A lesson in caring
It was a cold evening and my daughter and I were walking up Broadway. I didn’t notice a guy sitting inside a cardboard box. But Nora did. She wasn’t even four, but she ___31___ at my coat and said, “That man’s cold. Daddy, ___32___ we take him home?”
I don’t remember my reply. But I do remember a sudden___33___feeling inside me. I had always been delighted at how much my daughter noticed in her ___34___, whether it was ___35___ in flight or children playing. But now she was noticing ___36___ and beggary.
A few days later, I saw an article in the newspaper about volunteers who picked up a food package from a nearby school on a Sunday morning and ___37___ it to an elderly person. It was quick and easy. I ___38___us up. Nora was ___39___ about it. She could understand the importance of food, so she could easily see how ___40___ our job was. When Sunday came, she was ready, but I had to ___41___ myself to leave the house to fetch the food package. On my way to the school, I fought an urge to turn ___42___. The Sunday paper and coffee were waiting for me at home. Why do this? ___43___, we phoned the elderly person we’d been appointed. She ___44___us right over.
The building was in a bad state. Facing us was a silver-haired woman in an old dress. She took the package and asked us to come in. Nora ran inside. I unwillingly followed. ___45___ inside, I saw that the apartment belonged to someone poor. Our hostess showed us some photos. Nora played and when it came time to say goodbye, we three hugged, I walked home in tears.
Professionals call such a(n)___46___“a volunteer opportunity”. They are opportunities, I’ve come to see. Where else but as volunteers do you have the opportunity to do something ___47___that’s good for others as well as for yourself? Nora and I regularly serve meals to needy people and ___48___clothes for the homeless.Yet, as I’ve ___49___ her grow over these past four years, I still wonder—which of us has ___50___ more?
31. A. waved B. glanced C. pulled D. aimed
32. A. Would B. Can C. Need D. Must
33. A. general B. funny C. heavy D. curious
34. A. world B. part C. eyesight D. area
35. A. insects B. animals C. plants D. birds
36. A. coldness B. suffering C. illness D. ignorance
37. A. delivered B. returned C. devoted D. posted
38. A. held B. hurried C. signed D. lined
39. A. casual B. sorry C. astonished D. excited
40. A. creative B. valuable C. shocking D. simple
41. A. warn B. stop C. allow D. push
42. A. back B. away C. up D. out
43. A. Therefore B. Obviously C. Also D. Still
44. A. called B. promised C. invited D. helped
45. A. Although B. Once C. Because D. Though
46. A. stay B. visit C. adventure D. challenge
47. A. fair B. famous C. difficult D. enjoyable
48. A. collect B. make C. order D. wear
49. A. let B. made C. watched D. noticed
50. A. benefited B. increased C. tried D. seized