阅读理解

　　It was midnight in Paris and we were rolling toward Avenue Bosguet．As we came to the Pont Alexandra Ⅲ, the taxi slowed down, for the traffic light was red against us, and then, without stopping, we sailed through the red in a sudden burst of speed．The same performance was repeated at the Alma Bridge．As I paid the driver, I asked him why he had driven through two red lights．

　　“You ought to be ashamed of yourself, breaking the law and endangering your life that way．” I protested．

　　He looked at me, astonished, “Ashamed of myself? I am a law abiding(守法的)citizen and have no desire to get killed either．” He cut me off before I could protest．

　　“No, just listen to me before you complain．What did I do? Went through a red light．Well, did you ever stop to consider what a red light is? What it means?”

　　“Certainly,” I replied．“It’s a stop signal and means the traffic is rolling in the opposite direction．”

　　“Half-right,”said the driver, “But incomplete．It’s only an automatic(自动的)stop signal．And it does not mean that there is cross traffic．Did you see any cross traffic during our trip? Of course not．I slowed down at the light, looked carefully to the right and to the left．Not another car on the street at this hour．Well, then! What would you have me do? Should I stop like a stupid animal because an automatic, brainless machine turns red every forty seconds? No, sir,” he shouted, “I am a man, not a machine．I have eyes and a brain and judgment, given me by God．Ashamed of myself, you say? I would only be ashamed of myself if I let those blinking lamps do my thinking for me．Good night,sir．”

完形填空

　　Kindness is the golden chain by which society is bound together．However, I was not thinking about the golden chain when I had to help people who 　　1　　 their way and parked in front of my house．

　　I was growing tired of helping so many people．Almost every 　　2　　 I was awaken during a sound night’s sleep and had to 　　3　　 someone out．Many times I was 　　4　　 by some penniless motorists who did not even thank me for the helps that they received and some even complained that I could have done 　　5　　．

　　One day, a young man with a week－old beard climbed out of a 　　6　　 automobile．He had no money and no food．He asked if I could give him some 　　7　　, offering him gasoline and a meal．I told him that if he wanted to work for me, he could cut the grass, but 　　8　　 the work wasn’t necessary．

　　Though sweaty and hungry, he worked hard．After working all day, he sat in the shade to 　　9　　 himself．I thanked him for his work and gave him the money he 　　10　　．I then offered him some 　　11　　 money for a task particularly well done, but he shook his head, 　　12　　．

　　I never saw him again．He probably thinks I helped him out that day, but that is not 　　13　　 it was．I didn’t help him．He helped me to 　　14　　 people again to repay their trust in me．He helped me to once again want to do something for those who are 　　15　　．I wish I could thank him for 　　16　　 some of my belief in the basic 　　17　　 of others and for giving me back a little of the 　　18　　 I had lost．Because of him, I once again felt part of a golden chain of kindness that 　　19　　 us to others．

　　I may have fed his body that day, but he fed my 　　20　　．