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