Last year, I lost my best friend in high school. It seemed that everyone else’s life could just continue on in its  36  way, but mine couldn't. I wasn't sure how I was going to be able to face  37 and their gossip at school. I was forced to   38  my routine on Monday morning as usual. In the evening I returned home from school  39  completely defeated. All I wanted to do was  40  into bed and wallow（沉迷于）in my own self-pity. I pulled back the covers on my bed and  41 a pile of cards left by my dad. Each card included a（n）  42  that it was to be opened on a  43  night that week.

I made it through that week   44  my father. Each card 45  to say just what I needed to hear. Tuesday’s card said, “The past is painful to think about and the  46  is impossible to imagine. Don't try. Just take it one minute at a time.” On Wednesday my mood  47  when I read, “What you are feeling now is   48  and normal. It still feels very bad, but it is part of the healing  49  .” Friday’s card contained a poem he wrote. The last lines made me smile through my tears. “Whatever special  50  you face along life’s way, may you  51  that you will find the best in every day.” I was instructed to open the last card  52 the party I went to on Saturday night. In it he wisely reminded me to  53  . “The world isn't so bad after a good laugh. The more you laugh, the more you heal.” Each card was signed, “Love, Dad.”

My world once collapsed but I  54  the difficult breakup eventually. It owed to my dad , who made his  55  known when he couldn't be present.

1.A. pleasant             B. strange                       C. funny                  D. normal

2.A. everyone             B. anyone                 C. someone              D. nobody

3.A. work out              B. meet with                C. deal with              D.come across

4.A. making                  B. feeling                     C. regarding                      D. onsidering

5.A. crawl       B. push                  C. jump                  D. draw

6.A. invented               B. discovered                C. created                    D. wrote

7.A. instruction             B. explanation                C. presentation               D. information

8.A. regular             B. flexible                   C. particular                  D. legal

When I walked into the house after school, the first thing I noticed was a box with items I recognized from my dad’s office.

“What are you doing at home?” I asked casually.

“Andrew, I was    31    today,” he answered quietly.

I was sure he was joking. “No, you weren’t. Why are you    32    at home?”

Then I noticed his    33    and realized he was telling me the truth. My father has always been a hard worker and prided himself on his career.    34    our family has been his joy, and I guess I have    35    his work for granted.

My father’s unemployment    36    many changes in our lives. For starters, he was at home all the time, which meant my bed had to be    37   , my room cleaned up, and my     38     done right after school. I would come home every day to find him at the computer     39     jobs. I began to notice how    40    he seemed, and how losing his job affected his self-esteem, though he tried to be    41   . For the first time, I    42    my dad as vulnerable (易受伤的). He asked my brother and me to    43    less. I gave up my pocket money,    44    it wasn’t much. I felt I was doing the right. I also found a part-time job.

After several difficult months of searching, my dad    45    to go in a totally different direction. He    46    that he never wanted to be laid off again, so he was going to start his own business. Day by day, I watched him    47    it, and I admired how much time and     48     he expended. I    49    knew he was a hard worker, but watching him in action really affected me.

Although this was one of the    50    experiences for our family, it taught me a lot about dealing with adversity (逆境), and will be my foundations for success.

I’m sorry but my time is ______; I can only give you a few minutes.

A. rare    B. flexible     C. precious    D. appropriate

I'm lucky because my job has_____hours, and I can come and go pretty much as I want.

A. changing      B. flexible     C.basic    D. moveable

I’m sorry but my time is ______; I can only give you a few minutes.

A. rare    B. flexible     C. precious    D. appropriate