After my husband died suddenly from a heart attack, my world crashed. I was 36 with the responsibility of earning a living, caring for the children and just keeping my head above 37 .
I was fortunate to find a wonderful 38 to care for the children during the week, but from Friday nights to Monday mornings, the children and I were 39 .
One 40 evening I came home from work to find a big beautiful German sheepdog on our doorstep. He gave every indication that he 41 to enter the house and make it his home. I agreed to
42 him sleep in the basement until the next day.
The following morning we made many 43 and checked lost-and-found ads for German’s owner, but with no 44 . German, meanwhile, actually made himself part of the family. Saturday night he was still with us.
On Sunday when we stopped to get gas at a local 45 , we were amazed to see German
46 after us. We had to settle him down in the back for the ride to the picnic.
Monday morning I let him out for a run 47 the children got ready for school. He didn’t come back. At 48 German didn’t appear. We were 49 that he had gone home or been found by his owner, and that we would never see him again. 50 , the next Friday evening, German was back on our
51 . Again we took him in, and 52 he stayed until Monday morning, when our housekeeper arrived.
This 53 every weekend for almost 10 months. Each week, between German’s visits, I grew a little 54 , and more able to cope. Then one Monday morning we patted his head and let him out for what 55 to be the last time. He never came back. We never saw or heard of German again.
36. A. absorbed B. satisfied C. concerned D. burdened
37. A. water B. fire C. oil D. flood
38. A. assistant B. secretary C. housekeeper D. cleaner
39. A. sad B. alone C. together D. back
40. A. Friday B. Wednesday C. Tuesday D. Thursday
41. A. intended B. happened C. needed D. required
42. A. invite B. get C. let D. introduce
43. A. appointments B. arrangements C. visits D. calls
44. A. meanings B. responses C. addresses D. results
45. A. station B. store C. market D. community
46. A. waiting B. racing C. barking D. sitting
47. A. though B. while C. before D. once
48. A. dawn B. evening C. dusk D. noon
49. A. convinced B. persuaded C. believed D. reminded
50. A. Honestly B. Surely C. Surprisingly D. Unwillingly
51. A. roof B. doorstep C. kitchen D. yard
52. A. later B. then C. soon D. again
53. A. replaced B. repeated C. received D. continued
54. A. faster B. taller C. stronger D. lighter
55. A. showed off B. went on C. paid off D. turned out