A special lady lived on a farm in Grace, Idaho. To overcome every 41 or struggle that came her way, she went far beyond the call of duty. She was a widow (寡妇) with 9 children. Instead of 42 of her hard life, she accepted her fate (命运) and 43 the ordinary into the extraordinary.
No matter how serious things seemed to be, she found a(n) 44 side and a ray of hope. She taught her family the 45 of hard work and the importance of education, 46 she only went as far as fourth grade.
Her children didn’t have material 47 , but they certainly received the necessary and 48 things in life: love, spiritual guidance, concern for others, appreciation for a table filled with food, and 49 for the law. She was truly a(n) 50 of all that is good.
I remember as a young man sitting at her feet while she 51 me. “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” And she said, “I’ll 52 throw upon the floor a crust (面包皮) I cannot eat, for many a hungry one would think it quite a 53 . Willful waste brings willful want, and I may live to say, ‘Oh, I wish I had that crust that once I 54 .’”
This extremely courageous and 55 woman is my grandmother. My mother is a lot like her mother. Many times, my mother went 56 a new dress just so we could buy some great football shoes. Many times, my mother 57 that we should stay home instead of going on a summer vacation, just so we could 58 on a baseball all-star team. My mother is the greatest cook on Earth, a spiritual 59 , a church and community servant, and the very best mom who ever lived. I’ve never 60 her complain about her difficulties, heartache, and pain. My dear, sweet mother truly is a perfect example. It’s the way it was and still should be.
41. A. success B. task C. challenge D. job
42. A. thinking B. complaining C. talking D. dreaming
43. A. sent B. put C. cheated D. changed
44. A. opposite B. positive C. wrong D. dark
45. A. value B. idea C. pain D. result
46. A. if B. although C. unless D. since
47. A. needs B. comforts C. wealth D. hope
48. A. important B. interesting C. strange D. natural
49. A. fear B. love C. demand D. respect
50. A. user B. speaker C. example D. corrector
51. A. taught B. charged C. encouraged D. judged
52. A. usually B. never C. even D. also
53. A. pleasure B. beauty C. reward D. treat
54. A. gave up B. picked up C. threw away D. took away
55. A. strong B. curious C. intelligent D. attractive
56. A. in B. beyond C. for D. without
57. A. insisted B. warned C. reminded D. persuaded
58. A. go B. perform C. exchange D. play
59. A. engineer B. dancer C. guide D. worker
60. A. noticed B. heard C. discussed D. forgotten