It was a dark， cloudy evening when Father told us the news． Our family was gathered around the old dinner table． My father（31）　　from me to my 11﹣year﹣old brother， James， and finally to my mother． Her eyes looked（32）　　as she met his nervous face． They had been strangely quiet all through dinner． My brother and I（33）　　spoke at the table unless we were spoken to．

"Jack，" Mother said quietly． "We must（34）　　the children．"

"These past few years have been hard on all the（35）　　around here，" Father said slowly． I knew this was true．（36）　　my parents didn't speak to my brother and me about it， we had heard them talking．"We've lost the farm，"he finally said． Then there was a long（37）　　．

"Where will we go？"James asked， his voice shaking．"West Virginia，"Father replied calmly．"Last week there was a man in town from a coal mine（煤矿）down there． He said they have jobs， and the coal company will（38）　　our train tickets and give us a house when we get there． We'll leave on a train next Wednesday．"

James and I silently got up from the table and （39）　　 the dishes， as we did every night． He said in a low voice，"Anna， I don't want to move．" I replied， "Neither do I． But there's （40）    we can do about it． At least we'll all be together．"

31． A． learned	B． looked	C． heard
32． A． angry	B． excited	C． sad
33． A． always	B． never	C． often
34． A． promise	B． teach	C． tell
35． A． farmers	B． workers	C． bosses
36． A． Although	B． Because	C． Since
37． A． discussion	B． agreement	C． silence
38． A． pay for	B． put up	C． pick up
39． A． cleared	B． placed	C． broke
40． A． something	B． nothing	C． anything