The day finally came, when I had to leave the warm home where I’d grown up. I ran to the back yard, as tears came up from my heart. Suddenly I 36 a hand rest on my shoulder. I looked up to 37 my grandfather. “It isn’t 38 , is it, Billy?” he said softly.
He gently 39 my hand in his, and then we walked, hand in hand, to the front yard, 40 a huge red rose-bush sat alone.
“What do you see here, Billy?” he asked. I looked at the flowers, not knowing 41 to say, and then answered, “I see something soft and 42 , grandpa.”
He pulled me 43 . “It isn't just the roses that are beautiful, Billy. It’s that special place in your heart that makes them so.” “Billy, I 44 these roses when my first son was born. It was my 45 of saying ‘thank you’ to God. I 46 to watch him pick roses for his mother. Then, as a young man of only 20, a terrible war robbed him of his life.” Grandpa slowly stood up. “Never say good-bye, Billy. Never 47 to the sadness and the loneliness. Instead, I want you to remember the joy and the 48 when you first said hello to a friend.”
A year later, my grandpa became very 49 .Then all members of the family
were 50 back, and I returned to the old house. When it came to my 51 , I took his hand as 52 as he had once taken mine.
“Hello, grandpa,” I 53 .His eyes slowly opened and said, “Hello, my friend.” With a brief 54 he died. Suddenly, and truly, I knew what he had 55 about never saying good-bye — about refusing to give in to sadness.
36. A. watched B. fixed C. felt D. heard
37. A. watch B. interview C. see D. discover
38. A. easy B. hard C. difficult D. comfortable
39. A. took B. made C. led D. carried
40. A. when B. where C. which D. while
41. A. whether B. how C. who D. what
42. A. beautiful B. tasty C. funny D. red
43. A. far B. hard C. close D. around
44. A. planted B. bought C. treated D. discovered
45. A. approach B. way C. method D. solution
46. A. preferred B. wanted C. used D. referred
47. A. give up B. give off C. give away D. give in
48. A. happiness B. word C. sight D. memory
49. A. weak B. ill C. old D. serious
50. A. ordered B. called C. delivered D. sent
51. A. pleasure B. duty C. wish D. turn
52. A. happily B. sadly C. gently D. carefully
53. A. laughed B. shouted C. whispered D. added
54. A. sign B. sigh C. wave D. smile
55. A. thought B. meant C. worried D. cared