Even though it was only October, my students were already whispering about Christmas plans. With each passing day everyone became more __21__, waiting for the final school bell. Upon its _22____everyone would run for their coats and go hone, everyone except David.

David was a small boy in ragged clothes. I had often _23___what kind of home life David had, and what kind of mother could send her son to school dressed so __24__for the cold winter months, without a coat, boots, or gloves. But something made David __25__. I can still remember he was always __26__a smile and willing to help. He always __27__after school to straighten chairs and mop the floor. We never talked much. He__28__just smile and ask what else he could do, then thank me for letting him stay and slowly__29__home

Weeks passed and the __30___over the coming Christmas grew into restlessness until the last day of __31__ before the holiday break. I smiled in ___32 __ as the last of them hurried out the door. Turning around I saw David __33__ standing by my desk.

“I have something for you, “he said ___34__ from behind his back a small box. __35__it to me, he said anxiously. “open it. ” I took the box from him, thanked him and slowly unwrapped it. I lifted the lid and to my __36__ I saw nothing, I looked at David’s smiling face and back into the box and said, “The box is nice, David, but it’s__37__.”

“Oh no it isn’t,” said David. “It’s full of love, my mum told me before she died that love was something you couldn’t see or touch unless you know it’s there.”

Tears filled my eyes __38__ I looked at the proud dirty face that I had rarely given____39__to. After that Christmas, David and I became good friends and I never forgot the meaning __40__the little empty box set on my desk.

21. A. anxious      B. courageous          C. serious               D. cautious

22. A. waning       B. ringing              C. calling              D. yelling

23. A. scolded    B. wondered            C. realized               D. learned

24. A. modestly     B. naturally           C. inaccurately         D. inappropriately

25. A. popular       B. upset              C. special                 D. funny

26. A. expressing  B. delivering            C. wearing                D. sharing   

27. A. practised     B. wandered           C. studied               D. stayed 

28. A. would B. should             C. might       D. could

29. A. aim at B. turn to             C. put off      D. head for

30. A. argument    B. excitement               C. movement       D. judgment

31. A. school B. year                 C. education         D. program

32. A. relief    B. return             C. vain         D. control

33. A. weakly        B. sadly             C. quietly       D. helplessly

34. A. searched     B. found             C. raised      D. pulled 

35. A. Holding       B. Handing                 C. Sending          D. Leaving

36. A. delight        B. expectation             C. appreciation   D. surprise 

37. A. cheap   B. empty             C. useless     D. improper  

38. A. as              B. until                C. because    D. though

39. A. advice B. support            C. attention          D. command

40. A. from  B. behind             C. over          D. towards