ItwasabittercoldeveninginnorthernVirginiamanyyearsago.Theoldmanwaswaitingforarideacrossthe 36 .Thewaitseemed 37 .

Atlastheheardtheslightsteadyrhythmofapproachinghooves(马蹄)comingalongthefrozenpath.Anxiouslyhe 38 asseveralhorsemencamearoundthebend(转角处).Heletthefirstone 39 .Thenanotherandanother.Finallyasthe 40 ridernearedthespotwheretheoldmansatlikeasnowstatuetheoldman 41 therider’seyeandsaid“Sirwouldyoumindgivinganoldmanaridetotheotherside?Theredoesn’tappeartobeapassagewayby 42 .”

Theriderreplied“Sure.”Seeingtheoldmanwasunableto 43 hishalf-frozenbodyfromthegroundthehorsemangotdownandhelpedtheoldmanontothehorse.Thehorsemantooktheoldmannotjustacrosstheriverbuttohisdestination.

Astheynearedthetinybutcozy(舒适的)cottagethehorseman’s 44 causedhimtoask“SirInoticethatyouletseveralotherridersgobywithoutmakinga(n) 45 togetaride.ThenIcameupandyou 46 askedmeforaride.I’mcuriouswhyonsuchabitterwinternightyouwouldwaitandaskthelastrider. 47 Ihadrefusedandleftyouthere?”

Theoldmanreplied“I’vebeen 48 hereforsometime.IthinkIknowpeopleprettygood.”Hecontinued“Ilookedintotheeyesoftheotherridersandimmediatelysawtherewasno 49 formysituation.ButwhenIlookedintoyoureyes 50 wasevident.Iknew 51 thatyourgentlespiritwould 52 theopportunitytogivemehelpinmytimeof 53 .”

Thoseheartwarmingcomments 54 thehorsemandeeply.

“I’mmostgratefulforwhatyouhavesaid”hetoldtheoldman.“MayInevergettoobusyinmyownaffairsthatI 55 torespondtotheneedsofotherswithkindnessandcompassion.”

WiththatThomasJeffersonturnedhishorsearoundandmadehiswaybacktotheWhiteHouse.

A.town B.river C.country D.island[来源:学&

A.meaninglessB.useless C.careless D.endless

A.watched B.asked C.waved D.approached

A.comeover B.getoff C.passby D.takeoff

A.coming