“ Just sign here, sir,” the deliveryman said as he
handed Oscar Reyna a packet.
The package consisted of a long, narrow box 36 wrapped
in brown paper. 37 the box, Oscar saw an umbrella
inside—a very old one with a beautifully carved wooden handle. 38 he
had not seen it in more than 20 years, he recognized it 39 .
Oscar was 16 when he first saw the 40 umbrella.
He had gone to a concert with his grandparents. As they were leaving, he
noticed an umbrella on an empty seat. Impressed by its 41 Oscar
felt a strong desire to find its 42 .
Oscar 43 the manager to
look in the record of advance ticket sales. Just as he thought, a man matched
the seat 44 Oscar had found the umbrella. The
name was Mrs. Katie O’Brien.
Oscar talked his grandparents into going by Mrs.
O’Brien 45 on their way home. He rang the bell,
the door opened, and an elderly woman appeared. “May I 46 you?”
she asked.
“I’d like to return it if it’s yours,” Oscar said, 47 the
umbrella as if presenting a 48 that had long been
wished for.
“ Why, yes ! It’s mine,” replied Mrs. O’Brien with a 49 smile
and shining eyes. “It was given to me by my father years ago. Thank you so much
for returning it. May I offer you a reward for your 50 ?
“No, ma’ma, ”he said , “My grandmother says that a
good deed is its own reward.”
“Well, that’s 51 what my
father used to say. What is your name, young man?”
Years later Oscar was staring at the finely carved
handle of the umbrella as he remembered Mrs. O’ Brien. It was in perfect
condition, considering how 52 it was. Why had it
arrived here today?
As if 53 , a note fell
from the paper. It read:Mrs. O’Brien wanted you to 54 this
umbrella as a present for a kind, 55 gesture long
ago.
1. A.strictly B.carefully C.roughly D.casually
2. A.Opening B.Seizing C.Observing D.Searching
3. A.After B.When C.Since D.Although
4. A.clearly B.fully C.immediately D.suddenly
5. A.average B.unusual C.plain D.typical
6. A.beauty B.shape C.origin D.history
7. A.designer B.seller C.user D.owner
8. A.convinced B.forced C.encouraged D.advised
9. A.until B.before C.which D.where
10. A.family B.theatre C.house D.neighborhood
11. A.invite B.help C.bother D.know
12. A.putting up B.turning out C.picking up D.holding out
13. A.chance B.fact C.gift D.result
14. A.wide B.confident C.proud D.shy
15. A.patience B.kindness C.courage D.determination
16. A.obviously B.naturally C.exactly D.probably
17. A.old B.rare C.precious D.nice
18. A.in contrast B.in return C.in exchange D.in answer
19. A.possess B.accept C.carry D.value
20. A.attractive B.significant C.unselfish D.sympathetic