They huddled （挤在一起） inside the storm door – two children in dirty old coats.
“Any old __36___ , lady?”
I was __37__ with my household budget (预算). I wanted to say no --- until I looked down at their __38__ . Thin little sandals (凉鞋), __39__ through. “Come into the front room and I’ll make you a cup of hot __40__ .” There was no conversation. Their wet sandals left __41__ upon the hearthstone (壁炉的石头).
I __42__ them cocoa and bread with jam (果酱) to __43__ against the cold outside. Then I went back to the kitchen and started __44__ on my household budget.
I __45__ the silence in the front room and looked in. The girl held the empty __46__ in her hands, looking at it. The boy asked in a flat voice, “Lady ... are you rich?”
“Am I rich? No!”
The girl put her cup back in its saucer (碟子) – __47_ . “Your cups __48__ your saucers.” Her voice was old, with a __49__ that was not of the stomach.
They left then, holding their newspapers __50__ the wind. They hadn’t said __51__ . They didn’t need to. They had done more than that. Plain blue pottery cups and saucers. __52__ they matched. I tasted the potatoes and stirred (搅拌) the gravy (肉汁). Potatoes and brown gravy, a roof over our heads, my man with a good steady job – these things matched, too.
I moved the chairs back from the fire and cleaned the living room. The muddy prints of small sandals were __53__ wet upon my heart. I let them be. I want them there __54__ I ever forget again how very__55__ I am.
1.A. cups B. newspapers C. food D. clothes
2.A. worried B. excited C. sad D. busy
3.A. dress B. faces C. feet D. socks
4.A. wet B. cold C. worn D. broken
5.A. cocoa B. soup C. gravy D. tea
6.A. snow B. water C. raindrops D. marks
7.A. made B. served C. offered D. sent
8.A. protect B. warm C. fight D. beat
9.A. then B. off C. again D. over
10.A. hated B. wondered C. found D. noticed
11.A. spoon B. cup C. bowl D. plate
12.A. carelessly B. carefully C. hurriedly D. heavily
13.A. suit B. fit C. match D. complete
14.A. hunger B. hope C. sound D. anger
15.A. with B. against C. in D. along
16.A. thank you B. goodbye C. nothing D. sorry
17.A. Though B. As C. So D. But
18.A. still B. even C. once D. ever
19.A. because B. even though C. in case D. as if
20.A. kind B. happy C. serious D. rich
--- They are quiet, aren’t they? --- Yes. They are accustomed __________ at meals.
A. to talk B. to not talk C. to talking D. to not talking
Occasions are quite rare ____ I have the time to spend a day with my kids.
A. who B. which C. why D. when
By the time he realizes he ____ into a trap, it’ll be too late for him to do anything about it.
A. walks B. walked C. has walked D. had walked
After studying in a medical college for five years, Jane _______ her job as a doctor in the countryside.
A. set out B. took over C. took up D. set up
The president promised to keep all the board members _________ of how the negotiations were going on.
A. inform B. informing C. be informed D. informed
