A young mother set her feet on the pathway of the life. “Is the way long?”

And her guide said, “Yes, and the way is hard. And you will be old __31__ you reach the end of it, but the end will be better than the beginning.” But the young mother was happy and would not __32__ anything could be better than these years. So she __33__ with her children and gathered flowers for them along the way and bathed with them in the clear springs. The sun shone on them, and life was good. And the young mother cried, “ Nothing will be __34__ than this.”

Then the night came. And the storm (暴风雨) __35__ them and the path was dark, and the children shook with __36__ and cold. And the mother drew them close and covered them with her clothes, and the children said, “ Oh, Mum, we are not afraid, for you are __37__, and we know that no harm (伤害) can come to us.” And the mother said, “This is better than the __38__ of the day, for I have taught my __39__ courage.”

And the morning came. There was a hill ahead, and the children __40__ it and soon grew tired. And the mother was __41__, too. But she said to the children, “ A little patience and we are there.” So the children climbed and climbed, and when they reached the top, they said, “Mum, we __42__ not have done it without you.” And when the mother lay down to sleep that night, she __43__at the stars and said, “This is a better day than the __44__ , for my children have learned determination(决心) in the face of __45__. Yesterday I gave them courage—today I gave them strength.”

(    )31. A. after                 B. before               C. since         D. until

(    )32. A. know                  B. believe           C. feel                     D. find

(    )33. A. worked            B. stayed                 C. played               D. studied

(    )34. A. worse                     B. better            C. easier           D. sadder

(    )35. A. hit                    B. beat                     C. took                   D. carried

(    )36. A. excitement        B. happiness      C. interest        D. fear

(    )37. A. far                B. away                    C. near                    D. out

(    )38. A. coldest             B. coolest                     C. darkest             D. brightest

(    )39. A. students           B. classmates               C. friends              D. children

(    )40. A. walked                 B. moved               C. climbed             D. flew

(    )41. A. tired                 B. happy                  C. angry                  D. proud

(    )42. A. will                  B. can                      C. could          D. shouldn’t

(    )43. A. looked over       B. looked on     C. looked after    D. looked up

(    )44. A. last                  B. next                     C. latest           D. second

(    )45. A. dark                 B. difficulties         C. failure        D. success