It was in my high school science class. I was doing a task in front of the classroom with my favorite shirt on.

A  36  came, “Nice shirt,” I smiled from ear to ear. Then another voice said, “That shirt belonged to my dad. Greg’s mother works for my family. We were going to  37   that shirt away, but gave it to her  38  .”I was speechless. I wanted to hide.

I  39   the shirt in the back of the closet and told my mum what had happened. She then dialed her    40   , “I will no longer work for your family,” she told him. That night, Mom told my dad that she couldn’t clean anymore; she knew her life’s   41  was something greater.

The next morning she   42   with the personnel manager at the Board of Education. He told her that without a proper education she could not teach. So mom decided to   43  a university.

After the first year in college, she went back to the personnel manager. He said, “You are   __44  , aren’t you? I think I have a   45   for you as a teacher’s assistant. This opportunity deals with children who are mentally challenged with little or no chance of   46  .” Mom accepted the opportunity very   47  .

For almost five years, as a teacher’s assistant, she saw teacher after teacher give up on the children and quit, feeling   48  . Then one day, the personnel manager and the principal   __49_  in her classroom. The principal said, “We have watched how you   50   the children and how they communicate with you and admire your hard – working   51   over the last five years. We are all in agreement that you   52   be the teacher of this class.”

My mom spent more than 20 years there.   53  her career, she was voted Teacher of the Year. All of this came about because of the   54   comment made in the classroom that day. Mom showed me how to handle   55   situations and never give up.

 __________ the extremely hot weather, we continued having classes.

A. Thanks to                    B. In addition to

C. In defense of                   D. Regardless of

 —Why don’t we choose that road to save time?

—The bridge to it _____________.

A. has repaired                   B. is repaired

C. is being repaired                D. will be repaired

 The Grand Theatre is located on the corner of _________ is called the People’s Square.

A. which                B. the place              C. that                D. what

 —What do you think of the furniture on sale?

—Pretty good. But ____________ what you bought with the samples, I don’t think it is __________ the money.

A. comparing; worth                 B. compared; worthwhile 

C. compare; worthy                   D. comparing; value

 It rained continuously for seven days, completely ___________ our holiday.

A. ruined                      B. ruining

C. to ruin                     D. has ruined

 John is very ____________ — if he promises to do something he’ll do it.

A. reliable            B. confident          C. independent       D. flexible

 When he opened the box, it ____________ a bad smell.

A. gave away                    B. gave in

C. gave out                      D. gave up

 Having lived in China for 8 years, Helen has a good ____________ of both English and Chinese.

A. ability             B. guidance            C. command           D. program

 We had a big meal in a fine restaurant last Monday and the total cost ____________ $500

A. came through                  B. came in

C. came out with                D. came to