Ⅲ. 完形填空（共15小题；每小题1分，满分15分）
阅读短文，掌握其大意，然后从每小题所给的四个选项中选出一个最佳答案。
When my friend suggested that we join the new Tai Chi (太极拳) Club, I thought he was ___16___. I always believed tai chi was for old people. However, after the first class, I ___17___ that I was wrong. It was amazing. Tai chi led to a big ___18___ both in my body and mind.
I still remember my first few tai chi classes. The basic skill I learned was keeping a balance (平衡). An action was called “golden rooster (公鸡) standing on one leg”. Following the instructions, I tried to ___19___ on one leg.
It seemed that it was not a hard one, but I still ___20___ many times. Soon, I felt bored and ___21___ from practicing over and over again. I started to ___22___ myself. Maybe I was really ___23___ in this kind of exercise. Just then, my coach taught me how to relax myself. Step by step, I made ___24___. Later, I was able to do more difficult actions and feel peace of mind as well. My love for tai chi became ___25___. I even wanted to look into the ancient Chinese culture behind tai chi.
I discovered tai chi is deeply from Chinese yin and yang. The practice of it helps to keep a balance through ___26___: left and right, up and ___27___, breathing in and breathing out... Finally, tai chi brings about a state of body balance and ___28___ peace.
Now I can honestly say it helps me become much ___29___. I sleep better at night, and I am more active during the day. More importantly, practicing tai chi has made me better ___30___ the Chinese culture. I am sure I will continue to practice tai chi and enjoy the advantages it has brought me.
16. A. joking B. waiting
C. reading D. explaining
17. A. forgot B. dreamt
C. required D. realized
18. A. decision B. problem
C. change D. love
19. A. sitB. standC. lieD. jump
20. A. feared B. wished
C. failed D. received
21. A. lazyB. tiredC. afraidD. hungry
22. A. thank B. praise
C. doubt D. control
23. A. right B. weak
C. strict D. interested
24. A. friends B. mistakes
C. noise D. progress
25. A. strong B. quiet
C. strange D. important
26. A. habits B. chances
C. abilities D. opposites
27. A. onB. downC. offD. away
28. A. worldB. mindC. lifeD. thought
29. A. safer B. heavier
C. prouder D. healthier
30. A. understand B. teach
C. translate D. encourage
参考答案：
16.A 17. D 18. C 19. B 20. C
21.B 22. C 23. B 24. D 25. A
26. D 27. B 28. B 29. D 30. A
答案解析：
16. A。朋友建议加入太极俱乐部，“我”一直认为太极是老年人的运动，所以觉得朋友是在“开玩笑”。
17. D。上一句提到“我”认为太极是老年人的运动，然而上了第一节课后，“我”的想法改变了，所以是“意识到”自己错了。
18. C。由后文可知，太极给“我”的身心带来了很大变化，所以选“change”。
19. B。“金鸡独立”这个动作是单腿“站立”。
20. C。虽然看起来不难，但“我”还是多次失败，“fail”表示“失败”。
21. B。一遍又一遍地练习让“我”感到厌烦和“疲倦”。
22. C。因为觉得困难和厌烦，“我”开始“怀疑”自己。
23. B。怀疑自己也许真的不擅长这种运动，“weak”表示“不擅长的”。
24. D。在教练的指导下，“我”一步一步取得了“进步”。
25. A。“我”对太极的热爱变得“强烈”起来。
26. D。太极通过“对立的事物”保持平衡，如左与右、上与下等。
27. B。与“up”相对应的是“down”。
28. B。太极带来身体平衡和“内心”的平静。
29. D。由后文“我晚上睡得更好，白天更有活力”可知，太极让“我”变得更“健康”。
30. A。练习太极让“我”更好地“理解”中国文化。
