阅读下面短文，从短文后所给的选项中选出能填入短文空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项是多余选项。

It is exciting to welcome a cat into your family, but it is also a huge duty. And you’ll expect a lot of changes in your life. ____41____

Most of us will bring home a kitten (小猫), once they’re around nine weeks old and stop drinking milk from their mum. ____42____ They are always running around, climbing curtains, and getting up to all kinds of tricks. Luckily, they also sleep a lot and can be cute.

It is a good idea to get a grooming (梳毛) brush. Getting your kitten used to a little grooming time each day will make life easier in the long run. ____43____ In this way, it will be easier to put it into the basket if you have to take it out.

If you are taking in an older cat, they will be calmer and need less care than a kitten. Still, they feel uncomfortable in the first few weeks after moving to a new house. ____44____ Make sure they have plenty of places to hide.

Whatever the age of the cats, prepare two litter boxes for each cat in the home, and these should be in some private areas, where there is not a lot of foot traffic.

____45____ Cats don’t like drinking water that is near their food. You also need to keep both bowls away from the litter box. Cats won’t want to eat or drink if they can smell their litter.

A. What can you buy for them?

B. At this age, they can be highly active.

C. There are a number of things to be aware of.

D. For these older cats, the key is to respect their space.

E. They often fight bravely to help their mum hunt for food.

F. Importantly, keep the food bowl away from the water bowl.

G. Similarly, use a cat basket as a bed choice within the home.

1.41.

A

B

C

D

解析：选C。篇章过渡总起句（承上启下），空格位于段尾。前句：接猫咪回家很令人兴奋，但责任重大，生活会出现很多改变。C 选项：There are a number of things to be aware of.（有许多事情需要留意）✅逻辑：上文抛出养猫这件事，下文全部是养猫各项具体注意事项。本句起到总起下文的作用，引出后面几段关于幼猫护理、成年猫适应、猫砂盆、食具摆放等内容。❌排除其他：A 是问句，下文没有回答 “买什么”；B 讲年龄，本段还没讲小猫年龄；D 讲成年猫，此时还未谈及成年猫；G 讲猫包；F 讲食盆水盆，均是后文细分细节，不能放在全文开头总起。

2.42.

A

B

C

D

解析：选B。细节句（代词指代 + 语义复现）。空格在段中。前文 “once they’re around nine weeks old” 提到小猫九周大。B 选项中At this age（在这个年纪），this age精准指代上文中的 nine weeks old。后文：They are always running around, climbing curtains, and getting up to all kinds of tricks.（到处跑、爬窗帘、各种调皮捣蛋），对应 B 选项highly active（高度活泼好动），语义完全匹配。❌排除 E：E 讲小猫帮母猫捕猎，全文没有捕猎相关信息，属于无关信息。

3.43.

A

B

C

D

解析：选G。细节句（逻辑副词 + 名词复现）。空格段主旨：要从小训练小猫习惯梳毛，让猫咪适应日常护理。G 选项Similarly, use a cat basket as a bed choice within the home.✅Similarly（同样地）逻辑：前面是训练习惯梳毛；这里是同样要训练习惯猫包。后文出现put it into the basket，G 选项的cat basket和后文basket原词复现。含义：在家就把猫包当猫窝，猫咪熟悉它，外出时就更容易把猫放进猫包。前后因果通顺。❌易错干扰：不要选 A，本段不是在提问要买什么，而是陈述要做什么训练。

4.44.

A

B

C

D

解析：选D。段落主题句（指代 + 总分逻辑）。本段话题：收养成年大猫。前句：成年猫性格更温顺，但刚搬家的最初几周会感到紧张不安。D 选项For these older cats, the key is to respect their space.（对于这些成年猫，关键是尊重它们的空间。）✅these older cats指代上一句an older cat。后文 “Make sure they have plenty of places to hide（确保有足够可以躲藏的地方）” 就是对 “尊重它们的空间” 的具体解释，总分对应。

5.45.

A

B

C

D

解析：选F。段首主题句（段落主旨概括）。空格是本段段首句，统领整段。本段后面信息：①猫不喜欢喝靠近食物的水；②食盆水盆远离猫砂盆；③闻到猫砂味道猫就不吃不喝。F 选项Importantly, keep the food bowl away from the water bowl.（重要的是，把食盆和水盆分开放置）概括本段核心 —— 食、水容器摆放位置。✅后文 “don’t like drinking water that is near their food” 和 F 选项语义同义改写。