Rumor is the most 1 way of spreading stories by passing them on from mouth 2 mou

Rumor is the most 1 way of spreading stories by passing them on from mouth 2 mouth. But civilized countries in normal times have better 3 of news than rumor. They have radio, television, and newspapers. In times of stress and 4 , 5 , rumor 6 and becomes widespread. At such 7 the different kinds of news are in 8 , the press, television, and radio versus the grapevine. Especially 9 rumors spread when war requires censorship(审查，检查)on many important matters. The customary news sources no longer 10 enough information. Since the people cannot learn 11 legitimate(合法的，正规的)channels all 12 they are anxious to learn, they pick up "news" 13 they can and when this 14 , rumor thrives.

Rumors are often repeated 15 by those who do not believe the tales. There is a fascination about them. The reason is 16 the cleverly designed rumor gives expression to something deep in the hearts of the victims--the fears, suspicions, forbidden hopes, or daydreams which they hesitate to 17 directly. Pessimistic(悲观的)rumors about defeat and disasters show that the people who repeat them are 18 and anxious. 19 rumors about record production or peace soon coming point to complacency(满足，自得)or confidence and often to 20 .

1. A. primitive B. important C. impossible D. outstanding

2. A. till B. to C. for D. by

3. A. means B. ways C. sources D. resource

4. A. confusion B. peace C. prosperity D. worried

5. A. and B. however C. so D. therefore

6. A. emerges B. immerge C. immerse D. immense

7. A. time B. the times C. times D. the time

8. A. compete B. competition C. common D. harmony

9. A. do B. did C. are D. were

10. A. give up B. give off C. give out D. send off

11. A. through B. by C. in D. across

12. A. what B. why C. which D. that

13. A. wherever B. where C. whatever D. what

14. A. happened B. would happen C. happens D. happen

15. A. ever B. even C. forever D. much

16. A. that B. what C. why D. how

17. A. act B. voice C. behave D. do

18. A. happy B. relieved C. crazy D. worried

19. A. Bad B. Pessimistic C. Optimistic D. Good

20. A. overconfidence B. overweight C. overconsiderate D. overproduce