1. (2017高三下·河北模拟) 完形填空

    My wife and I were attending a wedding at St. John's Church. The sound of 1 rang to the heavens as the ceremony continued.

    At the church, I 2 an old friend. Casper, who happened to be at the 3. Now 73, Casper was a brilliant and 4 softball pitcher （投球手） back in the Men's Leagues of  Philadelphia in the mid-60s. I did not 5 the now silver-haired fellow until my brother-in- law John mentioned his name to me! After a very pleasant 6, Casper asked if I remembered a letter of 7 I had written to him back in 1964. It appeared Casper fell on hard times, as professional pitchers 8 do, and he wasn't pitching too well for a period of time. I did not 9 the letter, but he said, “Yes, I still have it, and I read it anytime 10 aren't going too well.” He said that he had read the letter many times, and the situation always seemed to improve. I was 11 and speechless!

    He continued, “You don't remember?” I said, “Sadly, no, I don't.” But I did ask if I could have a(n) 12 of the letter. He said he would email it to me. After the 13, we met on the steps of the church. Casper came up to me and 14 the letter. He lived a block from the 15 and had run home to get it. The envelope was 16 and turned yellow, and so was the letter inside. That letter had to be nearly 50 years old.

    In 17 terms, the letter read:

    “These hard times are 18 ! Keep your enthusiasm for the 19. Never quit and you'll be back on top again 20. Hang on there!”