】考察动词词义辨析。A工作；B待，居住；C移动；D购物；她问了我住的地方，第二天在约定好的时间她已经在等我了。故B正确。51. 【答案】A 【试题解析】考察形容词词义辨析及语境串联。A约定好的；B有限的；C最喜欢的；D有规律的，经常的；她问了我住的地方，第二天在约定好的时间她已经在等我了。要接一个人，实现约好时间这是常识。故A正确。52. 【答案】B 【试题解析】考察动词词义辨析。A咀嚼，消化；B探索；C表现；表演；D计算；她带着我去了迪斯尼，在我去迪斯尼乐园里探索快乐之情她还和我聊了一会。故B正确。53. 【答案】C 【试题解析】考察动词词义辨析及语境串联。A忘记；B拒绝；C返回；D更喜欢，宁愿；在这一天就要结束的时候，她还返回来接我回我住的地方。根据句义可知她早上来接我，晚上也来接我。54. 【答案】C 【试题解析】考察动词词义辨析。A送；B借出；C提供（主动）；D拥有；我主动提出要给他钱，但是她拒绝接受任何钱。55. 【答案】D 【试题解析】考察名词辨析及上下文串联。A信心；B尊严；C好奇；D善良；我永远都无法忘记这位老人，通过她的善良，让我的假期非常充实，有很多美妙的回忆【长难句解析】My family persuaded me that a(n) holiday might be just what the doctor ordered, so off I went. 【翻译】我家人说服我一个这样的假期也许是医生要求我做的事情。，于是我就去了【分析】前面半句中有动词persuade后面有一个宾语从句that a(n) holiday might be just what the doctor ordered，引导词that是可以省略的。这个宾语从句中有一个表语从句what the doctor ordered，what引导起这个表语从句，并在句中做动词order的宾语。后面的off I went是一个特殊结构，当副词放在句首，如果主语是名词时，需要使用全部倒装句。如果主语是代词，则不要倒装。如Here you are给你。二（2014北京卷）The Fitting-in of Suzy Khan The first time I saw Suzy Khan, I knew I had to help her. She was really small for her age of 12. The boy in my class often 36 about her and laughed their heads off. She would open a book, pretending to read, with tears dropping on the open page. All I knew was that she was an orphan (孤儿) from Africa. She had just been adopted by a family in town who 37 that the best way for her to learn American ways of life was to be with american kids. I looked down at this 38 girl and promised myself that somehow I would help her. But how could I help her 39 in with us? There had to be a 40 . One day, when I went into the classroom, I saw that Suzy had 41 her geography book to a picture of a train, and in her notebook, she had made a(n) 42 copy. I was surprised and thought that she could do something in the coming 43 show. So, I took her to see the art teacher, Miss Parker, and showed her what Suzy had 44 . “why, its wonderful,” said Miss Parker, who then showed us a poster she had painted 45 the talent show. “I need more of these, but I just dont have enough 46 . Could you help me, Suzy?On the day of the talent show, Suzys 47 were everywhere - all over the hall and all over the school, each one different. “And finally,” said Mr Brown, the schoolmaster, at the end of the show, “we have a (n)_48_ award. Im sure youve all noticed the wonderful posters.” Everyone nodded. “One of our own students 49 them.” I could hear everyone whispering. “Who in our school could draw 50 well?” Mr. Brown waited a while before saying, “ 51 this student worked so hard on the posters, she deserves a 52 ,too. Our mystery(神秘) artist is our new student - Suzy Khan!” Mr. Brown thanked her for all the wonderful posters and gave her a professional artists set. “Thank you,” she cried. I 53 , at that time when I was looking at her excited face, shed probably never 54 anything in her whole life. Everyone started to 55 their hands. Suzy Khan gave them a shy smile and the applause was defening. I knew then Suzy was going to ne all right. ”36. A. jokedB. caredC. trainsD. worried37. A. reportedB. decidedC. complainedD. questioned38. A. richB. proudC. tinyD. popular39. A. comeB fallC. fitD. tie40. A. mannerB. patternC. choiceD. way41. A. readB. takenC. openedD. put42. A. freeB. perfect C. finalD. extra43. A.areB.talkC.quizD. talent44. A. coloredB. writtenC. carvedD. drawn45. A. atB. afterC. forD. around46. A. roomB. timeC. paperD. interest47. A. giftsB. booksC. photosD. posters48. A. specialB. academicC. nationalD. rayal49. A. paintedB. foundC. printedD. collected50. A. veryB. thatC. quiteD. too51. A. IfB. ThoughC. UnlessD. Since52. A. prizeB. rankC. restD. place53. A. repliedB. realizedC.rememberedD. regretted54. A. offeredB. valuedC. ownedD. controlled55. A. clapB. waveC. raiseD. shake【考点】考察故事类完型填空【文章大意】本文向读者讲述了来自非洲的孤儿Suzy很难融入到班级里 ，一个偶然的机会，我发现她很有绘画才能，美术老师让她为学校的才能秀画海报。校长给她颁发了特别讲，我知道她很快就可以融入到这个社会了。36.【答案】A【试题解析】考察动词词义辨析及语境串联。A开玩笑，作弄；B关心；C培训；D担心；因为她的个子很小班级里的男生经常作弄她来娱乐他们自己。可知她并没有很好的融入美国社会。故A正确。37. 【答案】B【试题解析】考察动词词义辨析及上下文串联。A报道；B决定；C抱怨；D询问；我只知道她是一个来自非洲的孤儿，被一个城里的家庭收养，这家人决定了解美国生活方式最好的方法就是和美国孩子在一起，所以就送她来学校里了。根据句意可知ACD三项与上下文语境不相符。38. 【答案】C 【试题解析】考察形容词辨析和上下文串联。A富有的；B自豪的；C个子小的；D受欢迎的；根据文章第2句She was really small for her age of 12可知她的个子比较矮小。我 看着这个矮小的女生，决定要帮助她。39. 【答案】C 【试题解析】考察固定搭配。Fit in融入，融合；我想帮助她，但是我怎么才能够帮助他融入到我们之中呢？40. 【答案】D【试题解析】考察名词词义辨析及语境理解。A方式；B式样；C选择；D方法；虽然我暂时还没有想起来，但是一定是有方法能够让她融入到班级里的。故D正确。41. 【答案】C【试题解析】考察动词词义辨析及上下文串联。A阅读；B带走；C打开；D放置；有一天我进入教室的时候，她已经打开了地理书到一张火车的图片，在她的笔记本上，她画了一个完美的复制品。故C正确。42. 【答案】B【试题解析】考察形容词辨析及上下文串联。A自由的；B完美的；C最终的；D额外的；根据下文可知她美术非常好，所以她可以画出几乎一样的完美的图片来。故B正确。43. 【答案】D 【试题解析】考察名词词义辨析及考察上下文串联。B 交谈；C小测试；D才干，才能；根据45空后the talent show的我认为他可以为即将到来的才能秀做些事情。故D正确。44. 【答案】D【试题解析】考察动词词义辨析及上下文串联。A涂颜色；B写；C雕刻；D画；根据42空可知她画了一个很漂亮的火车，和书里的几乎一样。我把她所画的东西给了美术老师看。故D正确。45. 【答案】C【试题解析】考察介词辨析。A在地方；B在之后；C为；D在附近；美术老师给我们看了一张她为才能秀所画的海报。然后请Suzy帮她多画一些。故C正确。46. 【答案】B【试题解析】考察名词词义辨析。A房间；B时间；C纸张；D兴趣；美术老师告诉Suzy，她需要这些海报，可是她没有足够的时间，所以请Suzy帮忙多画一些。故B正确。47. 【答案】D【试题解析】考察名词辨析及上下文串联。A礼物；B书本；C照片；D海报；在才能秀之前的一天，Suzy所画的海报到处都是，而且每一张都各不相同。充分说明她在美术方面很有才干。故D正确。48. 【答案】A【试题解析】考察形容词词义辨析及上下文串联。A特别的；B学术的；C国家的；D皇室的；在才能秀的最后，校长说：我们有一个很特别的奖，大家一定注意到这些很棒的海报了。这是给Suzy的特别奖。故A正确。49. 【答案】A【试题解析】考察动词词义辨析及上下文理解。A画；B发现；C印刷；D收集；校长告诉大家：这是我们自己的一位同学画的。海报是Suzy画的，所以A正确。50. 【答案】【试题解析】考察副词辨析。A非常；B那么（so）；C相当地；D太；本句中的that等于so。孩子们都想知道是谁画的那么好。故B正确。51. 【答案】D【试题解析】考察连词辨析。A如果；B尽管；C除非，如果不；D既然；因为；句意：因为这我同学在海报上是如此努力，她应该得到这个奖。根据句意可知上下文是因果关系，故D正确。52. 【答案】A【试题解析】连词名词辨析及上下文串联。A奖；B排名；军衔；C休息；D地方；根据48空后award可知这是校长给Suzy的奖。故A正确。53. 【答案】B【试题解析】考察动词词义辨析及上下文串联。A回复；B意识到；C记得；D遗憾，后悔；在那时我看着她兴奋的笑脸，我意识到也许在她的生命中她从来都没有拥有这样的奖吧！54. 【答案】C【试题解析】考察动词词义辨析。A提供；B珍惜，重视；C拥有；D控制；我意识到也许在她的生命里 ，她从来都没有拥有这样的奖吧！55. 【答案】A【试题解析】考察动词词义辨析及语境串联。A拍手；B挥动；C提高，抚养；D摇晃；每个人都开始拍手，Suzy对着大家害羞地笑着。我知道她的一切都会好起来的。【长难句解析】All I knew was that she was an orphan (孤儿) from Africa.【翻译】所有我知道的就是她是一个来自非洲的孤儿。【分析】本句中有一个定语从句I knew修饰先行词all，在all后面省略了that，因为that昨晚动词knew的宾语，可以省略。另外句中还有一个表语从句that she was an orphan from Africa.其中的that不充当任何成分，只是一个引导词。2.She had just been adopted by a family in town who decided that the best way for her to learn American ways of life was to be with american kids.【翻译】她被一个城里的家庭收养，这家人决定了解美国生活方式最好的方法就是和美国孩子在一起。【分析】本句中的定语从句who decided that the best way for her to learn American ways of life was to be with american kids修饰先行词a family；后面定语从句的表语是不定式to be with american kids.表示具体的动作或者行为。三（2014大纲卷）Joe Simpson and Simon Yates were the first people to climb the West Face of the Siula Grande in the Andes mountains. They reached the top _36 _, but on their way back conditions were very _37_. Joe fell and broke his leg. They both knew that if Simon _38_ alone, he would probably get back _39_. But Simon decided to risk his _40_ and try to lower Joe down the mountain on a rope（绳）.As they _41_ down, the weather got worse. Then another _42_ occurred. They couldnt see or hear each other and, _43_, Simon lowered his friend over the edge of a precipice（峭壁）. It was _44_ for Joe to climb back or for Simon to pull him up. Joes _45_ was pulling Simon slowly towards the precipice. _46_, after more than an hour in the dark and the icy cold, Simon had to _47_. In tears, he cut the rope. Joe _48_ into a large crevasse（裂缝）in the ice below. He had no food or water and he was in terrible pain. He couldnt walk, but he _49_ to get out of the crevasse and started to _50_ towards their camp, nearly ten kilometers _51_.Simon had _52_ the camp at the foot of the mountain. He thought that Joe must be _53_, but he didnt want to leave _54_. Three days later, in the middle of the night, he heard Joes voice. He couldnt _55_ it. Joe was there, a few meters from their tent, still alive. 36. A. hurriedly B. carefully .C. successfully D. early 37. A. difficult B. similar C. special D. normal 38. A. climbed B. worked C. rested . D. continued 39. A. unwillingly B. safely C. slowly D. regretfully 40. A. fortune B. time C. health D. life41. A. lay B. settled C. went D. looked42. A. damage B. storm C. change D. trouble 43. A. by mistake B. by chance C. by chance D. by luck44. A. unnecessary B. practical C. important D. impossible 45. A. height B. weight C. strength .D. equipment46. A. Finally B. Patiently .C. Surely D. Quickly47. A. stand back B. take a rest C. make a decision .D. hold on48. A. jumped B. fell C. escaped D. backed49. A. managed B. planned C. waited D. hoped 50. A. run B. skate C. move D. march51. A. around B. away C. above D. along 52. A. headed for B. travelled C. left for D. returned to53. A. dead B. hurt C. weak D. late54. A. secretly B. tiredly .C. immediately D. anxiously55. A. find B. believe C. make D. accept【考点】考察故事类完型填空【文章大意】本文讲述了一个生命的奇迹的故事，Simon和Joe一起攀登安第斯山脉的Siula Grande，Joe摔倒了腿，最后摔进了冰裂缝，最后他顽强地爬回到了几英里之外的营地。这是生命的奇迹，只要我们不放弃，一切都有可能。21. 【答案】C 【试题解析】考察副词辨析及上下文串联。A匆忙地；B细心地；C成功地；D早；根据on their way back在回来的路上，说明他们都成功地登上了Siula Grande。故C项正确。22. 【答案】A 【试题解析】考察形容词辨析及上下文理解。A困难的；B相似的；C特别的；D正常的；根据26空the weather got worse天气更糟糕了，说明在他们返回的路上情况变得很糟糕，很困难了。故A正确。23. 【答案】D 【试题解析】考察动词词义辨析及语境理解。A攀登；B工作，起作用；C休息；D继续；Joe摔断了腿。如果Simon独自一人继续返回，他会安全到达营地。但是如果他想带着Joe一起回去，可能谁都无法安全返回。根据句义说明D正确。24. 【答案】B 【试题解析】考察副词词义辨析及预计理解。A不愿意地；B安全地；C慢慢地；D遗憾地；如果Simon独自一人继续返回，他会安全到达营地。故B正确。25. 【答案】D 【试题解析】考察名词辨析和上下文串联。从下文他帮助Joe一起回去，可知他冒着失去生命的危险，用登山绳帮助Joe下山。故D正确。26. 【答案】C 【试题解析】考察动词短语辨析。Lie down躺下；settle down定居，解决；go down下降；look down看不起；向下看；当他们两个人从山顶上向下返回的时候，天气变得更为糟糕了。27. 【答案】D 【试题解析】考察名词词义辨析及语境理解。A破坏；B暴风雨；C改变；D麻烦事；根据下一句They couldnt see or hear each other本来Joe受伤了，已经是一件很麻烦的事情了。他们相互之间看不件对方，对于他们来说这又是一件麻烦的事情。故D项正确。28. 【答案】A 【试题解析】考察介词短语辨析及语境理解。A错误地；B偶然地；D侥幸；根据下一句Simon lowered his friend over the edge of a precipice可知Simon错误地把Joe送到了峭壁边上。主要是因为他们看不见对方而导致的错误。29. 【答案】D 【试题解析】考察形容词词义辨析及上下文串联。A不必要地；B实用的；C重要的；D不可能；因为Joe的腿已经断了，所以他不可能自己爬上来。Simon根本看不见Joe也不可能会把他拉上来的。所以使用D项符合上下文串联。30. 【答案】B 【试题解析】考察名词词义辨析及上下文串联。A高度；B体重；C力气；D设备；根据pulling Simon slowly towards the precipice.可知Simon也被拉着向峭壁这边过来了，主要是因为Joe的体重。因为他们两个人系在一根绳子上，所以Joe拉着Simon向峭壁过去了。31. 【答案】A 【试题解析】考察副词词义辨析及上下文串联。A最后，终于；B耐心地；C确切地；D迅速地；最后在黑暗里斗争了一个多小时以后，Simon不得不做出了一个艰难的决定，砍断绳索。如果不砍断绳索，两个人都会死去。故A项符合上下文串联。32. 【答案】C 【试题解析】考察短语辨析及语境理解。A避开；B休息；C做出决定；D坚持，别挂断；Simon不得不做出了一个艰难的决定，砍断绳索。如果不砍断绳索，两个人都会死去。33. 【答案】B 【试题解析】考察动词词义辨析及上下文串联。A跳跃；B摔倒，跌倒；C逃脱；D支持；流着眼泪，Simon砍断了绳索，Joe摔倒在下面的冰上一个巨大的裂缝中。34. 【答案】A 【试题解析】考察动词词义辨析及语境理解。A设法；管理；B计划；C等待；D希望；Joe没有食物也没有水而且浑身疼痛。他无法步行，但是他设法从裂缝了爬了出来。开始朝着营地的方向移动着。35. 【答案】C 【试题解析】考察动词词义辨析及语境串联。A奔跑；B滑冰；C移动；D行军；前进；从上文可知Joe已经摔断了腿，所以他不可能是奔跑，滑冰或者行军前进，他只能是在地上爬着前进。36. 【答案】B 【试题解析】考察副词词义辨析及语境串联。A大约，四处；B在远处，离开；C在上面；D成行，沿着；他只能是在地上爬着前进。朝着大约10英里之外的营地爬过去。Away和具体的表示距离的名词连用，表示.之外的地方。37. 【答案】D 【试题解析】考察动词短语辨析及语境串联。A朝过去；B旅游；C出发去某地；D返回；Simon把Joe丢下以后，他自己很快就回到了营地。根据句义说明D项正确。38. 【答案】A 【试题解析】考察形容词辨析及上下文串联。A死的；B受伤的；C虚弱的；D迟的，晚的；因为Joe摔倒了腿，而且又掉进来冰裂缝了，所以Simon认为他肯定无法幸存下来了。所以使用A正确。39. 【答案】C 【试题解析】考察副词词义辨析及语境理解。A秘密地；B疲惫地；C立刻，马上；D焦虑地；虽然他认为Joe肯定死了，但是他也不想立刻就离开这个营地，就又在营地里住了下来。40. 【答案】B 【试题解析】考察动词词义辨析及上下文串联。A发现；B相信，认为；C生成，制作；D接受；三天以后在半夜里，当他听见Joe的声音的是，他无法相信这竟然是真的，Joe竟然活了下来。【长难句解析】1.They both knew that if Simon continued alone, he would probably get back safely.【翻译】他们都知道如果Simon独自一人继续回家，他很可能会安全到达营地。【分析】本句中的动词knew后面含有一个that引导的宾语从句，在这个宾语从句中有一个条件句if Simon continued alone，所以动词knew后面的that不能省略。2. He thought that Joe must be dead, but he didnt want to leave immediately.【翻译】他以为Joe一定会死了，但是他不想立刻就离开。【分析】本句中的must be dead，是情态动词must表示推测的用法，must通常表示有把握的肯定推测。有把握的否定推测使用cant,而不是mustnt。but是一个表示转折关系 的并列连词。四（2014福建卷）阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。From my second grade on, there was one event I feared every year: the piano recital(独奏演唱会). A recital _36_I had to practice a boring piece of music and perform before strangers. Each year I _37_ask my father if I could skip the recital “just this once”. And each year he would shake his head, muttering(嘀咕) _38_about build self-confidence and working toward a _39_.So it was with really great_40_that I stood in church one recent Sunday, video camera in hand, and _41_my 68-year-old father sweating in his shirt _42_rising to play the piano in his very first recital.My father had longed to play music since childhood, but his family was poor and couldnt _43_lessons. He could have gone on regretting it, _44_too many of us do. But though he was rooted in his past, he wasnt _45_there. When he retired three years ago, he _46_ his church music director to take him as a student.For a moment after my father sat down at the keyboard, he _47_stared down at his fingers. Has he forgotten the _48_? I worried, remembering those split seconds_49_ago when my mind would go blank and my fingers would _50_. But then came the beautifu