Knowing how much her own children loved presents at Christmas, Ann Sutton, a social worker, always tried to seek help for one or two poor families. This year, Kinzie, Ann’s seven-year-old daughter, was 31 that Santa Claus would make a special visit to a young mother named Ashley who worked in a factory and was 32 her 12-month-old son, Evan, and her 12-year-old brother, Kenny, by herself.
At a 33 dinner, the phone rang. A representative from a local charity was calling to say that the 34 Ann had requested for Ashley had been cancelled. No Santa Claus, no presents, nothing. Ann saw the cheer fade away from her children's faces at the news. Without a word, she 35 down from her chair and ran from the room. Now, it didn't feel much 36 Christmas anymore. Kinzie returned, her face set with determination. She had opened up her piggy 37 , and now she counted out the coins and broken dollar 38 , one by one, onto the dining table: $3.30. Everything she had.
“Mom,” she told Ann, “I know it's not much. 39 maybe this will buy a present for the baby.”
Then 40 everyone was reaching into pockets and purses. Adding to Kinzie's gift became a game, with everyone 41 for loose change. By the time the search ended, there was a small mountain of bills and a neat pile of coins. The 42 : $130, plenty for a Christmas for three. “God multiplied your gift,” Ann said to Kinzie.
That evening, Kinzie went with her mother and sister to 43 the money.
On Christmas Eve, Ann 44 through the pouring rain to the small cottage where the family lived. When Ashley opened the door, Ann stood under her umbrella and 45 the astonished woman a merry Christmas. Then she began to 46 the gifts from the car, handing them to Ashley one by one. Ashley laughed in disbelief, and still the presents came. Ann abandoned the umbrella, and the young woman joined her in the rain, passing gifts 47 to Kenny. “Please, can I open up just one tonight?” he begged. Soon both women were 48 to the skin, and surprise had turned to something 49 , the kind of joy that brought them close to tears.
Reflecting on a little girl's generosity, Ashley says she hopes she'll one day be able to do something similar for someone else in 50 . “Kinzie could have used that money for herself, but she gave it away,” Ashley says. “She's the type of kid I'd like my son to grow up to be.”
1.A. disappointed B. pleased C. surprised D. puzzled
2.A. raising B. teaching C. helping D. protecting
3.A. sorrowful B. joyful C. pitiful D. grateful
4.A. reward B. job C. aid D. prize
5.A. knelt B. fell C. rolled D. slipped
6.A. like B. at C. over D. for
7.A. pocket B. case C. basket D. bank
8.A. checks B. bills C. receipts D. signs
9.A. So B. And C. But D. or
10.A. hopefully B. luckily C. obviously D. suddenly
11.A. hunting B. struggling C. rushing D. trading
12.A. goal B. budget C. total D. maximum
13.A. spend B. save C. distribute D. collect
14.A. looked B. drove C. wandered D. walked
15.A. owed B. offered C. brought D. wished
16.A. unload B. separate C. divide D. choose
17.A. out B. inside C. down D. up
18.A. wet B. excited C. close D. familiar
19.A. sadder B. heavier C. wilder D. deeper
20.A. vain B. store C. need D. touch
If the students who killed themselves had only been more confident, their deaths ________.
A. need have been avoided B. must have been avoided
C. might have been avoided D. will have been avoided
It doesn’t matter what you wear—just ________ you come.
A. as long as B. as far as C. as early as D. as soon as
In front of our house ________ we used to swim.
A. a river lies that B. does a river lie where
C. lies a river which D. lies a river where
—Mama, why can’t I work the maths problem out?
—Oh, let me see. Well, you ________ a figure here. Got it?
A. squeezed out B. picked out C. left out D. wore out
________ poor health, my father is always cheerful.
A. In spite of B. In pursuit of C. In memory of D. In case of
