My father sold everything we owned, took all the money and disappeared from our lives. My mother suddenly found herself ____ to care for five boys. I worried about the situation, but my mother stayed ______ , and told us that she would keep us together as a _____safe from harm. Although small in size, she could _____heavy horse-drawn ploughs(犁). Besides, she _____ found time to help us with homework. As Christmas approached, my mother didn’t seem to smile as much. I _______ she had no money to buy us presents. Considering myself practically grown, I hid my ______ . One day, my mother took a saw(锯) into the forest and _________ with some tree branches. She left them in the barn(畜棚) and did not tell her ________ children what they were for. She worked on her project________ I was in school, but I looked ______ into the barn whenever I had a chance. Several days later, I still couldn’t ______ her purpose. When later I saw she used nails and paint, I ____ that she must be making presents for us. By Christmas week, my mother was her _______ happy self again. Her project was apparently__ and she obviously kept it secret because I’d looked everywhere without ______ . On Christmas Eve, I lay awake for a long time, _____ Christmas morning. The next morning, my mother handed out the handmade presents happily in front of her delighted kids. Many difficult years would follow that particular Christmas, but I never again doubted my mother’s ____ to care for us. We were never hungry, and she made sure we got a(n) ______ in school. She taught us to have faith in our own abilities. That faith ___me still. 【小题1】 A．responsible B．unable C．alone D．hopeful A．positive B．negative C．passionate D．depressed A．family B．secret C．promise D．team A．repair B．control C．maintain D．handle A．ever B．even C．just D．yet A．witnessed B．realized C．recognized D．heard A．anger B．embarrassment C．puzzlement D．disappointment A．escaped B．left C．returned D．departed A．curious B．energetic C．exciting D．naughty A．because B．before C．when D．after A．occasionally B．anxiously C．accidentally D．secretly A．point out B．find out C．bring out D．pick out A．suggested B．admitted C．swore D．concluded(推测) A．typical B．unique C．normal D．regular A．complete B．awkward C．creative D．fantastic A．delay B．hesitation C．difficulty D．success A．scheduling B．expecting C．avoiding D．greeting A．ability B．belief C．decision D．enthusiasm A．praise B．welcome C．tutor D．education A．guarantees B．surprises C．supports D．comforts 【小题2】 A．positive B．negative C．passionate D．depressed 【小题3】 A．family B．secret C．promise D．team 【小题4】 A．repair B．control C．maintain D．handle 【小题5】 A．ever B．even C．just D．yet 【小题6】 A．witnessed B．realized C．recognized D．heard 【小题7】 A．anger B．embarrassment C．puzzlement D．disappointment 【小题8】 A．escaped B．left C．returned D．departed 【小题9】 A．curious B．energetic C．exciting D．naughty 【小题10】 A．because B．before C．when D．after 【小题11】 A．occasionally B．anxiously C．accidentally D．secretly 【小题12】 A．point out B．find out C．bring out D．pick out 【小题13】 A．suggested B．admitted C．swore D．concluded(推测) 【小题14】 A．typical B．unique C．normal D．regular 【小题15】 A．complete B．awkward C．creative D．fantastic 【小题16】 A．delay B．hesitation C．difficulty D．success 【小题17】 A．scheduling B．expecting C．avoiding D．greeting 【小题18】 A．ability B．belief C．decision D．enthusiasm 【小题19】 A．praise B．welcome C．tutor D．education 【小题20】 A．guarantees B．surprises C．supports D．comforts