It’s been said that a smile is the lighting system of the face, the cooling system of the head and the heating system of the heart. But a smile is also a powerful  36  against toxic (有害的) attitudes of all kinds.

       Lisa Smith, of Portland, Oregon, wrote to me about a man whose smile   37  her life: “I was having a horrible day —   38   my job, tired of the weather, tired of trying to make ends meet, and just feeling   39  . I stopped at the   40   in the morning and, as I was   41  , an older businessman said to me that it was going to be a   42   day and life shouldn’t be as  43   as I make it look. I glared at him and   44   said, ‘I wish it was Friday.’

      “I felt   45   about my day when I left the post office ... that man’s smile and comment, although irritating (使人心烦的)  46  , made me think.

       “The second time I  47  the man, I went out of my way to say ‘Happy Friday’ to him and to   48  . I saw him a few more times and always he was happy and made my   49  .

“I looked for him around Christmas time to give him a   50   and explain how his kind words and smile made me   51   my thinking and realize I didn’t have it so bad.  52   I have not seen him at the post office since then. I look every morning ... I go at different times to see if I can catch him. Maybe he is  53  , or maybe he is ill. I think to myself, ‘I wish I had thanked him for being a kind person.’ I can honestly say this man changed my life. I will work to   54   that same feeling to those I see in   55   of a smile.”  ( 323  words )

36. A. weapon              B. advantage                C. fight                       D. word

37. A. destroyed           B. changed                  C. supported                D. finished

38. A. loving                B. considering              C. getting                    D. hating

39. A. happy                B. excited                    C. anxious                   D. cautious

40. A. restaurant           B. post office               C. company                 D. hospital

41. A. entering             B. leaving                    C. coming                   D. arriving

42. A. long                   B. rainy                       C. good                       D. hot

43. A. different             B. interesting               C. complex                  D. bad

44. A. simply               B. easily                      C. tearfully                  D. surely

45. A. worse                B. more worried           C. better                      D. less funny

46. A. at last                B. at once                    C. at present                D. at first

47. A. worked with       B. ran into                   C. looked into              D. searched for

48. A. stare                  B. cry                         C. smile                       D. rush

49. A. day                    B. way                        C. living                      D. mark

50. A. ride                   B. list                          C. drink                       D. card

51. A. recover              B. regroup                   C. release                    D. recommend

52. A. But                    B. Although                 C. Therefore                D. Because

53. A. hidden               B. escaped                   C. retired                     D. missed

54. A. pay                    B. relate                      C. owe                        D. spread

55. A. terms                 B. need                       C. case                        D. view

One young academically excellent person went to apply for a managerial position in a big company. He   36   the first interview; the director did the last interview.
The director asked, “Did you obtain any scholarships in school?” The young man answered, “    37  .”
“Who paid the school fees for you?”
“My father passed away   38   I was born, so my mother paid them all.”
“What did your mother do?”
“A laundry woman.”
The director   39   the youth to show his hands. They were smooth and perfect. The director asked, “Have you ever   40   your mother wash the clothes?” The youth answered, “    41  . My mother always wanted me to study and read more books.    42   , she can wash clothes faster than me.”
The director said, “Please go and clean your mother’s hands, and then see me tomorrow.”
The youth felt his   43   of getting the job high. When he went back, he happily asked his mother to let him clean her hands. His mother felt   44  but happy with mixed feelings.
The youth cleaned his mother’s hands   45   . He cried as he did that. It was the first time he had    46  his mother’s wrinkled hands with so many bruises (伤痕) on them. Some bruises were so painful that his mother    47  when they were cleaned. Only by then did he realize it was this pair of hands that assisted him   48   his academic years.
After finishing cleaning his mother’s    49   hands, the youth quietly washed all the  50   clothes for his mother. That night, they talked for a very long time.
The next morning, the director noticed the youth’s swollen    51  and asked, “Can you tell me what you have done and    52  in your house?”
The youth answered, “I cleaned my mother’s hands and also finished washing all the remaining clothes. I know now what    53   is. Without mother, there would not have been my success today.”
The director said, “This is what I am looking for  54  a manager. I want to hire a person who can value the help of others and who knows the    55  of others. You are hired.”

One young academically excellent person went to apply for a managerial position in a big company. He   36    the first interview; the director did the last interview.

   The director asked, “Did you obtain any scholarships in school?” The young man answered, “    37   .”

   “Who paid the school fees for you?”

   “My father passed away   38    I was born, so my mother paid them all.”

   “What did your mother do?”

   “A laundry woman.”

   The director   39    the youth to show his hands. They were smooth and perfect. The director asked, “Have you ever   40    your mother wash the clothes?” The youth answered, “    41   . My mother always wanted me to study and read more books.    42    , she can wash clothes faster than me.”

   The director said, “Please go and clean your mother’s hands, and then see me tomorrow.”

   The youth felt his   43    of getting the job high. When he went back, he happily asked his mother to let him clean her hands. His mother felt   44   but happy with mixed feelings.

The youth cleaned his mother’s hands   45    . He cried as he did that. It was the first time he had    46   his mother’s wrinkled hands with so many bruises (伤痕) on them. Some bruises were so painful that his mother    47   when they were cleaned. Only by then did he realize it was this pair of hands that assisted him   48    his academic years.

   After finishing cleaning his mother’s    49    hands, the youth quietly washed all the   50    clothes for his mother. That night, they talked for a very long time.

   The next morning, the director noticed the youth’s swollen    51   and asked, “Can you tell me what you have done and    52   in your house?”

   The youth answered, “I cleaned my mother’s hands and also finished washing all the remaining clothes. I know now what    53    is. Without mother, there would not have been my success today.”

   The director said, “This is what I am looking for  54   a manager. I want to hire a person who can value the help of others and who knows the    55   of others. You are hired.”