It was a cold winter’s night when I stopped for gas on my way home from work. I was tired and had a slight 36 .
I worked in a 37 doctor’s office and this was one of those days when the unexpected happened, making the schedule run 38 than usual. It seemed I was going to be late 39 home and my husband, being the 40 person, would be ready to pronounce me late once again. Maybe 41 I hurried, I could still make it home.
I was heading inside to 42 for my gas when I noticed an older couple at the counter. I heard them asking for 43 to the local hospital. It was the same hospital that I had just 44 a few minutes ago.
The young man at the counter was trying to be 45 in explaining how to get there, with two other people making 46 . One of them was 47 trying to give them a whole different route back. It was then that I walked over to the couple and said, “Would you like to follow me to the 48 ?”
A look of 49 crossed the woman’s face.
“I’m going right by there,” I said, which wasn’t a(an) 50 since I had just made up my mind to do 51 that.
I got in my car and began the journey back. I was trying to watch to be sure they were right 52 me. It took only fifteen minutes to get there as rush hour traffic was beginning to 53 . I felt better than I had all day and my headache was nearly gone.
Later, as I arrived home, my husband 54 , “So you aren’t ever late any more.”
I said, “Sometimes it’s 55 to be late.”
36. A. break B. fever C. cold D. headache
37. A. foreign B. common C. busy D. noisy
38. A. earlier B. later C. easier D. simpler
39. A. getting B. cooking C. calling D. working
40. A. tough B. punctual C. generous D. careful
41. A. as B. since C. while D. if
42. A. pay B. change C. wait D. search
43. A. opinions B. trouble C. directions D. money
44. A. reached B. visited C. called D. left
45. A. skilled B. helpful C. experienced D. active
46. A. comments B. promises C. jokes D. offers
47. A. only B. still C. even D. ever
48. A. station B. office C. hospital D. hotel
49. A. panic B. relief C. sadness D. peace
50. A. duty B. fact C. reason D. lie
51. A. partly B. properly C. exactly D. perfectly
52. A. across B. before C. beside D. behind
53. A. go up B. die down C. speed up D. turn down
54. A. teased B. shouted C. burst D. laughed
55. A. possible B. special C. good D. safe