Why did I come today? My Christmas__16___ contained several people that claimed they wanted nothing but I knew their feelings would be hurt__17___ I didn’t buy them anything, so buying gifts was__18___ but fun.

　　Hurriedly, I finished shopping and__19___ the long checkout lines. In front of me were a boy of about 5 and a younger girl. She carried a beautiful pair of__20___ slippers. When we finally__21___ the checkout register, the girl__22___ placed the shoes on the counter. She treated them as though they were a__23___.

　　“They will be $6.09,” the cashier said. The boy__24___ all his pockets. He finally came up with $3.12. “I guess we will have to put them back,” he said__25___. “We will come back some other time, maybe tomorrow.” With that statement, a soft__26___ broke from the little girl, “But Jesus would like these shoes,” she cried.

　　“Well, we’ll go home and work some more. Don’t cry. We’ll surely__27___,” he said. Quickly I handed $3.00 to the cashier. These children had waited in line for a long time. And __28___, it was Christmas. Suddenly a pair of arms came around me and the girl said __29___, “Thank you, lady.” “What did you __30___ when you said Jesus would like the shoes?” I asked. The boy answered, “Our mommy is sick and going to __31___. Daddy said she might go before Christmas to be with Jesus.” The girl spoke, “My Sunday school teacher said the streets in heaven are shiny gold, just like these shoes. Won’t mommy be __32___ walking on those streets in these shoes?”

　　My eyes __33___ as I looked into her tear-streaked face. “Yes,” I answered, “I am __34___ she will.” Silently I thanked God for using these children to __35___ me of the true spirit of giving.

　　21. A. plan B. list C. goods D. purchases

　　22. A. if B. because C. unless D. since

　　23. A. something B. nothing C. anything D. everything

　　24. A. waited B. joined C. attended D. gathered

　　25. A. cotton B. leather C. gold D. silver

　　26. A. approached B. passed C. checked D. found

　　27. A. immediately B. hesitantly C. shyly D. carefully

　　28. A. gift B. treasure C. life D. prize

　　29. A. opened B. touched C. tore D. searched

　　30. A. bravely B. uncertainly C. slowly D. doubtfully

　　31. A. tear B. sob C. smile D. sigh

　　32. A. leave B. come C. return D. arrive

　　33. A. above all B. at last C. at least D. after all

　　34. A. gratefully B. sweetly C. gracefully D. kindly

　　35. A. request B. expect C. mean D. attempt

　　36. A. hospital B. tomb C. heaven D. sky

　　37. A. equal B. comfortable C. convenient D. beautiful

　　38. A. pained B. flooded C. shut D. froze

　　39. A. sure B. afraid C. glad D. confident

　　40. A. inform B. warn C. cure D. remind

　　参考答案：

　　21—25：BACBC 26—30:ADBDA 31-35:BCDAC 36-40:CDBAD