I was a single mother in my 30s who lived down and out with my daughter Peggy in a small apartment, struggling hard to make our needs meet.
One day, I headed to the downtown for an interview. I sat down in the streetcar, and there against the seat was a beautiful silk umbrella with a silver handle decorated with gold scrolls, among which there was a name carved.
On impulse (冲动) I determined to find the owner myself. I got off the streetcar in the heavy rain and thankfully opened the umbrella to protect myself . Then I searched a telephone book for the name, I found it immediately and called it, waiting patiently, and then a lady answered.
“Yes,” she said in surprise, with extreme excitement. “It was my umbrella which had been stolen a year ago.”
So appealing was her pleasure that I forgot I was looking for a job and went directly to her small house. She took the umbrella, with teary eyes, explaining with choking voice that the umbrella was given by her parents, now dead. Her happiness at retrieving (找回) this special possession was such that to have accepted her reward would have spoiled something, so I refused her offer and left.
The following months were hard. I could only obtain temporary employment, for a small salary. What was worse, I had just lost my last job before Christmas, with only fifteen dollars left. Unless a miracle happened, I would be homeless in January, foodless and jobless. I had prayed steadily for weeks, and there had been no answer but this coldness and darkness.
The air was full of Christmas merriment, with the bells ringing and children shouting in the bitter dusk of the evening. But there should be no Christmas for me, I knew, no gifts, no remembrance whatsoever.
Thinking of this, I couldn't control my tears on my way home, but I managed a smile so could greet my little daughter. She opened the door for me and threw herself in my arms, screaming joyously and demanding desirably for her Christmas gift. There I stood, frozen, overwhelmed by misery.
1. 续写以下两段Suddenly, the doorbell rang and Peggy rushed to answer it, calling that it must be Santa Claus.
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Suddenly, a note attached to one package caught my eye
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2. 选词填空（阅读上面文章，从所给的12个词中选出10个，用正确形式填入空格）
| with tear desirable job temporary green spoil fill umbrella determine attach steal | |
| The Umbrella | Christmas gifts |
| ·One day on my way to a job interview, I happened to find a beautiful silk umbrella | ·The following months were hard. Before Christmas, with little money and |
| ·I got off the streetcar in the heavy rain and thankfully opened the | ·The air was |
| · ·Surprised and excited, the owner said it was her umbrella which | ·Thinking of all this, I burst into |
| ·I went directly to her small bouse. ·She offered a reward but I declined it for fear of | ·When she demanded ·Suddenly the door bell rang. . . |
3. Why didn't the writer accept the owner' reward?
4. Who was it that rang the doorbell? And for what?
5. What might be written in the note?
6. How would the writer feel after reading the note?
2 . Peter, a 5-year-old boy, showed such great interest in seashells that he would rush to pick them up with his 3-year-old sister, Shirley. They screamed out their joy as Peter collected his treasure into his pockets. For Peter, sea shells lay shining on the peaceful beach, waiting for him, just like stars twinkling (闪烁) in the sky. As waves touched them, they seemed to be flowers blooming (绽放) in gentle wind.
One day, Peter was wandering through a market with Shirley with some shells in his pocket. Suddenly Peter found his younger sister was lagging (落后) behind. He stopped and looked back, finding Shirley standing in front of a toy shop and staring at something with great interest. The boy went back to her and asked, “What do you want?” Shirley pointed at the doll, wearing a smile on her innocent face. Peter held his younger sister’s tiny hand, walking into the shop. He tiptoed (踮起脚尖) to reach for the doll, and like fulfilling an elder brother’s duty, gave the precious doll to Shirley. Holding tightly the doll, the sister was very happy.
The shopkeeper was watching everything and enjoyed seeing the mature (成熟的) behavior of the boy. Now the boy came to the counter and asked the shopkeeper, “How much does this doll cost, Sir?” The shopkeeper was a cool man, who had suffered from something in his life. So he asked the boy with love, “Well, what can you pay?” Peter reached into his clothes for money that was intended for these two little kids’ breakfast. Having counted the money, Peter put it with care on the counter, asking again, “Sir, is it enough for my little sister’s doll?” The amusing scene just in front of the shopkeeper eventually brought a smile to his face. Shaking his head slightly, he replied, “My boy, I am afraid it seems not to be enough.”
1. 选择恰当的词并用其正确形式填入文本图示中，每词(词组)限用一次。| amuse take up attract desire innocence responsibility make witness refuse loving care passion | |
| Peter and his 3-year-old sister features of seashells were so | |
| Wandering on the beach, Peter found his sister lagging behind at a toy store. The little girl drooled on (痴迷) a doll and The shopkeeper | The little girl showed her longing for the toy with her big, kids’ behavior |
| The boy asked for the price of the doll and decided to sacrifice his and his sister’s breakfast fund to get it, while the shopkeeper | The little boy took out his money |
3. How did the little boy intend to pay?
4. What might happen next?
