It was Christmas Eve. When Paul came out of his office, a poor boy was walking around the shiny new car,　 36 it. “Is this your car, Mister?” he asked.

Paul nodded, “It is a gift from my brother for Christmas.” The boy was surprised, “You mean your brother gave it to you and it did not cost you anything? Oh, I wish. . . ”He paused.

Of course Paul　 37　 what he was going to wish for. He was going to wish he had a 38 like that. But what the boy said jarred Paul all the way down to his feet.

“I wish,” the boy went on, “that I could 　39 a brother like that. ”

Paul looked at the brother in 40 ,then he added, “Would you like to take a ride in my car?”

“Oh yes, I would love that.”

After a short ride, the boy, with his eyes shining, requested, “Mister, would you mind driving in front of my house?”

Paul 　41 . He though the knew what the boy wanted. He wanted to show his neighbors that he could ride home in a big car. But Paul was wrong　 42　 .

“Will you stop where those two steps are?” the boy asked.

He ran up the steps. Then in a 　43 while Paul heard him coming back, but he was not coming quickly. He was carrying his little crippled（瘸腿的）brother. He sat him down on the bottom step, then pointed to the car.

“There she is, Buddy, Just like It old you 44 . His brother gave it to him for Christmas and it cost him 45 . And some day I am going to gave you one just like it . . . then you can　 46 for yourself all the pretty things in the Christmas shopping windows. ”

Paul got out and lifted the young boy to the front seat of his car. The shining-eyed older brother climbed in beside him and the three of them began an 47 holiday ride.

36. A. admiring 　　　　　 B. selling 　　　　　　　　　　 C. examining 　　　　　　　 D. stealing

37. A. realized 　　　　　　 B. recognized 　　　　　　 C. heard 　　　　　　　　　　 D. knew

38. A. Christmas 　　　　 B. brother 　　　　　　　　　 C. car 　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. gift

39. A. have 　　　　　　　　 B. share 　　　　　　　　　　 C. be 　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. borrow

40. A. astonishment 　　 B. sadness 　　　　　　　　 C. pleasure 　　　　　　　　 D. anger

41. A. accepted 　　　　　 B. smiled 　　　　　　　　　 C. refused 　　　　　　　　　 D. laughed

42. A. next 　　　　　　　　 B. again 　　　　　　　　　　 C. then 　　　　　　　　　　　 D. now

43. A. short 　　　　　　　　 B. long 　　　　　　　　　　　 C. small 　　　　　　　　　　 D. large

44. A. here 　　　　　　　　 B. there 　　　　　　　　　　 C. downstairs 　　　　　　 D. upstairs

45. A. something 　　　　 B. nothing 　　　　　　　　　 C. anything 　　　　　　　　 D. everything

46. A. drive 　　　　　　　　 B. buy 　　　　　　　　　　　 C. have 　　　　　　　　　　　 D. see

47. A. interesting 　　　　 B. adventurous 　　　　　 C. unforgettable 　　　　　 D. exciting