My family suffered a lot three years ago when my father died in a car accident. It ___21___my mother, two younger brothers and me alone.
At that time, I was in senior high school. As the ___22___ son, I had no choice but to ___23___of school and work in a factory. Life went on without any ___24___. I dared not ask for more and just thought about ___25___ my two brothers. However, it wasn’t easy, for I couldn’t ___26___ their tuition even if I worked day and night without rest. I also had to look after my sick mother. I wanted to go back to school, but it seemed to be a(n) ___27___ idea, since I needed to work to support my family.
A thread of ___28___ appeared during those gloomy days. It was a rainy dusk when I went outside into the rain and walked in the street. ___29___ the rain stopped! I raised my head, and found that “the sky” was in fact a dark blue umbrella. Then I heard a deep voice say, “Why not ___30___ without an umbrella?” It was a one-legged man, “___31___ you run, you won’t get so wet.” His words ___32___ me deeply. Without my father’s protection, was I only a slave to ___33___?
While walking together in the rain, I knew that his dream was once ___34___ by an accident. He was glad that he didn’t lose ___35___ and still “ran” on the road of life… Facing this guy, I had no pity, ___36___ admiration.
Inspired by his ___37___, I went to a city in the south and became an assurance representative. After two years’ “running”, I got somewhere and my family situation became better ___38___. I went back to school and eventually succeeded in being ___39___ to a university.
Everything is so simple: to run without an umbrella! When you run out of the ___40___ season of your life, there will be a bright sky ahead of you.
21. A. left B. carried C. had D. forced
22. A. richest B. strongest C. tallest D. eldest
23. A. take out B. drop out C. make out D. jump out
24. A. delay B. limitation C. imagination D. wonder
25. A. bringing in B. taking away C. bringing up D. taking over
26. A. afford B. realize C. manage D. receive
27. A. unforgettable B. worthless C. illegal D. impractical
28. A. chance B. need C. hope D. money
29. A. Suddenly B. Excitedly C. Generally D. Smoothly
30. A. drive B. run C. travel D. walk
31. A. Unless B. Because C. If D. Though
32. A. shocked B. puzzled C. discouraged D. hurt
33. A. rain B. fate C. family D. school
34. A. burned B. accepted C. ruined D. discovered
35. A. face B. heart C. sight D. control
36. A. or B. even C. ever D. but
37. A. images B. achievements C. signs D. remarks
38. A. simply B. gradually C. normally D. immediately
39. A. admitted B. placed C. promised D. taken
40. A. sunny B. cloudy C. rainy D. windy