Eventually all suns will   36   their fuel, explode and then become cold and dark. Matter itself will disappear and the universe will become   37   for the rest of time.

This was the general drift of my thoughts as my wife and I   38   my eldest son as a freshman at college. That moment at the dorm is   39   at the kindergarten door, at the gates of summer camp, at every occasion of parting and   40  . But it comes surprising, taking what you   41   most.

Our ancestors thought this parting should take place   42  . In many societies adolescents were sent away to live with friends or relatives right after adolescence. This was supposed to   43   the conflicts that come from   44   teenagers and their parents very near. 

Eighteen years is not enough. The days pass uncounted, until they   45  . The adjustment is upsetting. My son is on the   46   side --- observant, thoughtful, a practitioner of companionable silence. I know this is hard on him as well. He will be homesick. Among the greatest   47   of college students is 常州市武进区2015-2016学年上学期期中考高三英语试题及答案they won’t have a room at home to return to.

But with due respect to my son’s feelings, I have the   48   of parting. I know something he doesn’t --- incomprehensible to the young. He is experiencing the   49   that come with beginnings. His life is starting for real. I have begun the long letting go. Put another way: He has a wonderful future in which my part   50   decreases.

I’m sure my father realized it at a（n)   51   moment. And I certainly didn’t notice or understand. At first, he was a giant who held my hand and   52    my sky. Then a middle-aged man who paid my bills. Now, decades after his passing, a much-loved   53  . But I can remember the last time I hugged him in his home, where I always had a room. I can only hope to leave my son the same.

My son, those days have been the greatest wonder and   54   of my life. And there will always be a   55   for you.

 A. add  B. use  C. consume  D. supply A. empty  B. boundless  C. expanding  D. hopeless A. dropped out  B. dropped off  C. dropped in D. dropped back A. delayed  B. implied  C. missed  D. captured A. reliance  B. importance  C. responsibility  D. independence A. wonder  B. need  C. value  D. miss A. before  B. later  C. afterwards  D. earlier A. minimize  B. cause  C. manage  D. settle A. drawing  B. relating  C. housing  D. seating A. come  B. end  C. break  D. start A. excited  B. sad  C. anxious  D. quiet A. fears  B. pities  C. reliefs  D. pains A. better  B. pleasure  C. worse  D. benefit A. comprehension  B. recognition  C. adjustment  D. consideration A. naturally  B. sharply  C. immediately  D. suddenly A. difficult  B. critical  C. important D. similar A. filled  B. cleared  C. clouded  D. broke A. breadwinner  B. shape  C. guard  D. shadow A. pressure  B. privilege  C. substitute  D. inspiration A. house  B. chance  C. room  D. dream

--- _____. But I have been working on my graduation thesis.

A. Of course not.  B. Why bother？  C. How dare I？ D. I hope so.

返影入深林，复照青苔上的意思是什么？

其翼若垂天之云的“之”是什么意思？

   
A. regulations  B. foundations  C. dimensions D. decorations

A

Homonym: a word that has the same spelling and the same pronunciation as another world, but a different meaning

Same spelling, different meaning

Imagine, then a situation where two words are spelt and pronounced exactly the same way, but have completely different meanings. Welcome to the world of homonyms. Take, for example, the word ‘fail’ --- it can be a kind of festival, and adjective to describe the color of your hair or how you should play a game. 

Don’t take it literally

So how do you know which meaning someone is referring to？ --- You don’t, except by the context. Obviously, if someone asks you to ‘give them a hand’, they don’t want you to remove what is at the end of your arm.

What’s in a name？

Sometimes even the context doesn’t help much --- the result can be amusing. These sentences play with the double meaning of a noun:

I used to be a banker, but I lost interest.

Have you heard about the cross-eyed teacher who couldn’t control his pupils？

A small boy swallowed some coins and had to go to hospital. When his grandmother phoned to ask how he was, the nurse said: ‘No change yet’.

More ambiguity

And these examples play with the different meanings of a verb:

I wondered why the ball was getting bigger. Then it hit me.

No one knew she had a dental implant until it came out in a conversation.

A boiled egg in the morning is hard to beat.

Double trouble

And sometimes a word can be a noun and a verb, but have different meanings. Can you work this one out？

Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

If you like these homonyms, you will be pleased to know that English has plenty more!

Explanations of jokes in the text

I used to be banker, but I lost interest. （I became bored with the job / I lost money)

Have you heard about the cross-eyed teacher who couldn’t control his pupils？ （students / parts of his eyes) 

A small boy swallowed some coins and had to go to hospital. When his grandmother phoned to ask how he was, the nurse said: ‘No change yet’. （no difference in the situation / no money)

I wondered why the ball was getting bigger. Then it hit me. （the ball hit me / I suddenly realized)

No one knew she had a dental implant until it came out in a conversation. （became known / fell out)

A boiled egg in the morning is hard to beat. （can’t be better / difficult to mix with a fork)

Time flies like an arrow. （time goes quickly) Fruit flies like a banana. （insects enjoy eating fruit.)

A. They share the same spellings regardless of meanings.

B. We can’t know their meanings without context.

C. We may still feel confused even with context.

D. Their ambiguity brings great trouble to our life. 

A. The rain was beating down on the tin roof.

B. Taking the bus sure beats walking.

C. The doctor could feel no pulse beating.

D. You’ve been working too hard, you look dead beat.