“Welcome, Mary,” I said. She raised her head and looked into my eyes. The smile on my face 36 . Dear God, I thought, what 　37 has entered the life of this little girl?

After settling Mary into her new desk and 　38 her, I went to the headmaster. She said, “Sit down and I’ll 　39 you in. Mary’s mother who loved her very much was shot and killed in her 　40 one night at their house. Mary, screaming, escaped to a neighbor’s. Then the child went into 　41 . She hadn’t cried or 　42 her mother since.”

I returned only to discover that the children were already avoiding this “ 43 ” child. “Mary’s been hurt badly, but we can do a lot to help her,” I explained gently. Bless all children. How loving they can be 　44 they understand.

In spite of our 45 , we seemed to be getting no closer to Mary and even my faith was wearing 　46 . My heart ached so badly, wanting this child to come alive, to be aware of the beauty, the wonder, the fun, and even the 　47 of living.

Spring approaching, children 　48 to make flower baskets for room decoration. During the lunch time, a girl came hurrying to me. “Come to see Mary’s basket,” she said 　49 . “You’ll never believe it!” I 　50 my breath at its beauty, for it couldn’t have been the work from a child that 　51 .

“Mary,” I said. “This is beautiful. How did you ever 　52 ?” She looked at me with the shining eyes of any 　53 little girl, saying, “My mother loved flowers.”

Thank you, God, You’ve 　54 us the miracle . I knelt and put my arms around the child. Then the tears came, slowly at first, but soon she was 　55 her heart out against my shoulder. The other children had tears in their eyes, too, but theirs—like mine—were tears of joy.

36. A. formed　　　　　　　 B. broadened 　　　 C. spread 　　　　　　 D. froze

37. A. wonder 　　　　　　 B. problem 　　　　　 C. horror 　　　　　 D. amazement

38. A. introducing 　　　 B. comforting 　　　 C. praising 　　　　　 D. touching

39. A. come 　　　　　　　 B. fill 　　　　　　　　　 C. push 　　　　　　　 D. let

40. A. home　　　　　 　 B. presence　　　　　 C. company 　　　 D. eyes

41. A. shock 　　　　　　 B. anger 　　　　　　 C. hunger 　　　　　 D. action

42. A. missed 　　　　　 B. mentioned 　　　 C. seen　 　　 　　D. heard

43. A. sweet 　　　　　　 　　B. sad 　　　　　　　　 C. lonely 　　　　　 D. different

44. A. before 　　　　　　 B. though 　　　　　　 C. once 　　　　　　 D. unless

45. A. lessons 　　　　　 B. talks　　 　　C. words　 　　　 D. efforts

46. A. strong 　　　　　　 B. thick　　　 　　 C. thin 　　　　　　　 D. heavy

47. A. cost　 　　　　　　　　　　 B. pain　　　　 　 C. course 　　　　　 D. pleasure

48. A. decided　 　　　 B. waited　　 　　 C. preferred 　　　　　　 D. wished

49. A. worriedly　　 B. excitedly　　 　 C. softly　 　 　　D. secretly

50. A. caught 　　　　　　　　　　 B. stopped　 　　　 C. counted 　　　　 D. took

51. A. old 　　　　　　　　 B. weak　 　　　　　 C. young 　　　　　 D. clever

52. A. arrange 　　　　　　 B. prepare　　　　　　 C. handle 　 　　D. manage

53. A. unusual　　 　　 B. careful 　　　　　 C. normal 　　　　　 D. friendly

54. A. told　 　　　　　　 B. taught　　 　　　 C. paid 　　　　 　　D. given

55. A. crying 　　　　　　　 B. shouting 　　　　 C. drawing 　　　　　 D. knocking