A mother and daughter living in my community are two of the most unfriendly people I have ever come across in my life. They are totally separated, mixing with   36  . As they drive past   37   they keep their eyes looking away and make no sign of acknowledgement. The only fame they have is making a nuisance (讨厌的人) of themselves to the local police station by   38   music played too loud, dogs barking more than once a day and any other petty   39   gripe (把柄).

On moving into this neighborhood, I was   40   of these two but decided I would make up my own mind. This proved quite a   41   to me as more than once either the mother or the daughter would knock on my door and blast (猛烈抨击) me with some   42   or other.

I   43   answered politely and made sure I   44   as they went past my place and also made the effort now and then to make a kind remark about their garden or pets.

Time passed and in October, as part of the kindness rock give (送爱心石活动), Maureen and I   45   to place a kindness rock in their garden. Their   46   remained unchanged, however, and I continued to be as friendly as possible. During the Easter give, we decided once again to   47   these two unhappy ladies to our list and left a packet of cookies on their   48  . Imagine my   49   when two days later they   50   at my gate and jokingly said they are considering hanging their Christmas stocking on their gate, and they   51   me a bunch of flowers!

So, my fellow gifters, do not   52   on your random gifts of kindness. You may never know just what this   53   to others, nor how many broken or   54   hearted people you may just change with a simple act of   55  .

36. A. nobody                 B. someone                C. anyone          D. nothing

37. A. ladies                B. neighbors              C. friends           D. relatives

38. A. composing     B. requesting     C. reporting        D. explaining

39. A. important      B. easy                   C. interesting   D. little

40. A. accused                  B. warned                C. reminded        D. convinced

41. A. challenge                B. job                   C. task            D. matter

42. A. jokes                   B. advice            C. explanation   D. complaint

43. A. seldom                 B. never                  C. always           D. sometimes

44. A. waved                  B. stared                 C. noticed       D. laughed

45. A. started           B. continued     C. mentioned      D. decided

46. A. smile                   B. attitude       C. decision        D. anger

47. A. add                     B. recommend           C. reduced        D. drove

48. A. place                   B. roof                 C. gate           D. fence

49. A. interest          B. smile         C. surprise        D. face

50. A. whispered             B. stopped              C. shouted          D. wandered

51. A. brought                 B. wished              C. threw        D. expected

52. A. take in                  B. take up               C. give in         D. give up

53. A. refers           B. means               C. relates       D. contributes

54. A. kind                    B. light                C. hard           D. warm

55. A. sorrow                B. hope                     C. imagination    D. kindness

We lived in a very quiet neighborhood. Earlier that evening my wife had asked me to go to the   1 to get some soft drinks. It seemed like this would be a good time to let my teenage daughter Holly practice her  2 , so I allowed her to go to the store in my truck.
At dinner my son talked about how much he liked my truck. I  3  having it, but I said: “Guy, my heart is not set on that truck. I like it but it is just metal and won’t  4  forever. Never set your heart on anything that won’t last.
We were talking  5  we heard a loud noise.  6  hearing it, the whole family ran outside. My son shouted; “Dad! Dad, Holly crashed your truck!”
My heart sank and my mind was flooded with conflicting (矛盾的) thoughts. Was anyone hurt? Who else was 7? As I ran to the door, I heard a voice in my heart say: “Here is a chance to show Holly  8  you really love. She’ll never forget it.”
The  9 had happened in my own driveway. Holly had  10  my truck into our family van (搬运车). Because of her  11 , she had confused the brakes (刹车) and the gas pedal (油门). Holly was unhurt  12  but when I reached her, she was crying and saying “Oh, Dad, I’m sorry. I know how much you love this truck.” I held her in my arms as she cried.
Later that week a friend asked what had happened to my truck. I told her the whole story. Her eyes moistened (湿润) and she said: “That happened to me when I was a girl. I  13 my dad’s car completely. When I got home, my dad knocked me to the ground and began to  14  me.”
Over 40 years later, she still felt the  15 of the night, which was a deep wound on her soul.
I remember how  16 Holly was when she crashed our truck, and how I   17 her. One day, when Holly  18  on her life, I want her to know that I love her a thousand times  19 any piece of  20 .

We lived in a very quiet neighborhood. One evening I heard a loud crash in the street. 36 that evening my wife had asked me to go to the store to get some soft drinks. It seemed like this would be a good time to let my teenage daughter Holly 37  her driving, so I sent her to the store in my truck.
At dinner my son talked about how much he liked my  38 . I enjoyed having it, but I said: “Guy, my heart is not set on that truck. I like it but it is just metal and won’t last forever. Never set your heart on anything that won’t last.
After hearing the loud noise, the whole family ran outside. My son shouted: “ Dad! Dad, Holly crashed your truck.”
My heart sank and my mind was 39 with conflicting thoughts. Was anyone hurt? Who else was involved? As I ran to the door, I heard a voice in my heart say: “Here is a chance to show Holly 40  you really love. She’ll never forget it.”
The accident had occurred in my own driveway. Holly had crashed my truck into our other vehicle, the family van (搬运车). In her inexperience, she had  41 _the brakes and the gas pedal. Holly was unhurt  42  but when I reached her, she was crying and saying：“Oh, Dad, I’m sorry. I know how much you love this truck.” I held her in my arms as she cried.
Later that week a friend stopped by and asked what had happened to my truck. I told her the whole story. Her eyes moistened(湿润) and she said: “That happened to me when I was a girl. I borrowed my dad’s car and  43 a log that had fallen across the road. I ruined the car. When I got home my Dad knocked me to the ground and began to kick me.”
Over 40 years later, she still felt the pain of the night. It was a deep wound on her  44 .
I remember how sad Holly was the night she crashed our truck, and how I comforted her. One day, when Holly  45  on her life, I want her to know that I love her a thousand times more than any piece of  46 .
I repaired the van, but the dent(凹陷) in my truck is still there today. Every day it reminds me of what really 47  in my life.