As a young man, Al was a skilled artist, a potter. He had a wife and two fine sons. One night, his oldest son 36 a severe stomachache and died suddenly. To make matters worse, his wife left him a short time later, 37 him alone with his six-year- old younger son. The hurt and pain of the two situations were _ 38 _ Al could handle, and he _ 39 to alcohol. Al began to lose everything he possessed---his home, his land, his art objects, everything. 40 he died alone in a San Francisco motel room.
When I heard of Al’s death, I reacted with the same disdain(蔑视)the world shows for one who ends his life with nothing 41 _ left. “What a complete failure!” I thought. “What a totally 42__ life!”
As time went by, I began to re-evaluate my earlier _ 43 judgment. You see, I knew Al’s now adult son, Ernie. He is one of the kindest, most 44 most loving men I have ever known. I watched Ernie with his children and saw the free 45 of the love between them. I knew that kindness and caring had to come 46 somewhere.
I hadn’t heard Ernie talk much about his father. It is so hard to 47 an alcoholic. One day I get up my 48 to ask him. “I’m really puzzled by something,” I said. “I know your father was basically the only one to 49 you. 50 on earth did he do that you became such a special person?
Ernie sat _ 51 _ and thought for a few moments. Then he said, “From my _52 memories as a child until I left home at 18, Al came into my room every night, gave me a __53 and said, “I love you, son.”
Tears came to my eyes as I realized what a fool I had been to 54 Al as a failure. He had not left any material possession behind, 55 he left behind one of the finest, most giving men I have ever known.
A.obtained B.developed C.cured D.recovered
A.taking B.locking C.finding D.leaving
A.more than B.less than C.other than D.rather than
A.got B.turned C.loved D.changed
A.Luckily B.Suddenly C.Eventually D.Jokingly
A.material B.expensive C.real D.special
A.happy B.thoughtful C.deserted D.wasted
A.angry B.sharp C.actual D.proper
A.handsome B.rich D.ordinary
A.flow B.rise C.fly D.move
A.out B.from C.up D.down
A.defend B.become C.discuss D.argue
A.confidence B.courage C.belief D.strength
A.feed B.love C.care D.raise
A.How B.What C.Why D.Which
A.angrily B.comfortably C.quietly D.excitedly
A.earliest B.nearest C.best D.hardest
A.pat B.lesson C.kiss D.present
A.judge B.say C.remember D.respect
A.so B.and D.or