School was over and I was both mentally and physically tired. I sat at the very front of the bus because of 11 to get home. Sitting at the front makes you 12 out like a shiny coin in a pile of dull pennies.
Janie, the driver, tries to break the uncomfortable atmosphere by striking the match of 13 .
I try to mind my manners and 14 listen, but usually I am too busy thinking about my day. On this day, 15, her conversation was worth listening to.
“My father’s sick, ”she said to no one in 16 . 1 could see the anxiety and fear in her eyes. With a sudden change of attitude and interest, I asked, “What’s wrong with him?”
With her eyes wet and her voice tight fighting against the tears, she 17, “Heart trouble.” Her eyes 18 as she continued. “I’ve already lost my mum, so I don’t think I can 19 losing him.”
I couldn’t react. I was 20 . My heart ached for her. I sat on the old, smelly seat thinking of the great 21 my own mother was thrown into when my father died.
I saw how hard it was, 22 still is, for her. I wouldn’t like anyone to go 23 that.
Suddenly I realized Janie wasn’t only a bus driver. That was just her job. She had a 24 world of family and concerns too. I had never thought of her as anything but a driver.
I suddenly felt very25. I realized I had only thought of people as 26 as what their purposes were in my life. I paid no attention to Janie because she was a bus driver. I had judged her by her job and just considered her 27.
For all I know, I’m just another person in 28 else’s world, and may not even be important. I 29 not have been so selfish and self-centred. Everyone has places to go to, people to see and appointments to 30 . Understanding people is an art.
1.A. determination B. decision C. attempt D. anxiety
2.A. make B. think C. stand D. find
3.A. topic B. conversation C. discussion D. message
4.A. devotedly B. carelessly C. sincerely D. politely
5.A. therefore B. thus C. otherwise D. however
6.A. common B. silence C. particular D. surprise
7.A. informed B. reminded C. announced D. responded
8.A. lowered B. closed C. widened D. opened
9. A. mind B. regret C. bear D. miss
10.A. angry B. shocked C. curious D. interested
11.A. pain B. pity C. disappointment D. mercy
12.A. yet B. and C. or D. but
13.A. over B. round C. through D. without
14.A. dark B. narrow C. whole D. bright
15.A. confused B. selfish C. worried D. sad
16.A. long B. soon C. well D. far
17.A. unfit B. unselfish C. unnecessary D. unimportant
18.A. someone B. anyone C. no one D. everyone
19.A. might B. must C. need D. should
20.A. stay B. remain C. keep D. put
This article may be some advice about how to _________ oneself in society.
A. behave B. believe C. perform D. operate
The environmental problems in China may worsen if __________ unsolved.
A. making B. remained C. keeping D. left
_____ cleaning the doghouse was the last thing I wanted to do, I did it with all my efforts.
A. Although B. As C. As long as D. Now that
Constant practice has erased my accent to a point _____ people think I’m a native speaker.
A. that B. which C. in which D. at which
-- I’m exhausted. I _____ on a project day and night.
-- You’d better have several days off after finishing it. Otherwise you might break down.
A. worked B. have worked
C. work D. have been working
