When I turned 40, my husband secretly planned a surprise party for me. I'll never forget my feeling   1   I entered the restaurant and saw loving friends among flowers and music and a large display of photos. I hurried from one table   2   the next, greeting each guest. Then suddenly at the back of the room I caught sight of a gentle, smiling man with snow-white hair and a kind, blue-eyed woman on his arm.
“Mom, dad,” my   3   became wide. They had flown to Los Angeles from Chicago just hours before. I burst into tears at the sight of these two who, more than   4   else, had taught me that being there for another person is the   5   gift we can give.
A year later, my husband and I were invited to an unusual wedding. The night before the wedding, I decided to   6   my friends and beg off. “Kathy, this is Karen.”
“You're   7  , aren't you?” she broke in, almost begging (乞求). I   8   and at that moment the sight of my parents at my 40th-birthday party came into my mind.
“Yes, of course,” I said. “We'll be there.”
So we   9   And I was grateful we did. We weren't in our seats a minute before Kathy came up, happy but with   10   She told me how much our presence meant to her. Kathy's parents didn't make it as well as her son. I saw   11  in her eyes.
I see now that one's presence   12   be a duty. It is, in fact, something that we owe one another, whatever the   13   To be there—in person—for the sad or happy events of our friends and dear ones makes   14  .
When we are truly   15   for other people, important things happen to them and to us. We are renewed in love and friendship.

A．though B．when C．if D．since

A．to B．in C．at D．on

A．nose B．forehead C．eyes D．ears

A．everybody B．nobody C．somebody D．anybody

A．heaviest B．cheapest C．smallest D．greatest

A．call B．help C．visit D．join

A．driving B．coming C．going D．returning

A．resisted B．prayed C．hesitated D．refused

A．had B．went C．waited D．were

A．tears B．surprise C．smiles D．pride

A．puzzle B．comfort C．hurt D．honor

A．must B．can C．may D．would

A．present B．happy C．thankful D．eager