On our way back from preschool（幼儿园），my daughter Norah said, “I like old people best___21___they walk slowly like I do. I’m gonna __22____them all before they die.” I had no idea how much she really ___23__it.
The following day, we went to the shop to buy cupcakes for the whole family. While I was busy____24_____ bottles and cans, Norah suddenly__25__ something and excitedly said, “Hi old person! It’s my birthday today!’’
The man she talked to was old and stone-faced. Before I could __26___ Norah, he turned to her. ___ 27__, his face softened, “Well hello little lady!”
They talked for a few minutes. Norah asked me, Can I take a picture with the old man for my___28____? His expression changed from shocked to excited _____29_____.
“A photo? With me?” he asked
"Yes, sir, for my birthday!” Norah said.
And so they did. I _____30___ the old man, Mr. Dan
He said, "No, thank YOU. This has been the __31_______day I’ ve had in a long time. You’ve made me so ____32_____, Miss Norah．”
Later, I was told that Mr. Dan's wife had passed away and he had been ____33__ since. Norah really ___34_____her new friend, so we decided to pay him a visit.
My girl ended up having a good time in Mr. Dan’s house. As we walked to his front door, he picked a red rose, ___35___ cut every thorn (刺)off, and handed it to his little friend. She ____36___that rose under her pillow now.
Seventy-eight years separate these two people in age, yet they ____37___ each other’s company. I’ve___38____ Mr. Dan to spend the New Year with us .He’s part of our ____39___now, and just like Norah said “We’re goanna love him all.”
Sometimes, a small talk with ___40 _ can really lead to a beautiful new beginning. Give it a try.
21. A. if B. unless C. because D. so
22. A. visit B. love C. know D. hug
23. A. hated B. meant C. tested D. broke
24. A. picking up B. putting up C. preparing for D. throwing away
25. A. smelled B. showed C. remembered D. noticed
26. A. stop B. ask C. leave D. help
27. A. Unluckily B. Uncertainly C. Disappointedly D. Surprisingly
28. A. report B. success C. trip D. birthday
29. A. rapidly B. unnaturally C. firstly D. impossibly
30. A. doubted B. thanked C. trusted D. recognized
31. A. busiest B. hardest C. best D. longest
32. A. nervous B. happy C. frightened D. proud
33. A. talkative B. strong C. lonely D. shy
34. A. played with B. agreed with C. worried about D. wrote about
35. A. easily B. carefully C. madly D. suddenly
36. A. collects B. cuts C. finds D. keeps
37. A. understand B. forget C. change D. enjoy
38. A forced B. allowed C. invited D. warned
39. A. family B. party C. story D. team
40. A. kindness B. courage C. politeness D. patience
