The drug store was closing for the night and Alfred Higgins was about to go home when his new boss approached him.

“Empty your pockets please, Alfred,” Sam Carr demanded in a firm voice.

Alfred pretended to be shocked but he knew he had been caught. From his coat he withdrew a make-up kit, a lipstick and two tubes of toothpaste.

“I’m disappointed in you, Alfred!” said the little gray-haired man.

“Sorry, sir. Please forgive me. It’s the first time I’ve ever done such a thing,” Alfred lied, hoping to gain the old man’s sympathy.

Mr Carr’s brow furrowed as he reached for the telephone, “Do you take me for a fool? Let’s see what the police have to say. But first I’ll call your mother and let her know her son is heading to jail.”

“Do whatever you want,” Alfred shot back, trying to sound big. But deep down he felt like a child. He imagined his mother rushing in, eyes burning with anger, maybe in tears. Yet he wanted to come quickly before Mr. Carr called the police.

Mr. Carr was surprised when Mrs. Higgins finally arrived . She was very calm, quiet and friendly. “Is Alfred in trouble?” she asked.

“He’s been stealing from the store,” the old man coolly replied.

Mrs. Higgins pulled out her hand and touched Mr. Carr’s arm with great gentleness as if she knew just how he felt. She spoke as if she did not want to cause him any more trouble. “What do you want to do, Mr.Carr?”

The woman’s calm and gentle manner disarmed the once-angry store-owner, “I was going to get a cop. But I don’t want to be cruel. Tell your son not to come back here again and I will let it go.” Then he warmly shook Mrs. Higgins’ hand.

Mrs. Higgins thanked the old ma for his kindness, then mother and son left. They walked along the street in silence. When they arrived home his mother simply said, “Go to bed, you fool.”

In his bedroom, Alfred heard his mother in the kitchen. He felt no shame, only pride in his mother’s actions. “She was smooth!” he thought. He went to the kitchen to tell her how great she was, but was shocked by what he saw.

His mother’s face looked frightened, broken. Not the cool, bright face he saw earlier. Her lips moved nervously. She looked very old. There were tears in her eyes.

This picture of his mother made him want to cry. He felt his youth ending. He saw all the troubles he brought her and the deep lines of worry in her grey face. It seemed to him that this was the first time he had ever really seen his mother.

56. Which of the following is true according to the passage?

　 A. It was the first time Alfred had stolen anything.

B. Mr. Carr set a trap to catch Alfred stealing.

　 C. Alfred tried to sound big to hide his fear.

D. Mr. Carr had planned to forgive Alfred from the beginning.

57. What does the underlined word “disarmed” probably mean?

　 A. annoyed　　　 B. got over　　　 C. convinced　　　 D. made less angry

58. What was the mother’s attitude towards Alfred?

　 A. She felt disappointed with him.　　 B. She was strict with him.

　 C. She was supportive of him.　　　　 D. She was afraid of him.

59. What impressed Alfred most about his mother at the drugstore was_______.

　 A. how angry she was　　　　　 B. how effective she handled Mr. Carr.

　 C. that she was able to save him　 D. that she didn’t cry

60. From the last paragraph, we know Alfred________.

　 A. was no longer a youth.　　　　　 B. felt proud of his mother

　 C. wanted his mother to be happy　　 D. felt guilty and regretful for his deed.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　

It was pouring outside. We all stood there  16  , some patiently, others annoyed  17  nature messed up their hurried day. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens  18  away the dirt and dust of the world.

    “Mom, let’s run through the rain.” a girl’s voice  19  me.

    “No, honey. We’ll wait until it  20  down a bit.” Mom replied.

    The young girl waited about another minute and  21 : “Mom, let’s run through the rain.”

    “We’ll get wet if we do,” Mom said.

    “No. we won’t, Mom. That’s not what you said this morning,” the young girl said as she  22  her Mom’s arm.

    “This morning?  23 __ did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?”

    “Don’t you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, ‘If God can get us through this, he can get us through  24  .’”

    The entire crowd turned   25 . Mom paused and thought for a moment about  26  she would say.

Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being  27 . But then we heard, “Honey, you are  28  . Let’s run through the rain. If we get wet, maybe we just need washing,” Mom said. Then  29  they ran.

     We all stood  30__ , smiling and laughing as they ran past the cars. Yes, they got wet. But they were  31  by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the  32  to their cars. Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, and they can even take away your  33  . But no one can ever take away your precious  34  . So, don’t forget to make time and take the  35  to make memories every day! I hope you still take the time to run though the rain.

16. A. talking                    B. waiting             C. complaining           D. expecting

17. A. as if                 B. even if             C. because             D. when

18. A. taking               B. putting            C. driving             D. washing

19. A. caught              B. annoyed           C. impressed           D. called

20. A. slows               B. comes              C. pushes              D. stops

21. A. asked               B. repeated           C. required           D. added

22. A. pulled               B. touched           C. waved              D. felt

23. A. Why                B. How                C. When              D. Where

24. A. the rain            B. the disease       C. anything          D. something

25. A. still                 B. silent              C. serious              D. angry

26. A. what              B. how                       C. whether             D. if

27. A. dishonest            B. silly                       C. daring              D. forgetful

28. A. right                B. wrong             C. stupid            D. clever

29. A. off                 B. along              C. on                 D. over

30. A. sighing              B. joking             C. discussing         D. watching

31. A. followed           B. guided                  C. respected            D. praised

32. A. time                      B. way                 C. same                D. best

33. A. house               B. money             C. health            D. time

34. A. children             B. memories         C. courage           D. experience

35. A. possibilities          B. opportunities    C. risk              D. challenge