Introduction to Letters to Sam
Dear Reader,
Please allow me to tell you something before you read this book. When my 21 , Sam, was born, my heart was filled with joy. I had been sitting in a wheelchair for 20 years before then, and I have been 22 ill many times. So I wondered if I would have the 23 to tell Sam what I had 24 .
For years I have been hosting a program on the 25 and writing articles for a magazine. Being 26 to move freely, I have learned to sit still and keep my heart 27 , exchanging thoughts with thousands of listeners and 28 . So when Sam was born, I 29 to tell him about school and friendship, romance and work, love and everything else. That’s how I started to write these 30 . I hope that Sam would 31 them sooner or later.
However, that expectation 32 when Sam showed signs of autism (自闭症) at the age of two. He had actually stopped talking before the discovery of the signs. He 33 to communicate with others, even the family members. That was 34 for me but didn’t stop me writing on. I realized that I had even 35 now to tell him. I wanted him to 36 what it means to be “different” from others, and learn how to fight against the misfortune he’ll 37 as I myself, his grandfather, did. I just 38 if I could write all that I wanted to say in the rest of my life.
Now, 39 the book has been published, I have been given the chance. Every chapter in the book is a letter to Sam: some about my life, and all about what it means to be a 40 .
Daniel Gottlieb
1.A. son B. nephew C. brother D. grandson
2. A. seriously B. mentally C. slightly D. quietly
3.A. ability B. time C. courage D. responsibility
4.A. written B. suffered C. observed D. lost
5.A. radio B. television C. stage D. bed
6.A. ready B. unable C. anxious D. eager
7.A. warm B. broken C. closed D. open
8.A. hosts B. visitors C. readers D. reporters
9. A. began B. stopped C. forgot D. decided
10.A. letters B. emails C. books D. diaries
11.A. find B. read C. collect D. keep
12.A. developed B. disappeared C. changed D. arrived
13.A. tried B. refused C. regretted D. hoped
14.A. exciting B. acceptable C. strange D. heartbreaking
15.A. less B. everything C. more D. nothing
16. A. understand B. explain C. believe D. question
17. A. fear B. face C. know D. cause
18. A. felt B. guessed C. saw D. doubted
19.A. as B. once C. though D. if
20.A. teacher B. child C. man D. writer
I found him sitting in his chair, completely_____ a magazine.
A. absorbing B. being absorbed in C. absorbed in D. absorbing in
He has three children, are doctors.
A.and two of whom B.two of them C.two of whom D.two of which
Not only ,but he himself was badly beaten up.
A.was everything he had robbed of B.everything he had was robbed of
C.had everything he been robbed of D.was he robbed of everything he had
With nothing ________ to burn, the fire became weak and finally died out before the firefighters came.
A . leave B. leaving C. left D. to leave
When _____ about the secret of his success, Steven gave us a smile and said nothing .
A. asking B. having asked C. ask D. asked