Tess was a precocious(早熟) eight-year-old girl when she heard her Mom and Dad talking about her little brother,Andrew.____36__she knew was that he was very sick and they were completely ___37__money. They were moving to an apartment complex next month because Daddy didn’t have the money for the doctor’s bills and their house .Only a(n) __38___could save him now.
Tess went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly(果冻) jar from its hiding place. She poured all the 39 out on the floor and counted carefully. Three times, even. The total had to be absolutely exact. No 40 here for mistakes. After carefully placing the coins back in the jar, she slipped out of the back door, and 41 her way six blocks to a chemist’s.
She waited patiently for the pharmacist (药剂师) to give her some 42 ,but he was too busy at this moment. Tess twisted her feet to make a noise. Nothing. She cleared her 43 with the most awful sound she could muster. No good.
Finally the pharmacist asked in an 44 tone of voice, “What do you want? I’m talking to my brother from Chicago 45 I haven’t seen in ages,” he said without waiting for a reply to his question.
“Well, I want to talk to you about my brother,” Tess answered back in the same annoyed tone. “His name is Andrew and he has something bad 46 inside his head and my daddy says only a miracle can save him now. So how much does a miracle cost?”
“We don’t sell miracles here, little girl. I’m sorry, 47 I can’t help you,” the pharmacist said, his voice 48 a little.
There was a man there whose clothes were admirable. He asked the little girl, “What kind of a miracle does your brother need?”
“I don’t know” Tess replied with tears in her eyes. “I just know he's 49 sick and Mommy says he needs an operation. But my Daddy can’t pay 50 it, so I want to use my money.”
“How much do you have?” asked the man. “One dollar and eleven cents,” Tess answered.
“A dollar and eleven cents ― the 51 price of a miracle for your little brother,” smiled the man, “Take me to 52 you live. Let’s see if I have the kind of miracle you need.”
That well-dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon, specializing in neurosurgery (神经外科). The operation was completely 53 charge and it wasn’t long before Andrew was home again and did well.
Mom and Dad were happy but they wonder how much the operation would have 54. Tess smiled. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost…one dollar and eleven cents…plus the 55 of a little child.
36.A. As B. All C. All what D. That
37.A. in need B. in short C. out of D. sort of
38.A. miracle B. doctor C. God D. operation
39.A. change B. jellies C. candies D. cookies
40.A. way B. doubt C. chance D. wonder
41.A. drove B. fought C. made D. struggled
42.A. pills B. attention C. medicine D. tablets
43.A. mouth B. eyes C. ears D. throat
44.A. anxious B. exciting C. annoyed D. tired
45.A. who B. where C . because D. which
46.A. finding B. planting C. showing D. growing
47.A. and B. or else C. but D. or
48.A. soft B. soften C. softened D. softening
49.A. really B. real C. firm D. firmly
50.A. back B. for C. off D. up
51.A. actual B. exact C. average D. true
52.A. the place B. the apartment C. the complex D. where
53.A. free B. free of C. not D. no
54.A. spent B. paid C. cost D .took
55.A. thought B. value C. patience D. faith