When I was a teenager, we were the only family in our New York town that didn’t own a car. And having no car was ___21___ because all my friends’ parents did.
We were poor. Suddenly a moment arrived ___22___ my life forever. For weeks a new Buick Road Master ___23___ in the window of the biggest store on Main Street. Now, on the special night, I stayed in the shadows at the edge of the crowd waiting for the winning ___24___to be drawn.
It had never even entered my mind that we would ___25___. But the loudspeaker called my father's name! ___26___ I wormed my way up to the platform, the mayor had presented dad with the ___27___, and he had driven off amid___28___. I ran ___29___. Mother met me and told me that my father had asked Jim, his boss, if he wanted to buy a ticket. Jim said yes and my dad ___30___ two tickets in his own name with his own money, ___31___ 348 for Jim and the winning number was 348 instead of ___32___ one 349.
“Your father is struggling with a/an ___33___ problem. But I think if you have character, you have the better part of ___34___and I know your father will do what is right,” mother said ___35___. At last we ___36___ dad’s step on the front porch，I held my ___37___. He went straight to the ___38___ in the dining room and dialed. Jim’s phone rang for a long time...
___39___ over the years, I know now we were never ___40___ than we were at the moment when dad made the telephone call....
21. A. relaxing B. shaming C. worrying D. pleasing
22. A. saving B. improving C. risking D. changing
23. A. had stood B. had been on sale C. had performed D. had been under repair
24. A. team B. guy C. ticket D. boss
25. A. jump B. fail C. strike D. win
26. A. As soon as B. Because C. By the time D. Although
27. A. dollars B. keys C. medals D. tickets
28. A. shouts B. prayers C. noises D. cheers
29. A. home B. downtown C. to my friends D. to the platform
30. A. saved B. bought C. booked D. printed
31. A. calling B. writing C. marking D. bringing
32. A. the other B. another C. the lucky D. other
33. A. embarrassing B. mental C. puzzling D. moral
34. A. wealth B. poverty C. health D. belief
35. A. with anger B. excitedly C. calmly D. with anxiety
36. A. saw B. heard C. followed D. found
37. A. arms B. mouth C. eyes D. breath
38. A. phone B. cup C. ticket D. window
39. A. Looking out B. Looking up C. Looking back D. Looking in
40. A. poorer B. richer C. more foolish D. more clever