Hiding 1 the loose dusty curtain, a/an2 packed up his overcoat into the suitcase. He planned to leave home at dusk 3 there was thunder and lightning outdoors. He had got to do this because he was tired of his 4 nagging about his 5 study and did not want to 6 it any longer. He couldn't get along 7 with English and disliked joining  in English classes because he thought his teacher ignored him 8 purpose.9 ,  his score in each exam never10 over 60.

    His partner was 11 about him very much. She understood exactly12 he was suffering from, but 13 disagreed with his idea.14  calm him down and settle his problem, she talked with him face to face and 15 a series of learning tips with him. The items she set16 helped him find the17 to study English well. The teenager was grateful and got great 18 from his friend's words.

    Now, he has recovered from being 19 and has fallen in love with English. What an important part friends 20 in our life!

    My mom died when I was two years old. She died in an accident when 1 to visit her parents. I was in the backseat, and wasn't2. I don't remember anything about her. The only few things I know are from the3my dad tells me. I4with only my dad and myself. I love my dad, but sometimes it was5like being in elementary school when Mother's Day was coming, kids would decorate cards, and so on. Then to make it 6 there was “Tea Party with Mom” day for 2nd and 3rd grade when kids and their7would come during the school day and have8and snacks... except my dad would let me9those days, and we would do something 10together like going to Disneyland. I never exactly felt 11even though I didn't have a mom.

    My dad worked very hard. My mom died right as he 12from Harvard Law, and he tried to be both a good 13and a great dad, but also he tried to play both14as dad and mom. I remember all the other girls in my 2nd grade class had hair braided (辫子), and I15that too. So my dad would braid my hair every morning before 16 It makes me smile just to 17 it.

    I think about not having mother occasionally, and18it does bother me, like the19that on Mother's Day my dad and I visit my mom's grave, and bring her 20yellow roses.

    Maybe I don't have exactly what I want, but I have what I need.

阅读下面短文，从短文后所给各题的四个选项(A，B，C和D)中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

    I was a single parent of four small children, working at a low-paid job. Money was always tight, but we had a 1 over our heads, food on the table, clothes on our backs, and if not a lot, always 2. Not knowing we were poor, my kids(孩子们) just thought I was 3. I've always been glad about that.

    It was Christmas time, and although there wasn't 4 for a lot of gifts, we planned to celebrate with a family party. But the big 5 for the kids was the fun of Christmas 6.

    They planned weeks ahead of time, asking 7 what they wanted for Christmas. Fortunately, I had saved $120 for 8 to share by all five of us.

    The big 9 arrived. I gave each kid a twenty-dollar bill and 10 them to look for gifts of about four dollars each. Then everyone scattered(散开). We had two hours to shop; then we would 11 back at the “Santa's Workshop”.

    Driving home, everyone was in high Christmas spirits, 12 my younger daughter, Ginger, who was unusually 13. She had only one small, flat bag with a few candies—fifty-cent candies! I was so angry, but I didn't say anything 14 we got home. I called her into my bedroom and closed the door,15 to be angry again. This is what she told me.

     “I was looking 16 thinking of what to buy, and I 17 to read the little cards on the ‘Giving Trees.' One was for a little girl, four years old, and all she 18 for Christmas was a doll. So I took the card off the tree and 19 the doll for her. We have so much and she doesn't have anything.”

    I never felt so 20 as I did that day.

A welcome gift

    Dario and his mother loved their new apartment.  The living room was large enough for their piano. That night, the two of them 1 side by side at the piano. They played jazz music to celebrate their new home. The loud 2filled the room and made them feel very happy.

    The next morning, 3,their happiness disappeared. Someone had left a 4 under their door during the night. One of their neighbours had written to complain（抱怨）about the sound of the piano. Dario's mother asked the building superintendent（管理员）if he knew anything about it.But he said that they were all 5 people and he couldn't imagine any of them had done that. Later that morning,

    Dario suggested that they write a letter to their 6 and apologize for their playing.

    “Maybe we could go and 7 everyone in person," his mother said.

    “What if we invited them to come here for a 8 instead?" Dario asked.

    They both loved the 9.Over the next few days, they 10invitations and prepared desserts for their guests. They decorated the apartment with streamers(彩带) and party lights.

    Finally, the day of the party 11. Some guests brought presents. Others brought flowers. Some even brought desserts to 12.One woman, Mrs Gilbert, 13 Dario's mother with a book of piano music by Chopin. “I heard you playing the other night,”she said. “The sounds woke me out of bed.

    I 14 that you might play like this every night. So I wrote a short note.I hope you don't think I disliked the playing.” Dario's mother smiled at Mrs Gilbert.“I think maybe we15 you an apology," she said.“I didn't 16how late it was when we were playing. Maybe we should play some quieter music at night.” “You play, you play!" Mrs Gilbert said.“I like what you play! Just not so loud at night." She pointed to the book she had given them. “These songs are not such 17 music.”

    “These songs are beautiful music," Dario's mother said. “We will be18to play them in the evening.” “And we won't play so loud or late!”Dario said. He was already looking forward to 19 the new music. More than that, however, he was happy to see the big smile on his mother's face. It gave him a feeling of 20 and made him feel that they were home at last.

    My father always told me: "All work is noble." He wasn't 1 , but he earned a reasonable living. Thanks to his 2 , I was able to go to Art College. I, however, wanted to do something 3 , something more interesting-I was special！

    After graduation, I moved to New York in search of a graphic designer job. It was winter and, ever the optimist, I'd only brought enough money to 4 myself for about a month. I wasn't 5 -I was sure I'd find a fantastic job immediately.

    Within a few weeks, though, I found myself wandering around the streets having been 6 by every design office in town. My hostel 7 was almost gone and I hadn't eaten in days. “How had I reached this point？""I wondered as I 8 in my thin jacket.

    I was just about to 9 when my dad called. He suggested that I get a job in a 10 until something else came along. At first, pride made me 11. But I was cold, hungry, and unwilling to go home feeling 12 and defeated.

    I entered an expensive-looking cafe near one of the design offices that had turned me away and asked the manager if they were 13. She said they were 14, and offered me a job right away.

    15, I found that I really enjoyed serving people. I started making big 16 right away. Later, the manager learned that I had a design 17 and asked me to design the cafe menus. That led to a part-time job at an advertising company.

    Previously, I'd have never considered being a 18, but there I was. I 19 got my dream design job, but that winter I learned not to make 20 about work.

    I was born and brought up in Texas and I am a graduate of the University of Texas. However, around my second \rear in law school. I wanted to make a great 1, which was almost unheard of for Texans: I wanted to leave!

    I2this after completing my first year internship(实习期). I knew I wanted something 3and my chance came. A snowstorm blanketed the entire city and thousands of people were4. I overheard that StubHub, a big company from San Francisco, was giving a 5next door to my hotel. I thought if I could get an internship, I could 6the summer and at least see what it was like. Yes, it was a huge leap(巨变). I told myself I was7.

    There was just one problem: I wasn't 8to the StubHub party. But you know I'm the type of person who goes for something she 9. Needless to say, I 10 the party and found my way to the president. I 11 introduced myself and then asked if they had a 12 internship program. Guess what? They 13my request to be an intern, even though no such program 14.

    Although the legal department didn't have a15position for me, the experience has16my life. Working for a great company in San Francisco, I'm incredibly 17for making my decision to leave Texas.

    By leaving Texas, I learned that it is so much more18to try the unfamiliar than to stay in the 19. Exploring the unfamiliar is how you'll understand what 20 your life. I say, dive in head first.