Helen was loved as a friendly 1ady by a11 who knew her. She had belonged to the same church for almost all her adult lire and was highly 36.______. Poor Helen was well into her 90’s. Since her husband passed away，she moved in with Jennifer, her young granddaughter. However, life is 37._______. One night driving home from the store, Jennifer was hit dead by a drunk driver. Once again, Helen was alone.
The 38._______ of losing those closest to her and the loneliness of being all alone were 39.______ she could bear. She changed--she fell into 40._______ and hopelessness. Naturally, people around her saw the change. But nobody seemed to know how to 41._______ her. Months passed. It was now December, and the holiday season was 42._______ to be harder than Helen imagined it would be. She felt like she was 43._______, slowly inside. She wondered if she would see Christmas this year.
44._______, the second Sunday of December, the Sunday School teacher came to her with a special request. Would she be 45.______ enough to help decorate the tree that was in the middle of the children’s classroom? Each child had handmade a special decoration to 46.______ on the tree, and they needed assistance. Helen attempted to 47._______ refuse, but the teacher said that the children had requested she be the 48._______ that year. It was important to them for some reason, the teacher whispered.
The night of the special event, Helen was present and wore the best smile. The 49.______ of the young children was bittersweet, which held memories of her dear Jennifer. For the first time in months, though, you could see her eyes 50._______ through tears. She was happy that the children had 51.______ her. Most decorations had been placed on the tree 52._______ a group of nine children came and sat in front of her. Each of them either had no grandmother any longer, 53.______  had never even known theirs. This was a very special celebration and union. In the middle lay a gift-wrapped box 54._______ for her with a card reading “Our Grandma, with love. ”
Christmas this year wasn’t unkind to Helen. No, it was a new 55._______, a brand-new start and nine new reasons to her…

A．valued B．rewarded C．approved D．respected

A．funny B．challenging C．boring D．diverse

A．weakness B．coldness C．sadness D．tiredness

A．other than B．more than C．rather than D．1essthan

A．nervousness B．anxiety C．depression D．separation

A．acknowledge B．distinguish C．appreciate D．comfort

A．desired B．pictured C．aiming D．proving

A．crying B．dying C．moving D．struggling

A．Gradually B．Recently C．Then D．Meanwhile

A．kind B．optimistic C．patient D．enthusiastic

A．base B．place C．hide D．set

A．politely B．personally C．seriously D．unwillingly

A．volunteer B．visitor C．teacher D．assistant

A．view B．thought C．sight D．scenery

A．staring B．shining C．looking D．1ighting

A．helped B．treated C．invited D．amused

A．while B．when C．as D．after

A．or B．nor C．and D．but

A．intended B．written C．sent D．1eft

A．ending B．process C．goal D．beginning