It was the day before Christmas, but I had to work. The only thing that brightened my    28   was a gift sent to me — a dozen beautiful     29    .

As I was cleaning my office, a lady in the front office urgently needed to talk to me. As I stepped out, I noticed a young,      30      woman with a baby in her arms.     31    , she explained that her husband, a prisoner, was my next patient. She told me she wasn’t     32     to visit her husband in prison, and that he had     33      seen his son. She wished to     34     the boy’s father sit in the waiting room with her as long as possible      35     I called him for his appointment. Since my schedule (日程安排) wasn’t full, I agreed.      36    , it was Christmas Eve.

A short time later, her husband arrived. The woman’s tired face     37     when her husband took a seat beside her. I kept peeking (偷看) out to watch them laugh and cry , and     38     their child.

After almost an hour, I     39      the prisoner to the office. The patient seemed like a gentle and humble（恭顺的）man. I tried to make him as     40     as possible.

At last, I     41     him a Merry Christmas — a difficult thing to say to a man heading back to prison. He thanked me. He also said he felt     42     by the fact that he hadn’t been able to give his wife anything for Christmas.     43     hearing this, I came up with a wonderful     44     …

I’ll never forget the     45     on both their faces as the prisoner gave his wife the beautiful red roses. I am not     46     who experienced the most joy --- the husband in giving, the wife in receiving, or myself in having the opportunity to share in this special     47    .

It was Christmas Eve, but I had to work in the clinic. The only thing that1my day was the beautiful Christmas tree in our waiting room and a2sent to me by my boyfriend — a dozen red roses.
As I was cleaning my desk, I was told that a3in the office urgently needed to speak with me. Stepping out, I4a tired-looking woman with a baby in her arms.5, she explained that her husband was my next6. The guards were to bring him to the office that afternoon. She wasn’t allowed to visit her husband in7, so he had never seen his son. She8me to let the boy’s father sit in the waiting room with her as9as possible before I called him for his appointment. I agreed.
A short time later, her husband arrived. The woman’s tired face10when her husband sat beside her. They laughed, cried and shared their child.
After almost an hour, I called the prisoner in. He seemed like a11and humble man. I12what he possibly could have done to be held under such conditions. I tried to make him comfortable.
Finally, I wished him a Merry Christmas—a(n)13thing to say to a man headed back to prison. He smiled and thanked me. He also said sadly that he couldn’t get his wife anything for Christmas. Hearing this, I was14with a wonderful idea.
I’11 never forget the15on both their faces as the prisoner gave his wife the beautiful roses.

1. 1.
   1. A.
      darkened
   2. B.
      brightened
   3. C.
      frightened
   4. D.
      strengthened
2. 2.
   1. A.
      flower
   2. B.
      souvenir
   3. C.
      gift
   4. D.
      plant
3. 3.
   1. A.
      lady
   2. B.
      couple
   3. C.
      guard
   4. D.
      patient
4. 4.
   1. A.
      judged
   2. B.
      followed
   3. C.
      recognized
   4. D.
      noticed
5. 5.
   1. A.
      Nervously
   2. B.
      Bravely
   3. C.
      Curiously
   4. D.
      Seriously
6. 6.
   1. A.
      customer
   2. B.
      neighbour
   3. C.
      patient
   4. D.
      visitor
7. 7.
   1. A.
      school
   2. B.
      university
   3. C.
      town
   4. D.
      prison
8. 8.
   1. A.
      forced
   2. B.
      begged
   3. C.
      reminded
   4. D.
      encouraged
9. 9.
   1. A.
      early
   2. B.
      often
   3. C.
      long
   4. D.
      soon
10. 10.
    1. A.
       lit up
    2. B.
       cheered up
    3. C.
       looked up
    4. D.
       went up
11. 11.
    1. A.
       rude
    2. B.
       cruel
    3. C.
       gentle
    4. D.
       selfish
12. 12.
    1. A.
       wondered
    2. B.
       realized
    3. C.
       praised
    4. D.
       doubted
13. 13.
    1. A.
       sad
    2. B.
       easy
    3. C.
       annoying
    4. D.
       difficult
14. 14.
    1. A.
       filled
    2. B.
       inspired
    3. C.
       delighted
    4. D.
       satisfied
15. 15.
    1. A.
       impression
    2. B.
       expression
    3. C.
       puzzlement
    4. D.
       sadness

“It is a dreadful thing to be poor a fortnight before Christmas, ” said Clorinda, with the mournful sigh of seventeen years.

Aunt Emmy smiled. Aunt Emmy was sixty, and spent the hours she didn’t spend in a bed, on a sofa or in a wheel chair; but Aunt Emmy was never heard to sigh.

“The gifts which money can purchase are not the only ones we can give,” said Aunt Emmy gently, “nor the best, either.”

“Oh, I know it's nicer to give something of your own work,” agreed Clorinda, “but materials for fancy work cost too. That kind of gift is just as much out of the question for me as any other.”

“That was not what I meant,” said Aunt Emmy.

“What did you mean, then?” asked Clorinda, looking puzzled.

Aunt Emmy smiled.

“Suppose you think out my meaning for yourself,” she said. “That would be better than if I explained it. Besides, I don't think I could explain it. Take the beautiful line of a beautiful poem to help you in your thinking out: 'The gift without the giver is bare.”

“I'd put it the other way and say, 'The giver without the gift is bare,” said Clorinda. “That is my predicament(窘境)exactly. Well, I hope by next Christmas I'll not be quite bankrupt. I'm going into Mr. Callender's store down at Murraybridge in February. He has offered me the place, you know.”

“Won't your aunt miss you terribly?” said Aunt Emmy gravely. “I think she would rather have your companionship than a part of your salary, Clorinda,” said Aunt Emmy. “But of course you must decide for yourself, dear.”

“Well, I must say bye-bye and run home.” Clorinda lived just across the road from Aunt Emmy in a tiny white house behind some huge willows. But Aunt Mary lived there too--the only relative Clorinda had, for Aunt Emmy wasn't really her aunt at all. Clorinda had always lived with Aunt Mary ever since she could remember.

Clorinda puzzled over Aunt Emmy's meaning for days. Then all at once it came to her. On Christmas Day, Clorinda went over to Aunt Emmy's. Aunt Emmy was lying on the sofa before the fire, and Clorinda sat down beside her.

“I've come to tell you all about it,” she said. “Aunt Emmy, I thought for days over your meaning ... And then one evening it just came to me. At first I didn't think I could give some of them, and then I thought how selfish I was. I would have been willing to pay any amount of money for gifts if I had had it, but I wasn't willing to pay what I had. I got over that, though, Aunt Emmy. Now I'm going to tell you what I did give.”

“First, there was old Aunt Kitty. You know she was my nurse when I was a baby. She is always glad when I go to see her, but I've never gone except when I couldn't help it. She is very deaf, and rather dull and stupid, you know. Well, I gave her a whole day. I took my knitting yesterday, and sat with her the whole time and just talked and talked. She was so pleased and proud; she told me when I came away that she hadn't had such a nice time for years. ”

“Then there was ... Florence. You know, Aunt Emmy, we were always intimate friends until last year. Then Florence once told Rose Watson something I had told her in confidence. I found it out and I was so hurt. I couldn't forgive Florence, and I told her plainly I could never be a real friend to her again. Florence felt badly, because she really did love me, and she asked me to forgive her, but it seemed as if I couldn't. Well, Aunt Emmy, that was my Christmas gift to her ... my forgiveness.”

“I gave Aunt Mary her gift this morning. I told her I wasn't going to Murraybridge, that I just meant to stay home with her. She was so glad--and I'm glad, too, now that I've decided so.”

“Your gifts have been real gifts, Clorinda,” said Aunt Emmy. “Something of you--the best of you--went into each of them.”

“I didn't forget you, Aunt Emmy,” she said, as she unpinned the paper.

There was a rosebush. Aunt Emmy loved flowers. She put her finger under one of the roses and kissed it.

“It's as sweet as yourself, dear child,” she said tenderly. “And it will be a joy to me all through the lonely winter days. You've found out the best meaning of Christmas giving, haven't you, dear?”

“Yes, thanks to you, Aunt Emmy,” said Clorinda softly.

1.Clorinda felt anxious before Christmas because___________.

A. She had to leave Aunt Mary

B. She didn’t know what kind of Christmas gifts she should buy

C. She had not enough money to buy Christmas gifts

D. She had no time to make a proper decision

2. Which of the following sentences can best explain the line “The gift without the giver is bare.”？

A. A gift is valued by the mind of the giver.

B. Forgiveness is a gift for the giver and the receiver.

C. You cannot buy love or respect with expensive gifts.

D. Think twice before you give gifts to somebody

3.What is the gift that Clorinda gave to old Aunt Kitty?

A. Passion?? ????????????? ????????????? B. Sympathy?? ????????????? ????????????? C. Kindness?? ????????????? ????????????? D. Company

4.What does the underlined phrase “in confidence” mean?

A. respectfully??? ????????????? B. confidently??? ????????????? ????????????? C. secretly??? ????????????? ????????????? D. willingly

5. Which two words can best describe Aunt Emmy?

A. cute and joyful??????????????????? ????????????? B. kind-hearted and emotional

C. optimistic and wise???????????????? ????????????? D. gentle and timid (羞怯的)

6.Which of the following is the best title?

A. A Special Christmas?????????????????? B. Clorinda’s Gifts

C. Aunt Emmy????????????????????????? D. Clorinda’s Choice

阅读下面短文, 掌握其大意, 然后从16 ~ 30各题所给的A、B、C和D项中，选出最佳选项, 并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

It was Christmas Eve, but I had to work in the clinic. The only thing that   16   my day was the beautiful Christmas tree in our waiting room and a   17   sent to me by my boyfriend — a dozen red roses.

As I was cleaning my desk, I was told that a   18   in the office urgently needed to speak with me. Stepping out, I   19   a tired-looking woman with a baby in her arms. 20  , she explained that her husband was my next   21  . The guards were to bring him to the office that afternoon. She wasn’t allowed to visit her husband in   22  , so he had never seen his son. She   23   me to let the boy’s father sit in the waiting room with her as   24   as possible before I called him for his appointment. I agreed.

A short time later, her husband arrived. The woman’s tired face   25   when her husband sat beside her. They laughed, cried and shared their child.

After almost an hour, I called the prisoner in. He seemed like a   26   and humble man. I   27   what he possibly could have done to be held under such conditions. I tried to make him comfortable.

Finally, I wished him a Merry Christmas—a(n)  28   thing to say to a man headed back to prison. He smiled and thanked me. He also said sadly that he couldn’t get his wife anything for Christmas. Hearing this, I was   29   with a wonderful idea.

I’ll never forget the   30   on both their faces as the prisoner gave his wife the beautiful roses.

A. darkened               B. brightened                C. frightened             D. strengthened

A. flower                B. souvenir                C. gift                         D. plant

A. lady                B. couple                   C. guard                       D. patient

A. judged                   B. followed                  C. recognized          D. noticed

A. Nervously              B. Bravely                   C. Curiously                 D. Seriously

A. customer         B. neighbour         C. patient            D. visitor

A. school                   B. university                 C. town                  D. prison

A. forced           B. begged            C. reminded          D. encouraged

A. early                   B. often                  C. long              D. soon

A. lit up                   B. cheered up                C. looked up                 D. went up

A. rude                 B. cruel                        C. gentle                      D. selfish

A. wondered             B. realized                    C. praised                  D. doubted

A. sad                   B. easy                         C. annoying                  D. difficult

A. filled                B. inspired                    C. delighted                  D. satisfied

A. impression        B. expression            C. puzzlement            D. sadness

阅读下面短文, 掌握其大意, 然后从16 ~ 30各题所给的A、B、C和D项中，选出最佳选项, 并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
It was Christmas Eve, but I had to work in the clinic. The only thing that   16  my day was the beautiful Christmas tree in our waiting room and a   17  sent to me by my boyfriend — a dozen red roses.
As I was cleaning my desk, I was told that a   18  in the office urgently needed to speak with me. Stepping out, I   19  a tired-looking woman with a baby in her arms. 20 , she explained that her husband was my next   21 . The guards were to bring him to the office that afternoon. She wasn’t allowed to visit her husband in   22 , so he had never seen his son. She   23  me to let the boy’s father sit in the waiting room with her as   24  as possible before I called him for his appointment. I agreed.
A short time later, her husband arrived. The woman’s tired face   25  when her husband sat beside her. They laughed, cried and shared their child.
After almost an hour, I called the prisoner in. He seemed like a   26  and humble man. I   27  what he possibly could have done to be held under such conditions. I tried to make him comfortable.
Finally, I wished him a Merry Christmas—a(n)  28  thing to say to a man headed back to prison. He smiled and thanked me. He also said sadly that he couldn’t get his wife anything for Christmas. Hearing this, I was   29  with a wonderful idea.
I’ll never forget the   30   on both their faces as the prisoner gave his wife the beautiful roses.

【小题2】

A．flower B．souvenir C．gift D．plant