It was a bitter, cold evening in northern Virginia many years ago. The old man was waiting for a ride across the  36  . The wait seemed  37  .
At last he heard the slight, steady rhythm of approaching hooves (马蹄) coming along the frozen path. Anxiously, he   38   as several horsemen came around the bend (转角处). He let the first one   39  . Then another, and another. Finally, as the   40   rider neared the spot where the old man sat like a snow statue, the old man   41   the rider’s eye and said, “Sir, would you mind giving an old man a ride to the other side? There doesn’t appear to be a passage way by  42  .”
The rider replied, “Sure.” Seeing the old man was unable to  43  his half-frozen body from the ground, the horseman got down and helped the old man onto the horse. The horseman took the old man not just across the river, but to his destination.
As they neared the tiny but cozy (舒适的) cottage, the horseman’s   44   caused him to ask, “Sir, I notice that you let several other riders go by without making a(n)   45   to get a ride. Then I came up and you   46   asked me for a ride. I’m curious why, on such a bitter winter night, you would wait and ask the last rider.   47  I had refused and left you there?”
The old man replied, “I’ve been   48   here for some time. I think I know people pretty good.” He continued, “I looked into the eyes of the other riders and immediately saw there was no  49   for my situation. But when I looked into your eyes,   50   was evident. I knew,   51  , that your gentle spirit would   52   the opportunity to give me help in my time of   53  .”
Those heartwarming comments   54   the horseman deeply.
“I’m most grateful for what you have said,” he told the old man. “May I never get too busy in my own affairs that I  55   to respond to the needs of others with kindness and compassion.”
With that, Thomas Jefferson turned his horse around and made his way back to the White House.

A．town B．river C．country D．island

A．meaningless B．useless C．careless D．endless

A．watched B．asked C．waved D．approached

A．come over B．get off C．pass by D．take off

A．coming B．leaving C．next D．last

A．missed B．caught C．avoided D．saw

A．bus B．car C．foot D．horse

A．feel B．push C．lift D．stand

A．honesty B．courage C．enthusiasm D．curiosity

A．choice B．stop C．effort D．scene

A．immediately B．hurriedly C．friendly D．strangely

A．What about B．What if C．How come D．If only

A．in B．out C．around D．beyond

A．concern B．doubt C．chance D．reason

A．meaning B．kindness C．seriousness D．help

A．then and there B．for a moment C．all of a sudden D．sooner or later

A．offer B．create C．find D．welcome

A．need B．danger C．fortune D．happiness

A．influenced B．excited C．touched D．hit

A．happen B．try C．disagree D．fail