(2019·福州质检)Growing up, I always hid my thumbs (拇指) in my fists because of their unusual shape. __1__ they do look more like big toes (脚趾) __2__ thumbs. And from an early age, my thumbs __3__ another name “toe thumbs”．
In high school, I served as a cashier in a grocery store. One day, I was __4__ the bill of a sweet little old lady and as I __5__ her change back to her, she suddenly took my hands and said in a thick Polish __6__，“You are Polish! Look at those __7__ Polish thumbs! They match mine！” She raised her hands and __8__ her thumbs to me that __9__ weathered and wrinkled, looked exactly like mine! She __10__ my hands again and said, “Be __11__ of those thumbs！”
I'll never forget that 30second __12__ with a stranger that forever __13__ my view of a part of me I once was __14__ at and now accept. As I was eating dinner with my son, Samuel, that night, he looked down at my hand __15__ on the table next to his and said, “Mommy! Our thumbs __16__！” I smiled and answered, “Yes, they do, buddy! Those are strong Polish __17__ you have! Take pride in them! Maybe someday you'll have a little boy or girl who will have the same thumbs！” I __18__ my son never hides his thumbs like I did. I hope he'll be proud of their “unusualness” and the __19__ behind them. He inherits a(n) __20__ part from me and that for me will always be beautiful!
语篇解读：本文是一篇记叙文，讲述了一位好心的老太太促使“我”勇于面对自己异常的大拇指，建立自己“独特”的自尊、自爱和自豪感的故事。
1．A.Fortunately B．Admittedly
C．Normally D．Basically
解析：选B 不可否认，它们的确看起来更像大脚趾，而不是大拇指。fortunately“幸运地”；admittedly“诚然，不可否认地”；normally“正常地”；basically“基本地，本质上”。
2．A.other than B．due to
C．instead of D．along with
解析：选C 参见上题解析。instead of“代替……，而不是……”符合语境。other than“除了……以外”；due to “由于……，因为……”；along with“与……一起，与……同样地”。
3．A.earned B．cloned
C．found D．deserved
解析：选A 根据前一句中的“they do look more like big toes (脚趾)”可知，“我”的大拇指赢得了另外一个名字“toe thumbs”。earn“赚得，挣得，赢得”；clone“克隆”；deserve“应得，应受到”。
4．A.checking out B．hunting for
C．talking with D．watching over
解析：选A 一天，“我”正在核实一位和蔼可亲的、身材娇小的老太太的账单。check out“检查，核实”；watch over“照管，监督”。
5．A.paid B．charged
C．donated D．counted
解析：选D 正当“我”数好零钱给她的时候，她突然抓住“我”的手。charge“收费，要价”；donate“捐赠，捐献”；count“数数”。
6．A.tune B．voice
C．language D．accent
解析：选D 她用浓重的波兰口音说：“你是波兰人。”accent“口音”符合语境。tune“曲调，调子”；voice“声音，嗓音”；language“语言”。
7．A.beautiful B．strange
C．long D．clumsy
解析：选A 根据下文可知，老太太是在赞美这些独特的大拇指，且文章最后一句出现了beautiful，故此处选beautiful。clumsy“笨拙的，不灵活的”。
8．A.passed B．showed
C．recommended D．offered
解析：选B 她举起她的手，把她的大拇指给“我”看。show“给……看”；recommend“建议，推荐”。
9．A.till B．unless
C．although D．once
解析：选C 尽管她的大拇指历经岁月风霜，皱纹斑斑，但是它们看起来和“我”的完全一样。根据语境，此处应为although引导的让步状语从句，在although与weathered之间省略了“her thumbs were”。
10．A.raised B．inspected
C．examined D．held
解析：选D 根据上文中的“she suddenly took my hands”和空处后面的“my hands again”可知，她又一次抓住“我”的手，故选held。raise“举起，抬起”；inspect“视察，检查”；examine“检查”。
11．A.proud B．skeptical
C．afraid D．sure
解析：选A 根据下文中的“Take pride in them”和“be proud of”可知，此处应选proud, be proud of“对……感到骄傲/自豪”。skeptical“怀疑的”。
12．A.appointment B．bargain
C．conversation D．deal
解析：选C 根据上文可知，“我”与这位陌生人进行了30秒的交谈。conversation“交谈”符合语境。appointment“约会”；bargain“讨价还价”；deal“交易”。
13．A.supported B．changed
C．proved D．hurt
解析：选B 这次交谈永远改变(changed)了“我”对自己的身体的一部分(大拇指)的看法，“我”曾经为这一部分(大拇指)感到尴尬，现在“我”接受了。support“支持”；prove“证明”；hurt“伤害”。
14．A.amazed B．terrified
C．delighted D．embarrassed
解析：选D 参见上题解析。be embarrassed at“对……感到尴尬”。amazed“惊讶的”；terrified“非常害怕的”；delighted“高兴的”。
15．A.scratching B．resting
C．knocking D．drawing
解析：选B 那天晚上当“我”和“我”的儿子Samuel一起吃饭的时候，他低头看“我”的手，“我”的手靠在桌子上，紧挨着他的手。他说：“妈咪，我们的大拇指一样。”rest“支撑，倚靠”。
16．A.differ B．fit
C．fight D．match
解析：选D 参见上题解析。且根据文章第二段中的“They match mine”可知，此处应选match“相配，相一致”。differ“有区别”；fit“适合”；fight“打斗，争吵”。
17．A.fists B．thumbs
C．toes D．hands
解析：选B 根据上下文的内容可知，此处应选thumbs。
18．A.guarantee B．figure
C．pray D．insist
解析：选C 根据语境，此处表示“我”祈祷(pray)“我”的儿子不要像“我”一样藏起他的大拇指。guarantee“保证”；figure“认为，以为”；insist“坚持认为”。
19．A.scene B．lesson
C．history D．moment
解析：选C “我”希望他将会为他的大拇指的“独特之处”和其背后的历史(history)感到骄傲。
20．A.unique B．elegant
C．authentic D．sensitive
解析：选A 根据文章第一段第一句中的“unusual shape”和空前一句中的“unusualness”可知，他遗传了“我”身体中独特的部分，故选unique“独特的”。elegant“优雅的”；authentic“真实的”；sensitive“敏感的”。
