（广东省汕头市苏北中学2010届高三第四次月考）
I was a single parent of four small children, working at a low-paid job. Money was always tight, but we had a 21 over our head, food on the table, clothes on our backs, and if not a lot, always 22 . Not knowing we were poor, my kids just thought I was strict. I’ve always been glad about that.
It was Christmas time, and although there wasn’t money for a lot of gifts, we planned to celebrate with a family party. But the big 23 for the kids was the fun of Christmas. Fortunately, I had saved $120 for 24 to share by all five of us.
The big 25 arrived. I gave each kid a twenty – dollar bill and 26 them to look for gifts of about four dollars each. Then everyone scattered. We had two hours to shop; then we would meet back at the “Santa’s Workshop”.
Driving home, everyone was in high Christmas spirits, except my younger daughter, Ginger, who was unusually 27 . She had only one small, flat bag with a few candies － fifty – cent candies! I was so angry, but I didn’t say anything until we got home. I called her into my bedroom and closed as the door, ready to be angry again. This is what she told me.
“ I was looking around 28 of what to buy, and I stopped to read the little cards on the ‘Giving Trees’. One was for a little girl, four years old, and all she wanted for Christmas was a doll. So I took the card off the tree and 29 the doll for her. We have so much and she doesn’t have anything.”
I never felt so 30 as I did that day.
21. A. roof B. hat C. sky D. star
22. A. little B. less C. enough D. more
23. A. improvement B. problem C. surprise D. excitement
24. A. toys B. clothes C. presents D. bills
25. A. day B. chance C. cheque D. tree
26. A. forced B. reminded C. invited D. begged
27. A. quiet B. excited C. happy D. ashamed
28. A. learning B. thinking C. knowing D. telling
29. A. made B. searched C. bought D. fetched
30. A. angry B. rich C. patient D. bitter