Task 9

（2020·鄭州二模）At 36， I have three kids and a great husband， and I？__________m enjoying a challenging but fun career. Although this is? ? 1? ? ， sometimes I feel my heart asking if this is who I truly am.

The chaos of the family kitchen? ? 2? ? my brain： the noise of the kettle， pots and the dishes， and the conversation demands while I？__________m making breakfast. I escape? ? 3? ? to my bedroom. Only in silence do I hear the self that is? ? 4? ? from the children and wonder who that person might be.

So， I journeyed， for the first time in a decade， without my husband or kids. I went with a friend to? ? 5? ? in Iceland. I hoped the consideration of walking would help me better? ? 6? ? who I want to be. For six days， I was absorbed in? ? 7? ? ?scenery and real weather. The mountains in Iceland? ? 8? ? black and tall into the heavens against the white of the snow. Looking outside at wild wind and rain and knowing there？__________s no? ? 9? ? to make the soul freed. Climbing a mountain against sheets of rain and returning to a tent for a simple meal? ? 10? ? me how little I actually needed and how? ? 11? ? I felt when uncomfortable.

I found? ? 12? ? in Iceland， and time to consider “the me” outside of career and kids as I shared stories with strangers with no? ? 13? ? past and no expected future. When I stopped talking and just listened， I was surprised at how my? ? 14? ? changed—I became more generous. I learned generosity can? ? 15? ? more space， more food and more warmth? ? 16? ? when there may not seem enough to go around at first glance.

I came home to noise， chaos and love. I know the answer isn？__________t waiting out there on the top of a mountain or inside my head if I just? ? 17? ? hard enough to hear， and it isn？__________t in conversation with other seeking souls. The answer is in front of me with every step on my own life？__________s? ? 18? ? .

I？__________m not finding myself， but I？__________m creating myself. I need the storm as much as I need the quietness.? ? ?19? ? is built under a heavy load. I？__________m expecting to? ? 20? ? all of my loads and travel on.

1. A. progress B. reward C. success D. encouragement

2. A. disturbs B. awakes C. quiets D. ruins

3. A. instantly B. eventually C. suddenly D. briefly

4. A. safe B. separate C. tired D. different

5. A. hike B. volunteer C. settle D. wander

6. A. judge B. consider C. question D. understand

7. A. changeable B. green C. wild D. surrounding

8. A. turn B. rise C. form D. appear

9. A. picture B. decision C. peace D. promise

10. A. reminded B. warned C. convinced D. told

11. A. stubborn B. nervous C. satisfied D. strong

12. A. confidence B. value C. silence D. happiness

13. A. shared B. painful C. troubled D. glorious

14. A. concern B. attitude C. life D. character

15. A. develop B. explore C. offer D. create

16. A. indeed B. just C. only D. even

17. A. try B. calm C. move D. manage

18. A. design B. choice C. path D. belief

19. A. Pleasure B. Frustration C. Spirit D. Pressure

20. A. think over B. deal with C. lay down D. pick up