Lightning flashed through the darkness over Sibson’s bedroom skylight天窗.Sibson was shaken by a clap of thunder __1__ he knew what was happening. The storm had moved directly _2__ his two-story wooden house. Then he heard the smoke alarm beeping.   Sibson rushed down the stairs barefoot to    3   ; he opened the door to the basement地下室, and flames  4   out. Sibson ran back upstairs to call 911 from his bedroom. “I felt    5  because the room had a separate outdoor stairway,” he explains.     But the phone didn’t work, and when he tried to go down the outdoor stairway, he was   6   by a wall of flames. Sibson realized he was trapped（困住）。Sibson’s house was three kilometers   7    the main road and was so well hidden by trees that he knew calling for help would be     8    .     

Up a hill nearby lived Sibson’s neighbor, Huggons. He was lying in bed when something like a smoke alarm    9    his ears. He jumped out of bed, took his   10   and flashlight, and headed down the hillside toward the    11   . That was when he saw the rolling heavy smoke. Huggons dialed 911, and the operator warned him not to 12    the house. But Huggons said, “There is no way I am going to listen to Sibson   13   and die in that fire.” “Anyone there?” Huggons called out. Then he heard “Help! I’m trapped!” coming from the second floor balcony（阳台）. He entered the house, but soon had to run back to catch his   14    . After one more   15   inside the house, Huggons gave up and    16    around back. The wind parted the smoke just    17     for him to catch sight of Sibson. But there was no way to get to him. He   18   the flashlight into the woods and noticed a ladder. He took it over to the balcony and   19    Sibson down just as the second floor of the house fell off. Sibson is still     20     when he tells the story. “ I was alone that night,” he says. “Then I heard the most beautiful sound in my life. It was Huggons.” 

1. A. before               B. while              C. since                D. until 

2. A. on                     B. in                    C. through           D. over 

3. A. hide                  B. wait                 C. check              D. escape 

4. A. moved              B. gave                C. went               D. exploded 

5. A. safe                   B. worried           C. glad                D. tired 

6. A. burned              B. stopped          C. shocked          D. covered 

7. A. beside               B. off                   C. across             D. along 

8. A. limited               B. false                C. fruitless          D. regretful 

9. A. struck                B. missed             C. touched         D. passed 

10. A. coat                 B. key                  C. basin               D. Phone

11. A. noise               B. road                 C. smoke             D. danger 

12. A. search             B. enter                 C. leave              D. damage 

13. A. call                  B. roll                    C. scream           D. sigh 

14. A. breath             B. attention          C. ladder             D. flashlight 

15. A. stay                  B. chance             C. thought          D. attempt 

16. A. climbed            B. circled             C. looked            D. jumped 

17. A. clear                 B. open                C. enough          D. fit 

18. A. led                    B. put                   C. drove             D. shone 

19. A. persuaded        B. kicked              C. pulled            D. forced 

20. A. nervous            B. surprised          C. proud            D. Thankful