I believe being honest is one of the greatest gifts. I know they call it a lot of fancy names these days，like　36　and straightforward. And it’s still what  37 a man a good citizen. This is my code(准则)，and I try to live by.

I’ve been in the taxi business for thirty-five years，  38　 there is a lot about it that is not so good. Taxi drivers have to be rough and tumble(乱作一团) fellows to be able to take it in New York. You've got to be  39 to fight the New York traffic eight hours a day.

Because taxi drivers are tough，people get the  40 impression that they are bad. Taxi drivers are just like other people. Most of them will act as  41 fellows.  Almost every week you read in the papers where a taxi driver  42  money or jewels or like that people leave in their  43 . If they weren't honest，you wouldn't be reading those stories in the papers. One time，I found an emerald（翡翠的）ring in my car. I remembered helping a lady with a lot of suitcases that day，so I went back to where I had  44  her off. It took me almost two days to wait for her in order to return her  45 to her. I didn't get as much as “thank you.”  46 ，I felt good because I had done what was right. I think I felt better than she   47 .

I was born and brought up in Ireland until I was nineteen years old. I came to this country in 1913 where I  48 several jobs to earn a few dollars before joining the army in World War I. After being discharged(退伍)，I bought my own car and have owned one ever since. It hasn’t been too easy  49 ，but my wife takes care of our money and we have a good bit  50  for a rainy day(一时之需). In all my years of driving a taxi，I have never had___51__ with the public，not even with drunks. Even if they get a little headstrong(顽固的) once in a while，I just agree with them and then they behave themselves.

People ask me about tips. As far as I know，  52 everyone will give you something，because most Americans are  53 generous. I always try to be nice to everyone，whether they  54 or not. I believe in God and try to be a good member of my parish（教区）. I try to act toward others like I think God wants me to act. I have been trying this for a long time，and the  55 I try，the easier it gets.

阅读下面短文, 掌握其大意，然后从36~55各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项。

        One day before Christmas, all of us children from the Children's Home Society Orphanage(孤儿院) were taken to the Mayflower Hotel in downtown to attend a Christmas party.

After the man on the stage said a prayer        （祈祷）, we were told to  　36　 . Within minutes we were   37    a meal which was fit for a king. I ate   38  I could eat no more. As we ate, Santa Clause came walking out onto the  39  . The kids cheered with  40  . Everyone began clapping their hands and yelling as   41  as they could.

I too was excited   42   but I knew better than to yell（叫喊）out loud or to jump up and scream. Mrs. Winters, the head matron, sat only three seats from me. She had   43   it very clear to everyone that we were to behave ourselves in "a proper manner" and that there was to be "no yelling or shouting".

One orphan   44  was led up onto the stage and each kid was handed a   45   by Santa Claus himself.

As the line became shorter and shorter my   46   finally came. He smiled at me. Then he reached over and handed me a   47   box which had two gold ribbons(丝带) on it. As I leaned(向前倾) to take the box I tripped and I   48  to my knees. Santa reached over and helped me to my feet.

"Move  49   Kiser." called out Mrs. Winters.

I was now leaning against Santa Claus' leg and I was looking   50   into his eyes. His face was less than an inch from mine.

"Can I   51   you Santa?" I asked him.

The next thing I knew Mrs. Winters had caught me up by my shirt collar and was  52   me away from the line of children.

I sat down in my chair just crying. Once in a while I would  53   at the stage to see if my gift was still sitting by Santa Claus.

When we all lined up waiting, I  54  "HO HO HO" coming from behind me.

As I   55  , there stood Santa Claus holding my large box. Then he knelt down and he hugged my neck as hard as he could.

36. A. stand up                B. go out                    C. sit down                D. keep silent

37. A. taken                     B. served                    C. brought                 D. supplied

38. A. until                         B. unless                    C. before                    D. after

39. A. table                         B. hotel                       C. seat                        D. stage

40. A. encouragement           B. excitement          C. disappointment           D. astonishment

41. A. loud                         B. big                           C. high                        D. low

42. A. outside                   B. beside                   C. aside                      D. inside

43. A. took                         B. made               C. demanded           D. warned

44. A. at a time               B. at one time           C. at time’s                D. at time

45. A. favor                      B. box                       C. gift                         D. medal

46. A. turn                         B. way                       C. chance                  D. gift

47. A. golden                     B. yellow                   C. small                     D. large

48. A. sat                           B. fell                         C. dropped               D. turned

49. A. by                             B. on                        C. in                            D. out

50. A. quickly                  B. directly                 C. immediately        D. finally

51. A. tell                             B. call                         C. hug                        D. leave

52. A. pushing                   B. keeping                  C. stopping                D. pulling

53. A. look                        B. jump                    C. put                       D. stand

54. A. watched                B. found           C. heard                             D. observed

55. A. turned around        B. turned up              C. turned away         D. turned down

When I was young， my father used to grow carnations (康乃馨).His carnations were red， pink and white. Everyone who saw them admired them for their beauty.
He took care of them with so much love and   　36　    . Every day he came home from work， he went   straight    to see them. He 　37　 watching them every day. We the kids did too. But he used to tell us， “No one should touch my flowers.”
One day my younger sister， who loved my dad very much， had wanted to help him and she   　38　     the carnations from their stems (枝干) one by one and arranged them  　39　      . She believed that he would be very   　40　    to see them that way.
When mom and I realized what my sister had done， we became completely hopeless. However， my sister had no idea why no one showed her any appreciation. When my dad arrived he went，　41　， straight to see the flowers. When he saw his flowers    lying     on the floor like dead animals， he was 　42　 at first. He looked towards the street， to see if it was any of the  　43　    children who could have done it. Then he entered the living room and looked at mom in silence.
Finally mom， who always taught us to   　44　    no matter what， looked at dad and said： “We have no bad neighbors in our area”. Then with a nice tone she continued： “No outsider did this great job， only your lovely daughter Clémence.” My dad’s face   changed     into 　45　 and then he said： “Do I have a better   　46　     than my lovely daughter？” My younger sister smiled and  　47　    dad tightly.

When I was young， my father used to grow carnations (康乃馨).His carnations were red， pink and white. Everyone who saw them admired them for their beauty.

 He took care of them with so much love and    　36　    . Every day he came home from work， he went   straight    to see them. He 　37　 watching them every day. We the kids did too. But he used to tell us， “No one should touch my flowers.”

One day my younger sister， who loved my dad very much， had wanted to help him and she    　38　     the carnations from their stems (枝干) one by one and arranged them   　39　      . She believed that he would be very    　40　    to see them that way.

When mom and I realized what my sister had done， we became completely hopeless. However， my sister had no idea why no one showed her any appreciation. When my dad arrived he went， 　41　， straight to see the flowers. When he saw his flowers    lying     on the floor like dead animals， he was 　42　 at first. He looked towards the street， to see if it was any of the   　43　    children who could have done it. Then he entered the living room and looked at mom in silence.

Finally mom， who always taught us to    　44　    no matter what， looked at dad and said： “We have no bad neighbors in our area”. Then with a nice tone she continued： “No outsider did this great job， only your lovely daughter Clémence.” My dad’s face   changed     into 　45　 and then he said： “Do I have a better    　46　     than my lovely daughter？” My younger sister smiled and   　47　    dad tightly.

A. devotion     B. spirits          C. gratitude       D. expectation

A. hated        B. approved       C. enjoyed        D. committed

A. divided      B. watered         C. cut            D. cleaned

A. by the window B. in the vase      C. on the desk      D. on the floor

A. surprised     B. pleased         C. disappointed     D. worried

A. as usual      B. at first          C. as well          D. at last

A. frightened    B. relieved         C. disappointed     D. shocked

A. enemies’     B. friends’         C. families’         D. neighbors’

A. say the truth  B. behave ourselves  C. follow the rules   D. keep secret

A. sadness     B. smiles          C. anger           D. depression

A. kid        B. flower          C. helper           D. gift

A. hugged     B. kissed          C. grasped         D. patted