School was over and I was both mentally and physically tired. I sat at the very front of the bus because of my 1 to get home. Sitting at the front makes you 2 out like a shiny coin in a pile of dull pennies.
Janie, the driver, tried to break the 3 atmosphere by striking the match of 4 . I tried to mind my manners and 5 listen, but usually I was too busy thinking about my day. On this day, 6 , her conversation was worth listening to.
“My father’s sick.” she said to no one in 7 . I could see the anxiety and fear in her eyes. With a sudden change of attitude and interest, I asked, “What’s wrong with him?”
With her eyes wet and her voice tight from 8 the tears, she responded, “Heart trouble.” Her eyes lowered as she 9 , “I’ve already lost my mum, so I don’t think I can stand losing him.”
I couldn’t respond. I was sure that my heart ached for 10 . I sat on the old smelly seat thinking of the great 11 my own mother was thrown into when her father died. I saw how hard it was, 12 still is for her. I wouldn’t like anyone to go 13 that.
Suddenly I realized Janie wasn’t only a bus driver. That was 14 her job. She had a whole world of family and concerns too. I had never thought of her as 15 but a driver.
I suddenly felt I was very 16 . I realized I had only thought of people as 17 as what their purposes were in my life. I paid no attention to Janie because she was s bus driver. I had judged her by her job and brushed her off as 18 .
For all I know, I’m just another person in 19 else’s world, and may not even be important. I 20 not have been so selfish and selfish and self-centered. Everyone has places to go, people to see and appointment to keep. Understanding people is an art.
1．A．anxiety B．determination C．decision D．attempt
2．A．find B．make C．think D．stand
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4．A．fire B．topic C．conversation D．discussion
5．A．politely B．angrily C．carelessly D．sincerely
6．A．however B．therefore C．thus D．otherwise
7．A．surprise B．common C．silence D．particular
8．A．fighting B．avoiding C．clearing D．keeping
9．A．told B．lasted C．repeated D．continued
10．A．them B．him C．her D．whom
11．A．mercy B．pain C．pity D．disappointment
12．A．but B．yet C．and D．or
13．A．over B．round C．through D．without
14．A．almost B．nearly C．ever D．just
15．A．something B．anything C．nothing D．everything
16．A．sad B．embarrassed C．selfish D．worried
17．A．far B．long C．good D．well
18．A．unfit B．unselfish C．unnecessary D．unimportant
19．A．everyone B．someone C．none D．no one
20．A．must B．may C．can D．should