It was Christmas, 1961．I was teaching in a small town and my pupils were  36  looking forward to the great day of  37 

       Each day the children produced some new things like strings（串） of popcorn, which we hung from the   38  ．Through it all, Maria remained   39  , watching quietly．I wondered what would happen to this quiet child,   40   so happy, now so suddenly lonely．I hoped the  41  

would excite her, but nothing did．We made cards and gifts for each other and for family members．  42   my gift, I made my students each a little bag for   43   their gifts.

       The happy and exciting day of gift-giving finally came．Through it all, she sat quietly watching．I had made a   44   bag for her, hoping to see her smile, but she   45   away．I had not broken the wall she'd built around herself.

       After school, she didn't leave,   46   watched her classmates go out of the door.

       I sat down to   47   my breath, hardly aware of what was happening．She came to me with a small box, saying nothing．"For me?" I asked with a   48   smile．She just nodded her head．Inside was a small golden bell．Then I   49   into her dark brown eyes and in a flash I knew―she had   50   it for her mother, who had   51   just three weeks before.

       I looked at the bell and then the giver, whispering, "Oh, Maria, it is so beautiful.  52  would have loved it．" Neither of us could   53   the tears．She came into my arms and we wept（哭泣）together．And for that brief moment I became her  54  , for she had given me the greatest  55   of all: herself.

―Which of the two dictionaries is intended for me?

―You can take ______．They are exactly the same.

       A．either              B．a(chǎn)ny                C．neither            D．both

―I've finished typing the letters．Shall I send them right away?

―_____．I'll check them myself later.

       A．Go ahead           B．No problem       C．Take it easy         D．Don't bother

The house prices have fallen during the last few months, but what ______ us is that they may go up soon after.

       A．worried          B．worries             C．will worry          D．had worried

―What do you think of our design for the new car?

―Pretty good．But I find theirs is ______ worth considering and studying.

       A．more             B．very            C．better              D．well

In Australia there are over 140 species of snakes, many of ______ are extremely dangerous.

       A．them           B．that             C．which             D．those

―Do you think it wise for parents to try to do everything for their children?

―No, that is just ______ they are mistaken.

       A．what              B．where           C．when              D．because

The fighting broke out on April 14, ______ 3 innocent people with more than 20      .

       A．killed; injured                              B．killing; injured

       C．killed; injuring                             D．killing; injuring

Lucy visited quite a few museums ______ her stay in England.

       A．during            B．a(chǎn)mong           C．while              D．since

―David wants to be another Yao Ming after he graduates from school.

―Are you joking? He will never ______ a person like Yao Ming.

       A．meet               B．get                C．turn                D．make