It was Christmas 1961. I was teaching in a small town where my twenty-seven thir

It was Christmas 1961. I was teaching in a small town where my twenty-seven third graders eagerly   36  the great day of gift-giving in advance.

Each day the children produced some new   37  — strings of popcorn, handmade trinkets, and German bell. Through it all she remained alone,   38   from a distance, seemingly miles away. I wondered what   39  happen to this quiet child, once so happy, now suddenly so withdrawn. I hoped the festivities would   40  her. But nothing did. The students made the fried marbles（油炸玻璃弹子）and competed with one anther to bring the   41  ones.

The day of gift-giving finally came. We cheered over our handiwork as the presents were   42 . All along, she sat quietly watching. To see her smile, I had made a special bag for her. She opened it so slowly and carefully. I waited but she   43 . I had not passed through the wall of isolation she had   44  around herself.

After school I sat down in a chair, hardly   45  of what was happening, when she came to me with outstretched hands, bearing a small white box, and slightly soiled,   46  it had been held many times by   47 , childish hands. She said nothing. “For me?” I asked. She said not a word, but   48  her head. I took the box and cautiously opened it. There inside, glistening green, a fried marble   49  from a golden chain. Then I looked into that eight-year-old   50  and saw the question in her dark brown eyes. In a flash I knew — she had   51  it for her mother, who had died just three weeks before and would never hold her or brush her hair or   52  her childish joys or sorrows.

I meant it when I whispered, “Oh, Maria, it is so beautiful. Your mother would   53  it.” Neither of us could stop the   54 . She threw herself into my arms and we wept together. And for that brief moment I became her mother, for she had given me the greatest   55  of all: her trust and love.

试题答案

【小题1】A

【小题2】C

【小题3】D

【小题4】A

【小题5】B

【小题6】A

【小题7】C

【小题8】D

【小题9】A

【小题10】B

【小题11】C

【小题12】C

【小题13】A

【小题14】B

【小题15】A

【小题16】C

【小题17】D

【小题18】A

【小题19】C

【小题20】D

解析【小题1】A。prepare预备。班上27个孩子都在热切盼望着这个互赠礼品、激动人心的日子到来。

【小题2】C。每天孩子们都会做点儿新玩意（wonders）。

【小题3】D。但自始至终，她都是孤零零地远远观望（watching），仿佛是隔了一道几里长的障碍。

【小题4】A。would将。我猜想着这个安静的孩子发生了什么事。

【小题5】B。appeal to吸引。我希望节日的活动能吸引她。

【小题6】A。彼此相比较，带来最漂亮的（prettiest）。

【小题7】C。在交换（exchanged）礼物时我们为对方亲手做的小礼品不停地欢呼叫好。

【小题8】D。turned away把……打发走。我等待着，但是她却转过了身。

【小题9】A。build the wall of isolation表示建立隔离之墙。

【小题10】B。be aware of 意识到。我坐了下来，几乎没有意识到要发生什么。

【小题11】C。as though好像。好像是被孩子未洗过的小手摸过了许多遍。

【小题12】C。unwashed未洗过的。解析见上题。

【小题13】A。她没出声，只是点点（nodded）头。

【小题14】B。一条金色的链子挂着（hung）一个油炸玻璃弹子。

【小题15】A。然后，我看着八岁孩子的脸（face）。

【小题16】C。这是她为妈妈做（made）的项链。

【小题17】D。她的妈妈再也不能分享（share）她童年时光的快乐和忧伤。

【小题18】A。你妈妈一定会喜欢（love）的。”

【小题19】C。我们已无法抑制住泪水（tears）。

【小题20】D。因为她把一份最珍贵的礼物(gift)送给了我。