It was a bitter,   36  evening in northern Virginia. The old man’s beard was   37   by winter’s frost (霜)while he waited for a ride across the river. The wait seemed endless. Then he heard the weak sound of hooves(马蹄) advancing along the frozen path.   38   , he watched as several horsemen rounded the bend. He let the first one pass by, then another. As  39  rider drew near where the old man sat, the old man   40   the rider’s eye and said, “Sir, would you mind giving an old man a ride to the other side of the river?”
Reining(勒住) his horse, the rider replied, “Sure thing.” Seeing the old man unable to   41   his half-frozen body from the ground, the horseman helped the old man onto the horse and took him to his   42  . On the way, the horseman said: “Sir, I notice that you let several other riders pass by. I'm   43   why, on such a bitter winter night, you would wait and ask the last rider.”
The old man looked at the rider and replied, “I know people pretty good. When I   44  the eyes of the other riders, I immediately saw there was no   45  for my situation. But when I looked into yours, kindness and compassion(同情) were obvious. I knew that your gentle spirit would give me help in my time of   46  .”
Those heart-warming comments   47   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 fail to respond to the needs of others with kindness and compassion.”

A．warm B．cool C．cold D．windy

A．marked B．covered C．equipped D．filled

A．Happily B．Anxiously C．Appreciatively D．Confidently

A．the second B．the third C．the fourth D．the last

A．stared B．looked C．caught D．attracted

A．lift B．carry C．rise D．jump

A．home B．company C．destination D．office

A．afraid B．excited C．delighted D．curious

A．got into B．ran into C．looked into D．broke into

A．concern B．worry C．envy D．doubt

A．trouble B．need C．danger D．difficulty

A．amazed B．promoted C．touched D．benefited