As a young boy my family was very poor. I would often help do something for the neighbors to 16 a little pocket money.
One day I 17 on the door of an elderly woman and asked 18 she needed me to clean the yard. She asked why I was not in 19 and I showed her my worn 20 , which no longer kept me warm. She 21 me to work in the yard. When I finished, she looked at me and said, “I suppose you want to be 22 now.” She then 23 a jar filled with dollar bills and said, “I’m glad you’ve done a 24 job today but that is not something you should be doing again. I want you to 25 new clothes and get back to school. I also want you to come back to 26 me with your report card and I will 27 you when I see you have worked hard and have some good 28 . Now reach out your little hands and take out as much 29 as you can.”
I put my hands in the jar and 30 so much money that it was 31 for me to buy what I badly needed. Later, I returned several times to see the woman and she did just as she 32 . She looked at my report card and gave me a handful of dollars and some delicious food every time I 33 her that I had an “A”.
I was twelve years old when I moved from that neighborhood. I will never forget the huge 34 this wonderful lady made over my life with her 35 . This is something I hope to do myself in this lifetime over and over again.
16. A. save B. give C. earn D. change
17. A. turned B. knocked C. worked D. looked
18. A. how B. when C. why D. if
19. A. school B. time C. trouble D. bed
20. A. bag B. carpet C. coat D. sofa
21. A. allowed B. forced C. helped D. stopped
22. A. punished B. tested C. praised D. paid
23. A. set up B. took out C. talked about D. put away
24. A. boring B. new C. fine D. terrible
25. A. keep B. buy C. remove D. make
26. A. visit B. forgive C. welcome D. serve
27. A. recognize B. reward C. understand D. protect
28. A. goals B. stories C. marks D. ideas
29. A. room B. money C. food D. time
30. A. grabbed B. lost C. borrowed D. charged
31. A. rare B. enough C. simple D. special
32. A. promised B. discovered C. knew D. admitted
33. A. asked B. required C. showed D. wrote
34. A. decision B. progress C. mistake D. difference
35. A. courage B. kindness C. honesty D. happiness