Christmas just isn't the same any more. When I was growing up, it was my _____ holiday. I'd get up early and run to the tree to find a dozen _____ from Santa and then spend the rest of the morning playing with toys along with my three sisters. Before long, _____, the truth about Santa came out. Santa was Dad. And Dad's salary as a _____ wasn't growing at the same rate as inflation(通货膨胀). So over the years, a dozen gifts for each child _____ became six, then four, then two. _____ I sat in the living room in late December, home for a few weeks between semesters of college, I had one present to open.
The Christmas ritual(宗教仪式)in our family was to open gifts on Christmas Eve. We were sitting around in a circle and the unwrapping _____ continued. The ritual lasted about ten minutes. And then something _____ happened.
My mother said, "There's one more gift I want to show you." And with her _____ , she disappeared into her bedroom. Minutes later, Mom reappeared with an attractive red dress.
"It's ______ , Mom," one of my sisters said, breaking the silence.
Through a voice choked with emotion and a smile that could ______ the universe, Mom said quietly, "For the first time in 12 years, your father ______ a Christmas bonus(奖金)from school. And with the bonus, he bought this dress for me."
All eyes moved ______ Dad. I'd only seen Dad cry once. It was the day his father died. And at that moment, with Mom's announcement, he was on the point of bursting into ______ once again. Suddenly, the ______ of Christmas, which I had unfortunately ______ to gifts, returned on a wave of gratitude, flooding my heart like nothing I'd ever ______ .I was overwhelmed with appreciation for Dad. I've heard that the ______ thing a father can do for his children is to always show ______ for their mother. At that day, Dad's ______ and generosity changed me.
59. A.special | B.favourite | C.dull | D.funny |
60. A.toys | B.shoes | C.gifts | D.socks |
61. A.however | B.therefore | C.anyhow | D.besides |
62. A.clerk | B.doctor | C.lawyer | D.teacher |
63. A.actually | B.naturally | C.eventually | D.probably |
64. 65. A.form | B.task | C.period | D.ceremony |
66. A.common | B.unusual | C.amazing | D.interesting |
67. A.announcement | B.notice | C.expression | D.explanation |
68. A.strange | B.expensive | C.beautiful | D.large |
69. A.break down | B.light up | C.drop out | D.meet with |
70. A.lent | B.borrowed | C.found | D.got |
71. 72. A.joy | B.pain | C.tears | D.smiles |
73. A.sense | B.spirit | C.custom | D.content |
74. A.left | B.turned | C.passed | D.linked |
75. A.experienced | B.expected | C.understood | D.appreciated |
76. A.last | B.best | C.hardest | D.first |
77. A.fear | B.excitement | C.love | D.curiosity |
78. A.grace | B.bravery | C.honesty | D.consideration |