阅读下在短文，从短文后各题的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出适合填入对应空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该选项涂黑。

A woman id her sixties lived alone in her little cottage with a pear tree at her door. She spent all her time taking care of the tree. But the children nearby drover her ___21___ by making fun of her. They would climb her tree and then run away with pears, ___22___ “Aunty Misery” at her.

One evening, a passer by asked to ___23___ for the night. Seeing that he had an ___24___ Face, she let him in and gave him a nice ___25___. The next morning the stranger, actually a sorcerer (巫师), thanked her by granting (允准) her ___26___ that anyone who climbed up her tree ___27___ not be able to come back down until she ___28___ it.

When the children came back to steal her ___29___, she had them stuck on the tree. They had to beg her long ___30___ she gave the tree permission to let ___31___ go. Aunty Misery was free from the ___32___ at last.

One day another man ___33___ her door. This one did not look trustworthy to her, ___34___ she asked who he was. “I am Death, I’ve come to take you ___35___ me.” said he.

Thinking fast Aunty Misery said, “Fine, but I’d like to ___36___ some pears from my dear tree to remember the ___37___ it brought to me in this life. But I am too ___38___ to climb high to get the best fruit. Will you be so ___39___ as to do it for me?” With a deep sigh, Mr. Death climbed up the tree ___40___ and was immediately stuck to it. No matter how much he warned or begged, Aunty Misery would not allow the tree to let Death go.

21. A. hopeless B. painful
C. dull D. crazy

22. A. calling B. shouting
C. announcing D. whispering

23. A. stay B. live
C. hide D. lie

24. A. interesting B. honest
C. anxious D. angry

25. A. gift B. kiss
C. treat D. smile

26. A. suggestion B. demand
C. permission D. wish

27. A. could B. should
C. might D. must

28. A. permitted B. promised
C. answered D. declared

29. A. branch B. food
C. tree D. fruit

30. A. after B. while
C. since D. before

31. A. it B. them
C. him D. her

32. A. trick B. question
C. trouble D. difficulty

33. A. stepped into B. left for
C. stopped at D. walked around

34. A. so B. but
C. although D. because

35. A. with B. off
C. upon D. for

36. A. choose B. pick
C. shake D. hit

37. A. honor B. pleasure
C. hope D. excitement

38. A. light B. short
C. old D. thin

39. A. proud B. kind
C. fine D. smart

40. A. disappointedly B. cheerfully
C. unwillingly D. eagerly