Why did I come today? I wondered. My Christmas (36) _______ contained several people that claimed they wanted nothing but I knew their feelings would be hurt (37) _______ I didn’t buy them anything, so buying gifts was (38) _______ but fun.
Hurriedly, I finished shopping and (39) _______ the long checkout lines. In front of me were a boy of about 5 and a younger girl. She carried a beautiful pair of (40) _______ slippers. When we finally (41) _______ the checkout register, the girl (42) _______ placed the shoes on the counter. She treated them as though they were a (43) _______.
“That will be $6.09,” the cashier said. The boy (44) _______ all his pockets. He finally came up with $3.12. “I guess we will have to put them back,” he said (45) _______, “We will come back some other time, maybe tomorrow.” With that statement, a soft (46) _______ broke from the little girl. “But Jesus would have loved these shoes,” she cried.
“Well, we’ll go home and work some more. Don’t cry. We’ll surely (47) _______,” he said. Quickly I handed $3 to the cashier. These children had waited in line for a long time. And, (48) _______, it was Christmas. Suddenly a pair of arms came around me and the girl said (49) _______, “Thank you, lady.”“What did you (50) _______ when you said Jesus would like the shoes?” I asked. The boy answered, “Our mommy is sick and going to (51) _______. Daddy said she might go before Christmas to be with Jesus.” The girl spoke, “My Sunday school teacher said the streets in heaven are shiny gold, just like these shoes. Won’t mommy be (52) _______ walking on those streets in these shoes?”
My eyes (53) _______ as I looked into her tear-streaked face. “Yes,” I answered, “I am (54) _______ she will.” Silently I thanked God for using these children to (55) _______ me of the true spirit of giving.

A．plan B．list C．goods D．purchases

A．if B．because C．unless D．since

A．something B．nothing C．anything D．everything

A．waited B．joined C．attended D．gathered

A．cotton B．leather C．gold D．silver

A．approached B．passed C．checked D．found

A．immediately B．hesitantly C．shyly D．carefully

A．gift B．treasure C．life D．prize

A．opened B．touched C．tore D．searched

A．bravely B．uncertainly C．slowly D．doubtfully

A．tear B．sob C．smile D．sigh

A．leave B．come C．return D．arrive

A．above all B．at last C．at least D．after all

A．gratefully B．sweetly C．gracefully D．kindly

A．request B．expect C．mean D．attempt

A．hospital B．tomb C．heaven D．sky

A．equal B．comfortable C．convenient D．beautiful

A．pained B．flooded C．shut D．froze

A．sure B．afraid C．glad D．confident

A．inform B．warn C．cure D．remind