What I noticed first about my new parrot, Chico, was that he couldn’t fly. His wings had been cut short and he was stuck on the 1 just like us humans. When the weather turned nice, I took Chico outside. I sat him on a branch of a tree, hoping to make him 2 . At first he seemed 3 . He walked back and forth on the branch looking anxious or nervous. He didn’t even flap his wings in an attempt to fly. Somehow he knew he was 4 . One day Chico got especially excited . He paced back and forth and made an incredible amount of 5 . Then all of a sudden he stopped and let out an even louder scream. He started 6 flapping his wings for the first time ever － then he lifted off the 7 like a space shuttle! I was amazed and 8 . Little did I know his feathers had been growing back, and Chico had been 9 until the moment was ripe for escape! Two days later Chico 10 . First I tried to trick him back with food, but he would not come near me. Then I took his 11 and put it away—still he would not come. Finally, I made him a firm promise that I would let him 12 every day the weather was nice if he did come back. 13 , he flew onto my shoulder. From that day on, whenever the weather was good I would let him out early and he would fly around and be back before dark. The 14 lasted for two months before suddenly Chico became 15 . The vet said that he had been infected with a disease from the pigeons in the neighborhood. Within a few days he died. I was very sad. The 16 crossed my mind that if I had not set him free to fly, he would be still alive. But what 17 is there in being a bird if you can’t fly? Chico made his first break for 18 on a late Monday afternoon in April. When will you make yours? You too can take a 19 when the conditions are right, knowing you too, in your own way, were built to fly. If you don’t 20 , what will be the purpose of your life? 小题1: A．floor B．earth C．scene D．road 小题2: A．smarter B．healthier C．happier D．stronger 小题3: A．disappointed B．determined C．frightened D．confused 小题4: A．incapable B．disabled C．wrong D．stupid 小题5: A．noise B．progress C．energy D．consideration 小题6: A．slowly B．gently C．madly D．gracefully 小题7: A．ground B．tree C．cage D．branch 小题8: A．moved B．shocked C．delighted D．excited 小题9: A．struggling B．pacing C．flying D．waiting 小题10: A．left B．returned C．survived D．recovered 小题11: A．cage B．feather C．chain D．food 小题12: A．in B．out C．off D．alone 小题13: A．As usually B．At that moment C．Once in a while D．At the same time 小题14: A．action B．attempt C．routine D．effort 小题15: A．active B．injured C．sad D．ill 小题16: A．fact B．concern C．thought D．detail 小题17: A．sense B．mistake C．interest D．problem 小题18: A．life B．freedom C．fun D．food 小题19: A．break B．holiday C．chance D．look 小题20: A．keep yourself busy B．cheer yourself up C．let yourself down D．set yourself free