Anna lived on the side of a valley(山谷). One summer, there was a very big 36 , and a lot of houses down below Anna’s were washed away. Anna’s house was 37 enough to escape the flood, so when the water had 38 and the other houses were 39 there with no roof and no walls and all covered with mud(泥), her house was just all right.
Her house was quite small, her husband was dead, and she had four children, 40 Anna took in one of the families that had lost 41 in the flood and she 42 her home with them until it was 43 for them to rebuild their house.
Anna’s friends were puzzled when they saw Anna do this. They could not understand 44 Anna wanted to give 45 so much more work and trouble when she already had quite a few children to 46 .
“Well,” Anna 47 her friends, “at the end of the First World War, a woman in the town where I then lived found herself very 48 , because her husband had been killed in the 49 and she had a lot of children, 50 I have now. The day before Christmas, this woman said to her children, “We won’t be able to have much for Christmas this year, so I’m going to 51 only one gift to all of us. Now I’ll go and get it.” She came back with a 52 who was even poorer than they, and who had no parents. “Here’s our 53 ,” she said to her children.
The children were 54 and happy to get such a gift. They 55 the little girl, and she grew up as their sister. I was just that Christmas gift.”
36. A. earthquake B. accident C. flood D. fire
37. A. below B. high C. big D. small
38. A. reduced B. come C. appeared D. disappeared
39. A. rising B. flowing C. falling D. standing
40. A. so B. but C. for D. since
41. A. nothing B. everything C. anything D. something
42. A. gave B. found C. shared D. built
43. A. possible B. necessary C. important D. obvious
44. A. when B. how C. why D. that
45. A. them B. herself C. him D. us
46. A. support B. supply C. grow D. educate
47. A. explained to B. asked for C. talked with D. turned up
48. A. sad B. rich C. poor D. happy
49. A. war B. storm C. rain D. flood
50. A. because B. as C. which D. that
51. A. get B. send C. buy D. make
52. A. boy B. girl C. student D. teacher
53. A. child B. daughter C. sister D. gift
54. A. angry B. sorry C. lovely D. excited
55. A. disliked B. gained C. welcomed D. led