[单项选择]I set off as soon as I got the news about my grandpa蒺s illness. Unfortunately, he ______ at the hospital before I ______ .
A. has died; went there
B. had died; arrived
C. died; had been there
D. was dying; had gone

[单项选择]My father waved me goodbye and the bus set off. The person sitting 41 to me was a government engineer going to Peshwar 42 inspect the roads. He said that traveling by bus was an excellent way to test the roads. We passed many villages 43 the way and stopped once or 44 to buy cold drinks, 45 it was very hot and dusty. The countryside was brown and dry and there were long stretches with no people 46 villages in sight. We 47 to stop once at some road works， 48 made my traveling companion very happy. Most of us were dozing 49 the afternoon heat when we were woken by a sudden noise，which 50 like a shot from a gun. As the bus swerved and then stopped at the side of the road, I remembered all the stories I had heard about herd of robbers who used to attack travelers on deserted roads like this. Many of the other passengers looked as bewildered and frightened as I 51 A. next
B. beside
C. besides
D. near