The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings.

-Eric Hoffer

　　According to legend, a young man while travelling through the desert came across a spring of delicious crystal­ clear water. The water being so ___1___，he filled his leather container so he could bring some back to a tribal(部落的) elder who had been his ___2__.

　　After a four­day journey he ___3___ the water to the old man who took a deep drink, ___4___ warmly and thanked his student for the sweet water. The young man returned to his village with a ___5 ___heart.

　　Later, the teacher let another student taste the water. He spat it out, saying it was ___6___. It apparently had gone bad because of the old leather container. The student ___7 ___his teacher, "Master, the water was disgusting. Why did you ___8___ to like it？"The teacher replied, "You only tasted the water. I tasted the ___9___. The water was simply the 10 for an act of loving­ kindness and ___11___ could be sweeter."

　　I think we understand this ___12___ best when we receive innocent gifts of ___13___ from young children. Whether it's a hand­made card or a macaroni bracelet, the natural and proper ___14___ is appreciation and expressed thankfulness because we love the ___15___ within the gift.

　　Gratitude doesn't always come 16. Unfortunately, most children and many adults value only the thing given ___17___ the feeling within it. We should 18 ourselves and teach our children about the ___19___ and purity of feelings and expressions of gratitude. ___20___，gifts from the heart are really gifts of the heart.

1.A.shallow B.valuable

C.magical D.sweet

答案　D

解析　由穿过沙漠地区的人看到的水和上一句中的delicious判断水应是甘甜的。故选D。

2.A.brother B.master

C.teacher D.student

答案　C

解析　依据后文可知，老者应是他的老师。故选C。

3.A.donated B.presented