Like most July days, it was hot. I stepped into a tiny ice-cream shop to cool off with a chocolate ice-cream. It was a very 21 store with little round tables and chairs.
As I entered, I found a very old woman bent over a 22 near the door. Her back was so 23 twisted(扭曲) by some misfortune that her face nearly 24 the tabletop. I sat down 25 her a couple of tables away.
“Poor woman,” I thought. “What does she 26 life ? Why does God let people live so long past their prime（盛年）?”
As I thought, another 27 lady entered the shop and sat down with her. Soon the two of them were 28 childhood days. They talked of how little the shop had changed in 70 years. In minutes, the two of them were shaking with 29 .
I looked again at the first woman, then in the 30 on a nearby wall, catching a picture of myself. I was 31 a dirty shirt. She was well dressed in white, her 32 carefully made up and her hands shining with gold rings. I was 33 . She was laughing, smiling. I was putting the 34 of my life together . She had millions of 35 memories to recall. I sat alone. She was 36 the day with a good friend. 37 I was worried about getting old. She was old, but it wasn’t 38 her. As I left the shop, I 39 my foolish question about God letting people live past their prime. Why, that woman was more 40 , more sensitive to life than I was. Age has not bent her spirit.
21. A. different | B. modern | C. pretty | D. old-time |
22. A. computer | B. pillow | C. table | D. customer |
23. A. badly | B. suddenly | C. actually | D. fully |
24. A. broke | B. touched | C .hit | D. knocked |
25. A. facing | B. leaving | C. following | D. serving |
26. A. devote to | B. get out of | C. learn about | D. keep away from |
27. A. aged | B. married | C. dated | D. separated |
28. A. speaking out | B. talking about | C. thinking over | D. planning for |
29. A. food | B. fear | C. cold | D. laughter |
30. A. newspaper | B. window | C. mirror | D. picture |
31. A. dressing | B. wearing | C. putting on | D. having on |
32. A. face | B. neck | C. back | D. head |
33. A. happy | B. surprised | C. poor | D. sad |
34. A. periods | B. pieces | C. points | D. goals |
35. A. terrible | B. difficult | C. wonderful | D. fresh |
36. A. sharing | B. spending | C. taking | D. sparing |
37. A. In public | B. As a result | C. Above all | D. In secret |
38. A. pleasing | B. hurting | C. envying | D. punishing |
39. A. realized | B. wondered | C. gave up | D. thought of |
40. A. alive | B. changeable | C. hopeful | D. interesting |