Standing on the top of a church tower not far from our home in Rome, Father said to me, “Look down, Elsa. Be brave.” I gathered all my 41 and looked down. I saw the crossing of twisting, turning streets 42 to the square in the center of the village. “See, my dear,” Father said gently.“There is more than one way to the square. Life is like that. If you can’t get where you want to go by one road, try 43 .”
Now I understood why I was there. Earlier that day I had begged Mother to do something about the 44 lunches that were served at school. But she 45 because she could not believe the lunches were so bad. When I turned to Father for help, he would not 46 . Instead, he brought me to this high tower to give me
a lesson. By the time we reached home, I had a(n) 47 .
At school the next day, I secretly 48 my lunch soup into a bottle and brought it home. Then I talked the cook into serving it to Mother at dinner. The plan worked 49 . She swallowed one spoonful, “The cook must have gone mad!” Having known what I had done, Mother stated firmly that she would 50 the matter of lunches at school the next day!
In the years that followed I often remembered what Father told me. And on the way to my first small success I found the road 51 with his words in mind. As a fashion-design lover, I was busy getting ready to 52 my winter fashions. Then just 13 days before the presentation the sewing girls were called out on 53 . I felt so depressed that I was 54 that we would have to cancel the presentation 55 show the clothes unfinished. Then it 56 on me. Why not show the clothes unfinished?
We worked hurriedly and the showing took place as 57 . Some coats had no sleeves; others had only one. Many of our clothes were only 58 made of heavy cotton cloth. But on these we pinned sketches and pieces of material. In this way we were able to show what colors and textures (结构) the clothes would have when they were finished. It was our 59 showing that caught the attention of the public, and 60 for the clothes poured in.
Father’s wise words had guided me again. There is always more than one way to the square.
41. A. strength B. breath C. courage D. concentration
42. A. linking B. appealing C. taking D. leading
43. A. each B. another C. none D. the other
44. A. awful B. special C. fascinating D. delicious
45. A. regretted B. agreed C. complained D. refused
46. A. respond B. admit C. oppose D. handle
47. A. conclusion B. plan C. rest D. image
48. A. drank B. spat C. poured D. flowed
49. A. terribly B. naturally C. perfectly D. shortly
50. A. get through B. take up C. look into D. make up
51. A. occupied B. smoothed C. blocked D. widened
52. A. show B. provide C. follow D. lead
53. A. business B. trip C. chance D. strike
54. A. curious B. skeptical C. determined D. certain
55. A. apart from B. or else C. rather than D. or rather
56. A. realized B. lighted C. dawned D. cleared
57. A. usual B. supposed C. scheduled D. unexpected
58. A. patterns B. dresses C. rags D. scarves
59. A. meaningful B. prepared C. ordinary D. unusual
60. A. criticisms B. orders C. designs D. budgets