then, most often 42 for emergencies or bad news.

　　But people wrote. Both of my grandmothers, and two of my great-aunts wrote to me. It was special that someone took an interest in a 43 kid. That someone would take the time to put pen to 44 and share their lives and 45 about mine meant a lot. It would mean a lot to anybody, 46 .

　　I spent many a Sunday evening straining (竭力) to 47 thoughtful and well-written letters. "Dear Aunt Mary, How are you? I am fine. I hope you are the same."

My mother was a great letter writer. I looked forward to her letters when I left home, went to college and then traveled across the country working newspaper jobs. When I married, had children and moved again, still far from home, she wrote 48 . Letters were a way of 49 the distance.

　　She was a natural storyteller. She could make a story about a 50 gathering where everyone sat on metal folding chairs and had nothing but water to drink sound like a wonderful party. Back then, letter writers were storytellers because they were 51 of the world around them.

　　As phone calls became affordable, then cheap, the flow of letters 52 and eventually stopped.But it is different for me today. What a 53 to get a letter! There were 54 circulars and advertisements in the mailbox. There was something truly special, which takes me to my most delightful task 55 , "Dear Audrey . . ."

By Lori Borgman

36. A. comparing B. taking C. enjoying D. considering 37. A. respond B. react C. relax D. recommend 38. A. forget B. remember C. regret D. resist 39. A. surprise B. thrill C. terror D. disappointment 40. A. prevented B. divided C. deserted D. separated 41. A. convenient B. sensible C. rare D. common 42. A. reserved B. prepared C. provided D. sacrificed 43. A. boring B. homesick C. troublesome D. homeless 44. A. desk B. envelope C. paper D. mail 45. A. doubt B. talk C. think D. enquire 46. A. though B. really C. anyway D. regardless 47. A. compose B. compile C. compromise D. compensate 48. A. carefully B. thankfully C. faithfully D. anxiously 49. A. keeping B. putting C. closing D. finding 50. A. sad B. dull C. exciting D. happy 51. A. creators B. discovers C. admirers D. observers 52. A. broke down B. slowed down C. settled down D. fell down 53. A. coincidence B. genius C. pity D. treat 54. A. more than B. no more than C. other than D. rather than 55. A. by hand B. at hand C. on hand D. in hand