第三节完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将选项涂黑。
Why did I come today? I wondered. My feet ached almost as much as my head. My Christmas 21 contained several people that claimed they needed nothing but I knew their feelings would be hurt 22 I bought them something, so gift buying was 23 but fun.
Hurriedly, I finished shopping and 24 the long checkout lines. In front of me were a boy of about five and a younger girl. She carried a beautiful pair of 25 slippers. When we finally _ 26 the checkout register, the girl 27 placed the shoes on the counter. She treated them as though they were a 28 .
“That will be $ 6.09,” the cashier said. The boy 29 his pockets. He finally came up with $ 3.12. “I guess we will have to put them back,” he bravely said. “We will come back some other time, maybe tomorrow.” With that statement, a soft 30 broke from the little girl. “But 31 would have loved these shoes,” she cried.
“Well, we’ll go home and work some more. Don’t cry. We’ll surely 32 ,” he said. Quickly I handed $ 3.00 to the cashier. These children had waited in line for a long time. And, 33 , it was Christmas. Suddenly a pair of arms came around me and a small voice 34 said, “Thank you, lady.” “What did you 35 when you said Jesus would like the shoes?” I asked. The boy answered, “Our mommy is sick and going to 36 . Daddy said she might go before Christmas to be with Jesus.” The girl spoke, “My Sunday school teacher said the streets in heaven are shiny gold, just like these shoes. Won’t mommy be 37 walking on those streets in these shoes?”
My eyes 38 as I looked into her tear-stained face. “Yes,” I answered, “I am 39 she will.” Silently I thanked God for using these children to 40 me of the true spirit of giving I once was familiar with.
21. A. plan B. list C. goods D. purchases
22. A. unless B. because C. if D. since
23. A. something B. nothing C. anything D. everything
24. A. waited B. joined C. attended D. gathered
25. A. cotton B. leather C. gold D. silver
26. A. approached B. got C. checked D. found
27. A. immediately B. hesitantly C. shyly D. carefully
28. A. gift B. treasure C. life D. prize
29. A. opened B. touched C. reached D. searched
30. A. tear B. sob C. smile D. sigh
31. A. mommy B. daddy C. we D. Jesus
32. A. leave B. come C. return D. arrive
33. A. above all B. at last C. at least D. after all
34. A. gratefully B. sweetly C. gracefully D. kindly
35. A. request B. expect C. mean D. attempt
36. A. hospital B. tomb C. heaven D. sky
37. A. equal B. comfortable C. convenient D. beautiful
38. A. pained B. wetted C. shut D. froze
39. A. sure B. afraid C. glad D. confident
40. A. inform B. warn C. cure D. remind