16. ----- Alvin , are you coming with us? ------ I'd love to , but something unexpected __________.
(A) has come up
(B)was coming up
(C)had come up
(D)would come up

12. According to scientists, our mental abilities begin to ___ from the age of 27 after reaching the highest level at 22. (A) differ (B)shrink (C)fail (D)decline

13. Peter had intended to take a job in business, but ______ that plan after the unpleasant experience in Canada in 2010. (A) had abandoned (B)abandoned (C)abandon (D)will abandon

14. Brown said he was by no means annoyed; _______ he was glad to be able make himself clearly understood. (A) all in all (B)for one thing (C)on the contrary (D)by the way

15. Armed with the information you have gathered , you can ________ preparing your business plan. (A) set out (B)set about (C)set off (D)set up

17. Ellen was a painter of birds and nature, _______, for some reason , had withdrawn from all human society. (A) which (B)who (C)where (D)whom

18. Mike was usually so careful, ________this time he made a small mistake. (A) yet (B)still (C)even (D)thus

19. Had they known what was coming next, they ________ second thoughts. (A) may have (B)could have (C)must have had (D) might have had

20. ----- I'm going to San Francisco for a couple of days . ------ ________, I wish I could get away for a while. (A) It doesn't matter (B) Forget it. (C) I really envy you (D) I can't agree more

21. " Just sign here, sir," the deliveryman said as he handed Oscar Reyna a package. The package consisted of a long , narrow box ___21____ wrapped in brown paper. __22___ the box , Oscar saw an umbrella inside—— a very old one with a beautifully carved handle. ____23___He had not seen it in more than 20 years , he recognized it ____24____. Oscar was 16 when he first saw the ___25____ umbrella. He had gone to a concert with his grandparents. As they were leaving , he noticed an umbrella on an empty seat. Impressed by its ____26____, Oscar felt a strong desire to find its ___27____. Oscar ___28____ the manager to look in the record of advance ticket sales. Just as he thought, a name matched the seat ____29___ Oscar had found the umbrella . The name was Mrs. Katie O'brien. Oscar talked his grandparents into going by Mrs O'brien's ___30____ on their way home. He rang the bell , the door opened, and an elderly woman appeared. "May I __31___ you ? "she asked. "I'd like to return it if its yours," Oscar said , ____32____ the umbrella as if presenting a ___33___ that had long been wished for. "Why , yes! it's mine, "replied Mrs. Brien with a ___34____ smile and shining eyes. " It was given to by my father years ago. Thank you so much for returning it. May I offer you a reward for your ____35____ ? " " No, ma'am , " he said " my grandmother says a good deed is its own reward." " Well, that 's ____36_____ my father used to say. What is your name , Young man ?" Years later, Oscar was staring at the finely carved handle of the umbrella as he remember Mrs. O' Brien . It was in perfect condition, considering how__37__ it was. Why had it arrived here today? As if ___38____, a note fell from the paper. It read: Mrs O'brien wanted you to ___39___ this umbrella as a present for a kind, __40___gesture long ago. (A) strictly (B) carefully (C) roughly (D) casually

22, (A) opening (B) seizing (C) observing (D) searching