There was a time when I was certain I could never deeply love an animal. I know this is 1______ to admit. In Britain, an indifference(冷漠)to pets is considered a fault on one'scharacter.
My wife was also 2 ______ sure that she could never deeply love me if I could not love animals. And at the beginning of this year, the risk increased. We were to 3______ a cat from a friend who had fallen for a woman who is allergic(过敏的)to them.
I 4______ —but coldly enough, I felt, to make clear that I would not be responsible for the creature's upkeep. I would 5______ the cost of cat food, of course, but like a strict Victorian father I would avoid 6______ entanglement(瓜葛).
However, Hopper— well, I hardly need tell you that Hopper differs from other cats. Eightyears old but slim as a kitten. Green-eyed and white-socked. Entirely independent but in need of human 7______ , too, when the mood takes her. Like I said —unique.
These last four months have 8 ______ me to spend an unexpected amount of time with Hopper. In my make shift office, she sleeps beside me, meows at my feet, or leaps onto my back. Through the window, I watch Hopper stalk(踱方步)through the long grass,9______ me of a wilder world outside. Every morning we feed her; every evening we play with a feather stuck to a stick. It is our 10______ —the only part of my timetable that has not been spoiled by the coronavirus(冠状病毒). Without the lock down, would I have realized the everyday happiness acat can bring?
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考查形容词及语境理解。worthwhile意为“值得的”;shameful意为"丢脸的，可耻的";considerate意为“体贴的";practical意为“务实的”。根据下一句In Britain,an indifference topets is considered a fault on one's character(在英国，对宠物的冷漠被认为是性格上的缺陷)可知，“我”知道承认不喜欢动物是丢脸的。故
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考查副词及语境理解。fairly意为“相当地”;rarely意为"罕见地";luckily意为“幸运地”;normally意为“正常地”。句意：我的妻子也很确定，如果我不爱动物，她就永远不会深深地爱着我。故选A。
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考查动词短语及语境理解。look into意为"调查";search for意为“搜寻”;complain of意为"抱怨";take on意为“接受”。根据who hadfallen for a woman who is allergic to them可知，朋友所爱的女人对猫过敏，所以我们要接受朋友养的一只猫。故选D。
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考查动词及语境理解。agreed意为“同意”;denied意为"拒绝";explained意为"解释";hesitated意为“犹豫”。根据but coldly enough,Ifelt可知，“我”同意了，但是非常冷漠地表示同意。故选A。
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考查动词及语境理解。share意为“分享”;save意为“救；保存”;reduce意为“减少”;divide意为“分开"。根据上文“我”同意接受了猫，那么“我”会和妻子共同承担养猫的费用。故选A。
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考查形容词及语境理解。spiritual意为“精神上的";emotional意为“情感上的”;mental意为“精神的”;physical意为“身体的”。根据上文“我”不喜欢宠物，可知此处表示“我要避免和猫有情感上的瓜葛"。故选B。
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考查名词及语境理解。company意为"公司；陪伴”;nature意为“大自然";power意为“力量";trust意为“信任"。根据independent(独立的)和but可知她虽然很独立，但在有情绪时也需要人类的陪伴。故选A。
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考查动词及语境理解。promised意为“承诺”;forbidden意为“禁止”;prepared意为“准备";allowed意为"允许”。根据下句In mymakeshift office, she sleeps beside me, meowsat my feet, or leaps onto my back及下文的冠状病毒可知，过去的四个月让“我”和猫度过了一段意想不到的时光。故选D。
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考查动词及语境理解。reminding意为“提醒";warning意为“警告";breaking意为“打破”;informing意为“告知”。remind sb. of sth.是固定搭配，意为“使某人想起某事”。故选A。
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考查名词及语境理解。burden意为“负担”;routine意为“惯例；常规";mistake意为“错误”;fortune意为“运气”。根据上句Every morningwe feed her; every evening we play with afeather stuck to a stick可知这是我们的日常，是时间表中唯一没有被冠状病毒破坏的部分。故选B。