17.
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Wrinkles of confusion rippled across Holly's forehead as she unwrapped the gift from her best friend,Susan.
"I…I thought you could use it for something."Susan's (36)Cdid nothing to help us understand why a dark blue carpet remnant(零头布料)was being (37)Das a birthday gift.The murmured"thanks"could be barely heard as Holly tried not to allow her disappointment to show.
Holly's disappointment didn't become (38)Auntil the following evening when she came downstairs to say good night."Well,I guess we know how much my best friend (39)Bme,huh,Mom?"she said (40)C,with her head down.
"I'm so sorry,honey,"was all I could manage to say.
The next morning,I carried a garbage bag outside.My heart sank as I (41)Athe lid of the garbage can and saw Susan's carpet lying there. (42)Bonly a moment,I picked it up and brought it into the house.
"Susan (43)Cyou and me to go over to her house after school tomorrow."Weeks later Holly announced as she arrived home from school. (44)Aher voice carried a so-what attitude,I sensed she was pleased by the invitation.
The next day we (45)Bto the destination along the winding country road.A tall woman stood in the doorway to (46)Dus as we approached the small farmhouse.The house was (47)Cbut neatly decorated with used furniture.From the (48)Awith the woman we knew Susan had long been separated from her parents and she was Susan's stepmother.
A warm light shone in her eyes as she (49)Cto me her fondness for Susan.I came to respect this (50)Bwoman who had opened her home to a young girl and attempted to make a difference in her life.
As daylight began to (51)D,we offered our thanks and said goodbye.Holly sat quietly in the car leaning her body forward as if willing the car to move faster.No sooner had we come to a stop than she (52)Aopened the car door and walked purposefully toward the garbage can.
After pulling the car into the garage,I went inside.By this time,Holly was sitting at the kitchen table staring out of the window."Is this what you were looking for?"I held out the piece of (53)C."Thanks,Mom."A tear or two (54)Dfrom her eyes and fell onto the dark blue remnant that,as if (55)C,had become the most precious birthday present in the whole world.
36.A.adaptation | B.negotiation | C.explanation | D.assumption |
37.A.valued | B.deserted | C.described | D.presented |
38.A.evident | B.strange | C.slight | D.absent |
39.A.goes against | B.thinks of | C.learns from | D.pays for |
40.A.apparently | B.regularly | C.miserably | D.consistently |
41.A.lifted | B.threw | C.closed | D.repaired |
42.A.Pausing | B.Hesitating | C.Thinking | D.Waiting |
43.A.expected | B.convinced | C.invited | D.permitted |
44.A.Although | B.Since | C.Because | D.Once |
45.A.moved | B.drove | C.walked | D.returned |
46.A.direct | B.defend | C.arrest | D.greet |
47.A.messy | B.noisy | C.shabby | D.smelly |
48.A.chat | B.switch | C.exchange | D.debate |
49.A.admitted | B.clarified | C.revealed | D.declared |
50.A.light-hearted | B.generous-hearted | C.gentle-hearted | D.cold-hearted |
51.A.end | B.darken | C.drop | D.fade |
52.A.quickly | B.carefully | C.quietly | D.skillfully |
53.A.gift | B.garbage | C.carpet | D.bag |
54.A.flooded | B.poured | C.streamed | D.slipped |
55.A.by nature | B.by luck | C.by magic | D.by coincidence. |