Someone at work gave my son, Sean, a red balloon on a string, and you would have thought it was the moon! __16__ don’t often come to my three-year-old son. Nor me! I was thankful for my job at a day-care centre, which enabled me to afford my son’s education, but it didn’t pay much. I had been so full of __17__ before doing it. Now it seemed like I would be forever struggling. I __18__ to tie the balloon to Sean’s wrist for our walk to the car. “I’m already a __19__ boy!” he said, pulling his hand away.
“Promise you will hold on to it __20__?” I said. Sean nodded. He didn’t know how quickly __21__ in life could float away.
A warm breeze blew through the car window. I heard a __22__ on the ceiling. “My balloon!” he shouted. The balloon was out of the window! I pulled over, but it had already gone up into the sky. Sean __23__.
I also felt sad, but there was nothing I could do. He might have __24__ the balloon, but on the way home two weeks later, __25__ in traffic and fog, I was still thinking about it. How am I going to make a __26__ life for Sean and me, God, if I can’t even hold a red balloon for him? Just then a man in his 30s who looked neat and clean__27__ out of the fog ahead. My eyes shone brightly with __28__. He was holding a red balloon. The man walked up right to our car. “I believe this is yours,” he said, __29__ it to me through the open window. Sean laughed.
I held the balloon tightly—and my belief of becoming happy. Maybe it was just another __30__ stranger with a gift; maybe it was an angel. But already it made our future look brighter.
16. A. Friends B. Toys C. Presents D. Dreams
17. A. strength B. feeling C. energy D. hope
18. A. went away B. passed by C. reached out D. drew back
19. A. tall B. big C. thin D. great
20. A. quietly B. slightly C. gently D. tightly
21. A. treasures B. experiences C. hardships D. lessons
22. A. song B. knock C. movement D. sound
23. A. cheered B. cried C. fought D. glared
24. A. lost B. caught C. found D. forgotten
25. A. sitting B. lying C. walking D. speeding
26. A. rich B. happy C. regular D. healthy
27. A. ran B. fell C. appeared D. jumped
28. A. surprise B. happiness C. anger D. disappointment
29. A. throwing B. showing C. handing D. leaving
30. A. outgoing B. lucky C. handsome D. kind