Ⅲ、完形填空(每小题1.5分，满分30分)
It was the last day of the final examination in a large eastern university. On the steps of one building, a group of engineering seniors gathered, discussing the exam due to begin in a few  36 . On their faces was confidence（自信）. This was their last exam—then on to   37 and jobs.
Some talked of jobs they already had; others talked of jobs they   38  get. With the certainty of four years of college, they felt ready and able to take  39   of the world.
The coming exam, they knew, would be a(n)   40   task. The professor had said they could bring   41  books or notes they wanted, requesting only that they did not   42  each other during the test.^
43  they entered the classroom. The professor passed out the papers. And smiles   44  on the students’ faces as they noted there were only five essay-type questions.
Three hours had passed   45  the professor began to collect the papers. The students no longer looked confident. On their faces was a frightened expression. Papers in hand, no one spoke as the professor faced the class.
He looked at the   46  faces before him, and then asked, “How many completed all five questions?”   47  a hand was raised.
“How many answered four?” Still no hands.
“Three? Two?” The students moved restlessly in their seats.
“One, then? Certainly somebody finished   48  .” But the class remained silent.
The professor put down the papers. “That is exactly what I   49 ,” He said. “I just want to impress upon you that   50   you have completed four years of engineering, there are still many things about the   51  you don’t know. These questions you couldn’t answer are relatively  52  in everyday practice.” Then smiling, he added, “You will all  53  this course, but remember—even though you are now college graduates, your education has just   54 .”
They years have   55  the name of his professor, but not the lesson he taught.
36. A. seconds           B. minutes             C. hours                D. days
37. A. interview            B. discussion      C. education          D. graduation
38. A. would                 B. must                 C. had to           D. used to
39. A. hold                   B. control                 C. charge           D. place
40. A. interesting           B. necessary           C. easy                  D. unusual
41. A. no                  B. either                C. any                   D. all
42. A. listen to                 B. look at                 C. refer to                D. talk to
43. A. Nervously           B. Joyfully            C. Quickly             D. Curiously
44. A. appeared             B. changed            C. froze                 D. stopped
45. A. then                   B. as                        C. before           D. after
46. A. pleased           B. worried             C. surprised       D. moved
47. A. Not                   B. Once                 C. Only                 D. Even
48. A. all                     B. none                 C. one                   D. it
49. A. wondered            B. enjoyed             C. hated                D. expected
50. A. right now            B. as though          C. now that            D. even though
51. A. exam                  B. subject                 C. question            D. college
52. A. valuable                 B. difficult            C. common            D. strange
53. A. pass                    B. fail                   C. take                  D. start
54. A. begun                 B. completed     C. failed                D. succeeded
55. A. forgot                 B. remembered      C. strengthened      D. Weakened