When a tornado touched down in a small town nearby, many families were left completely destroyed. Afterward all the local newspapers carried many human-interest stories featuring some of the families who suffered the hardest.
One Sunday, a particular picture especially touched me. A young woman stood in front of an entirely shattered mobile home, a depressed expression twisting her features. A young boy, seven or eight years old, stood at her side, eyes downcast. Clutching  (紧握)  at her skirt was a tiny girl who stared into the camera, eyes wide with confusion and fear.
The article that went with the picture gave the clothing sizes of each family member. With growing interest, I noticed that their sizes closely matched ours. This would be a good opportunity to teach my children to help those less fortunate than themselves. I taped the picture of the young family to our refrigerator, explaining their difficulty to my seven-year-old twins, Brad and Brett, and to three- year-old Meghan.
“ We have so much. And these poor people now have nothing,” I said.“We’ll share what we have with them.”
I brought three large boxes down from the room upstairs and placed them on the living room floor. Meghan watched seriously, as the boys and I filled one of the boxes with canned goods and foods.
While I sorted through our clothes, I encouraged the boys to go through their toys and donate some of their less favorite things. Meghan watched quietly as the boys piled up discarded toys and games.
“I’ll help you find something for the little girl when I’m done with this,” I said.
The boys placed the toys they had chosen to donate into one of the boxes while I filled the third box with clothes. Meghan walked up with Lucy, her worn, faded, much-loved rag doll hugged tightly to her chest. She paused in front of the box that held the toys, pressed her round little face into Lucy’s flat, painted-on-face, gave her a final kiss, then laid her gently on top of the other toys.
“Oh, Honey,” I said.“You don’t have to give Lucy. You love her so much.”
Meghan nodded seriously, eyes glistening with held-back tears. ‘”Lucy makes me happy, Mommy. Maybe she’ll make that other little girl happy, too．”
Swallowing hard, I stared at Meghan for a long moment, wondering how I could teach the boys the lesson she had just taught me. For I suddenly realized that anyone can give their cast-offs away. True generosity is giving that which you value most.
Honest benevolence  (善行)  is a three-year-old offering a valuable, though shabby, doll to a little girl she doesn’t know with the hope that it will bring this child as much pleasure as it brought her. I, who had wanted to teach, had been taught.
The boys had watched, open-mouthed, as their baby sister placed her favorite doll in the box. Without a word, Brad rose and went to his room. He came back carrying one of his favorite action figures. He hesitated briefly, clutching the toy, then looked over at Meghan and placed it in the box next to Lucy.
A slow smile spread across Brett’s face. Then he jumped up, eyes twinkling as he ran to fetch some of his prized Matchbox cars.
Astonished, I realized that the boys had also recognized what little Meghan’s gesture meant. Swallowing back tears, I pulled all three of them into my arms.
Taking the cue from my little one, I removed my old jacket from the box of clothes. I replaced it with the new hunter green jacket that I had found on sale last week. I hoped the young woman in the picture would love it as much as I did.
It’s easy to give that which we don’t want any more, but harder to let go of things we cherish, isn’t it? However, the true spirit of giving is to give with your heart..
【小题1】Why does the author give a detailed description of a particular picture in the Sunday newspaper?

When a tornado touched down in a small town nearby, many families were left completely destroyed. Afterward all the local newspapers carried many human-interest stories featuring some of the families who suffered the hardest.
One Sunday, a particular picture especially touched me. A young woman stood in front of an entirely shattered mobile home, a depressed expression twisting her features. A young boy, seven or eight years old, stood at her side, eyes downcast. Clutching  (紧握)  at her skirt was a tiny girl who stared into the camera, eyes wide with confusion and fear.
The article that went with the picture gave the clothing sizes of each family member. With growing interest, I noticed that their sizes closely matched ours. This would be a good opportunity to teach my children to help those less fortunate than themselves. I taped the picture of the young family to our refrigerator, explaining their difficulty to my seven-year-old twins, Brad and Brett, and to three- year-old Meghan.
“ We have so much. And these poor people now have nothing,” I said.“We’ll share what we have with them.”
I brought three large boxes down from the room upstairs and placed them on the living room floor. Meghan watched seriously, as the boys and I filled one of the boxes with canned goods and foods.
While I sorted through our clothes, I encouraged the boys to go through their toys and donate some of their less favorite things. Meghan watched quietly as the boys piled up discarded toys and games.
“I’ll help you find something for the little girl when I’m done with this,” I said.
The boys placed the toys they had chosen to donate into one of the boxes while I filled the third box with clothes. Meghan walked up with Lucy, her worn, faded, much-loved rag doll hugged tightly to her chest. She paused in front of the box that held the toys, pressed her round little face into Lucy’s flat, painted-on-face, gave her a final kiss, then laid her gently on top of the other toys.
“Oh, Honey,” I said.“You don’t have to give Lucy. You love her so much.”
Meghan nodded seriously, eyes glistening with held-back tears. ‘”Lucy makes me happy, Mommy. Maybe she’ll make that other little girl happy, too.”
Swallowing hard, I stared at Meghan for a long moment, wondering how I could teach the boys the lesson she had just taught me. For I suddenly realized that anyone can give their cast-offs away. True generosity is giving that which you value most.
Honest benevolence  (善行)  is a three-year-old offering a valuable, though shabby, doll to a little girl she doesn’t know with the hope that it will bring this child as much pleasure as it brought her. I, who had wanted to teach, had been taught.
The boys had watched, open-mouthed, as their baby sister placed her favorite doll in the box. Without a word, Brad rose and went to his room. He came back carrying one of his favorite action figures. He hesitated briefly, clutching the toy, then looked over at Meghan and placed it in the box next to Lucy.
A slow smile spread across Brett’s face. Then he jumped up, eyes twinkling as he ran to fetch some of his prized Matchbox cars.
Astonished, I realized that the boys had also recognized what little Meghan’s gesture meant. Swallowing back tears, I pulled all three of them into my arms.
Taking the cue from my little one, I removed my old jacket from the box of clothes. I replaced it with the new hunter green jacket that I had found on sale last week. I hoped the young woman in the picture would love it as much as I did.
It’s easy to give that which we don’t want any more, but harder to let go of things we cherish, isn’t it? However, the true spirit of giving is to give with your heart..

1. 1.

   Why does the author give a detailed description of a particular picture in the Sunday newspaper?

   1. A.
      To create an atmosphere of fear and depression brought by the tornado.
   2. B.
      To appeal to unconcerned people to donate for the poor families.
   3. C.
      To show the helplessness and hopelessness of the family mentioned in the paper.
   4. D.
      To stress what touched her and made her decide to help the hopeless family.
2. 2.

   Why did Brad and Brett also donate their favorite things finally?

   1. A.
      They were encouraged to donate some valuable things by the mother.
   2. B.
      Meghan’s decision inspired them to donate their favorite things.
   3. C.
      They also wanted to show generosity by giving away their valuable things.
   4. D.
      Meghan’s gesture reminded them to replace their favorite things with new ones.
3. 3.

   By “ swallowing hard”, the writer means that   _   _ .

   1. A.
      she was deeply puzzled by what the little girl did
   2. B.
      she had trouble persuading Meghan not to give away Lucy
   3. C.
      she was greatly moved by Meghan’s unexpected decision
   4. D.
      she was uncertain what consequences Meghan’s action would bring about
4. 4.

   It is suggested in the sentence “the true spirit of giving is to give with your heart” that ______.

   1. A.
      sincere donation means offering help to others whole-heartedly
   2. B.
      true giving means giving others what you treasure most
   3. C.
      true generosity means helping others at the cost of your own benefit
   4. D.
      honest benevolence means devoting yourself to the career of donation
5. 5.

   What’s the best title for this passage?

   1. A.
      The Greatest Love
   2. B.
      A Beautiful Heart
   3. C.
      True Generosity
   4. D.
      A Precious Gift

Tom was a middle-aged leather trader whose repeated failure in career

made him a depressed man, often complaining that others had been playing tricks on him. One day he told his wife he was so   16  with the city that he had to leave.

So his family moved to    17   city. It was in the evening of aweekend when Tom and his wife were busy   18  up their new home

   19 the light suddenly went out. So they had to  20  work. Tom was regretful to have forgotten bringing along candles and had to wait   21 in a low mood. Just then he heard slight, hesitant knocks on his door that sounded clear in the   22 night.

“Who’s it?” he wondered, since Tom had no   23 in the new city.

And this was the moment he especially disliked being disturbed.   24 , he went reluctantly to the door and opened it impatiently. At the door was a little girl, shyly asking, “Sir, do you have   25  ? I’m your neighbor.” “No,” answered Tom in anger and shut the door violently. “What a nuisance!” he complained over it with his wife. “No sooner had we settled down   26  the neighbor came to   27  things.” After a while, the door was knocked   28 . He opened it and found the same girl outside. But this time she was holding two candles, saying, “My grandma told me the new neighbor downstairs might need candles. She   29  me here to give you these.” Tom was very   30  by what he saw. When he became fully aware, he said, “Thank you and your  31  . God bless you!”

At that moment he suddenly realized what caused his   32 in life. It

was his  33 and harshness(刻薄)with other people. The person who had cheated him in life was   34   nobody else but himself, for he had fallen for his unsympathetic   35 .

Terry was a middle-aged leather trader whose repeated failure in career made him a depressed man, often  1   that he had been cheated by others．One day he told his wife he was so   2   with the city that he had to leave．

       So his family moved to another city．It was the   3   of a weekend．When Terry and his wife were busily occupied in tidying up their new home, the light suddenly   4  ．Terry was regretful to have forgotten bringing along   5   and had to wait   6   in a low mood．Just then he heard light, hesitant   7   on his door that were clearly audible （听到） in the   8  night．

       “Who’s it?” he wondered．Since Terry was a   9   in this city, and this was the moment he especially hated to be   10  ．So he went to the door and opened it   11  ．At the door was a little girl, shyly asking, “Sir．do you have candles? I’m your neighbor．” “No,” answered Terry in anger and shut the door   12  ．“What a nuisance （讨厌）,” he complained over it with his wife．“No sooner had we settled down than the neighbor came to   13   things．”

       After a while, the door was knocked again．He opened it and found the same girl outside．  14   this time she was   15  two candles, saying, “My grandma told me the new neighbor downstairs might need candles．She   16   me here to give you these．” Terry was struck dumb （目瞪口呆） by what he   17  ．

       At that moment he suddenly realized what caused his   18   in life．It was his   19   and harshness （刻薄） with other people．The person who had cheated him in life was   20   nobody else but himself, for his eyes had been blurred （蒙蔽） by his unsympathetic （无情的） mind．

1．A．complaining           B．reflecting             C．praying               D．pretending

2．A．inspired                B．disappointed         C．thrilled                D．encouraged

3．A．morning                B．moment            C．afternoon            D．evening

4．A．went on               B．went down       C．went out             D．went through

5．A．candles                 B．matches              C．lights                  D．flashlights

6．A．happily                  B．patiently              C．willingly              D．helplessly

7．A．steps                    B．words               C．knocks                D．screams

8．A．dark                     B．quiet                   C．noisy                  D．crowded

9．A．newcomer             B．guest                   C．neighbor              D．settler

10．A．offered                B．disturbed             C．embarrassed        D．surprised

11．A．cheerfully            B．confidently          C．impatiently        D．absurdly

12．A．gently                 B．deliberately       C．slightly                D．heavily

13．A．lend                    B．sell                      C．purchase             D．borrow

14．A．And                    B．But                     C．So                      D．For

15．A．holding                B．hiding               C．fetching              D．seeking

16．A．suggested            B．forbad              C．sent                    D．forced

17．A．felt                  B．smelt                 C．heard               D．saw

18．A．failure                 B．success               C．attempt               D．determination

19．A．warmth               B．coldness              C．kindness              D．influence

20．A．probably         B．hardly           C．actually           D．especially

Terry was a middle-aged leather trader whose repeated failure in career made him a depressed man, often   1   that he had been cheated by others．One day he told his wife he was so   2   with the city that he had to leave．

So his family moved to another city．It was the evening of a weekend．When Terry and his wife were busily   3  up their new home, the light suddenly   4  ．Terry was regretful to have forgotten bringing along   5   and had to wait   6   in a low mood．Just then he heard light, hesitant   7   on his door that were clearly audible （听到） in the   8   night．

   “Who’s it?” he wondered, since Terry was a   9   to this city．And this was the moment he especially hated to be   10 , so he went to the door and opened it  11 ．At the door was a little girl, shyly asking, “Sir, do you have candles? I’m your neighbor．” “No,” answered Terry in anger and shut the door   12  ．“What a nuisance（讨厌）!” he complained over it with his wife．“No sooner had we settled down than the neighbor came to   13   things．”

After a while, the door was knocked again．He opened it and found the same girl outside． 14   this time she was   15   two candles, saying, “My grandma told me the new neighbor downstairs might need candles．She   16   me here to give you these．” Terry was very   17   by what he saw．

At that moment he suddenly realized what caused his   18   in life．It was his   19   and harshness （刻薄） with other people．The person who had cheated him in life was   20   nobody else but himself, for his eyes had been blurred （蒙蔽） by his unsympathetic mind．

1．A．complaining              B．reflecting                C．praying                   D．pretending

2．A．inspired                    B．disappointed            C．thrilled                    D．encouraged

3．A．looking                     B．turning                    C．coming                   D．tidying

4．A．went on                   B．went down              C．went out                 D．went through

5．A．candles                     B．matches                  C．lights                      D．flashlights

6．A．happily                     B．patiently                  C．hopefully                D．helplessly

7．A．steps                        B．words                    C．knocks                   D．screams

8．A．dark                         B．quiet                       C．noisy                      D．crowded

9．A．newcomer                B．stranger                  C．guest                      D．settler

10．A．called                     B．disturbed                 C．watched                 D．offered

11．A．surprisedly              B．delightedly        C．impatiently              D．willingly

12．A．gently                     B．kindly                     C．politely                   D．violently

13．A．lend                       B．sell                         C．purchase                 D．borrow

14．A．And                        B．But                         C．So                          D．For

15．A．holding                   B．hiding                     C．fetching                  D．seeking

16．A．suggested               B．forbade                   C．sent                        D．forced

17．A．frightened               B．pleased                   C．puzzled                   D．surprised

18．A．failure                    B．success                  C．complaint                D．determination

19．A．warmth                  B．coldness                 C．kindness                 D．sympathy

20．A．doubtfully               B．hardly                     C．really                      D．probably