Ten years ago around Christmas, I was on a
A man jogged along the waves 38 my direction. When he came near me, he slowed to a walk. I didn’t notice him 39 he was almost standing over me. Too young to be shy of strangers, I 40 myself up from the ground. It was 41 that I saw what he was holding in his hands. There, perfectly intact (完好的), was a beautiful cream-colored conch (海螺) shell. He smiled as I 42 in amazement, and then, to my shock, handed it to me. I 43 it before me like a diamond, not believing my eyes. How did he know?
“I think this one has your name on it,” he said, and then continued his 44 down the beach.
I do not remember his voice, his clothes or 45 his face, but I do still have the seashell, and the greatest lesson I’ve ever learned. The whole flight home I held it in my hand as I 46 his act of kindness. Now the shell sits on my bedside table, 47 as bright and big as it was, because a lot of things have changed, but it is still there, a 48 reminder that there is goodness in the world.
You see, that man saved me. He saved my belief in the 49 of people. He saved my belief that one can find what means something in life. I 50 my shell every day, and every time I know that I can 51 that day because no matter what, there are good things in my life. In the end, all that we have is what we have 52 for others. The shell is important to me, as important as 53 man who returned to the plane to give me my lost jacket, as important as my 54 my stuffed animal to my neighbor who was moving.
Making a difference in 55 life, no matter how big or small, is what truly matters, and that is worth all the treasure in the world.
36. | A. water | B. sand | C. air | D. soil |
37. | A. surrounded | B. crossed | C. littered | D. poured |
38. | A. in | B. from | C. to | D. on |
39. | A. as | B. though | C. unless | D. until |
40. | A. pushed | B. took | C. dragged | D. kept |
41. | A. there | B. later | C. next | D. then |
42. | A. replied | B. received | C. stared | D. imagined |
43. | A. settled | B. held | C. caught | D. gathered |
44. | A. search | B. run | C. work | D. drive |
45. | A. even | B. just | C. hardly | D. only |
46. | A. referred to | B. turned to | C. thought about | D. called on |
47. | A. almost | B. ever | C. seldom | D. not |
48. | A. quiet | B. strict | C. cheerful | D. similar |
49. | A. ability | B. wisdom | C. honesty | D. kindness |
50. | A. clean | B. see | C. bring | D. miss |
51. | A. hold on | B. get through | C. go over | D. put away |
52. | A. seen | B. lost | C. done | D. planned |
53. | A. another | B. each | C. any | D. all |
54. | A. comparing | B. returning | C. giving | D. introducing |
55. | A. your | B. my | C. someone’s | D. everyone’s |