It doesn’t matter if you have one friend or 20, because there are only a few people in this world that can make you truly happy. For me, my family and my three best girlfriends mean everything to me.
Some days I didn’t want to go to school because I felt so disappointed in myself but I don’t regret a thing. It makes you stronger as a person, and if you are able to mend your friendships as I have done, then you can do anything.
My mother always told me, “Stephanie, remember that a friend is a gift that you give yourself. A friend will make you laugh and be there for the good or bad. A true friend will never make fun of you. If a friend is a piece of work, then he or she has never been a friend at all. A friend is the biggest gift to yourself.”
Everyone is going to make mistakes but please don’t push them away, especially if it’s someone you really care about. I know when I make a mistake I beat myself up about it. I just wish someone would reach out a hand to help me back  on my feet as my best friends did. If someone is new or doesn’t have a friend, please reach out and behind him/her because that small action could mean the world to him/her. Now that I’m older, I understand what my mom has been trying to tell me, and now I know that the friends that I choose will also be the kinds of friends that I would want to be surrounded by forever.
【小题1】According to the passage, a true friend should be a person that _________.

 --How long are you staying ?

   -- I don't know . ______.

  A. It depends. B. That's OK. C. Never mind.  D. It doesn't matter.

II．完形填空

Good Heart to Lean on

More than I realized, Dad has helped me keep my balance.

When I was growing up, I was embarrassed (尴尬的) to be seen with my father. He was severely disabled and very___21___,and when we would walk together, his hand on my arm for___22___, people would stare. I would inwardly feel uncomfortable at the unwanted___23___.If he ever noticed or was bothered, he never___24___that he knew.

It was__25___to coordinate (cooperate ) our steps — his hesitant, mine impatient — and because of that, we didn’t___26___much as we went along. But as we started out, he always said,"You set the___27___.I will try to follow you."

Our usual walk was to or from the subway, which was___28___he got to work. He went to work despite illness and nasty weather. He almost never missed a day and would___29___it to the office even if others could not. A matter of___30___.

He never talked about himself as an object of pity, nor did he show any envy of the more fortunate or___31___. What he looked for___32___others was a "good heart", and if he found one, the___33___was good enough for him.

Now that I am older, I believe that his idea is a proper___34___by which to judge people, even though I___35___don’t know exactly what a "good heart" is.___ 36___I know the times I don’t have one myself.

He has been gone many years now, but I think of him often. I wonder if he___37___I was unwilling to be seen with him during our___38___. Now that I am older, I’m sorry that I never told him how sorry I was for my feeling___39___be with him in public and how unworthy I felt to be his daughter. I think of him when I complain about trifles (something unimportant ), when I am envious of another’s good fortune, and when I don’t possess a "good heart".

At such times I put my hand on his arm to___40___my balance, and say, "You set the pace. I will try to follow you."

21．A．strong     B．energetic     C．short         D．handsome

22．A．balance    B．strength      C．comfort     D．courage

23．A．care     B．attention      C．situation     D．friendship

24．A．hoped     B．found         C．liked          D．showed

25．A．easy      B．difficult      C．possible     D．necessary

26．A．see        B．pay          C．say         D．give

27．A．rule      B．time          C．step         D．pace

28．A．how     B．why          C．when         D．where

29．A．get       B．make          C．take         D．walk

30．A．joy       B．faith          C．belief         D．pride

31．A．rich     B．successful      C．able         D．hardworking

32．A．on        B．in             C．at             D．with

33．A．owner      B．keeper         C．winner         D．other

34．A．method     B．value         C．standard       D．level

35．A．yet       B．also          C．ever         D．still

36．A．And     B．But          C．Now         D．Then

37．A．sensed      B．smelled        C．agreed         D．recognized

38．A．walks       B．talks         C．stays         D．visits

39．A．afraid       B．proud          C．ashamed      D．disappointed

40．A．find     B．keep         C．refill         D．regain

—Excuse me, have you got a light?

—      . I don’t smoke.

A．Don’t mention it  B．Never mind     C．I’m afraid not              D．Thanks a lot

I don’t have a job. I would find one but I________no time.

A. had       B. didn’t have    C. had had    D. have