I had worried myself sick over Simon􀆳s mother coming to see me. I was a new　1　, and I gave an honest account of the students􀆳 work. In Simon􀆳s case, the grades were awfully low. He couldn􀆳t read his own handwriting. 　2　he was a bright student. He discussed adult subjects with nearly adult comprehension. His work in no way reflected his　3　.

　　So when Simon􀆳s mother entered the room, my palms(手掌心)were sweating. I was completely　4　for her kisses on both my cheeks. "I came to thank you, "she said, surprising me beyond speech. 　5　me, Simon had become a different person. He talked of how he　6　me, he had begun to make friends, and for the first time in his twelve years, he had　7　spent an afternoon at a friend􀆳s house. She wanted to tell me how grateful she was for the　8　I had nurtured(培养)in her son. She kissed me again and left.

　　I sat, stunned(惊呆), for about half an hour, 　9　what had just happened. How did I make such a life-changing difference to that boy without　10　knowing it?What I finally came to　11　was one day, several months before, when some students were　12　reports in the front of the class. Jeanne spoke　13　, and to encourage her to raise her voice, I had said, "Speak up. Simon􀆳s the expert on this. He is the　14　one you have to convince, and he can􀆳t hear you in the　15　of the room. "That was it. From that day on, Simon had sat up straighter, paid more attention, 　16　more, and became happy. And it was all because he 　17　to be the last kid in the last row. The boy who most needed　18　was the one who took the last seat that day.

　　It taught me the most　19　lesson over the years of my teaching career, and I􀆳m thankful that it came　20　and positively. A small kindness can indeed make a difference.

1. A. cleaner B. reporter C. monitor D. teacher

2. A. Or B. And C. But D. So

3. A. courage B. abilities C. feelings D. dream

4. A. desperate B. responsible C. unprepared D. unsuitable

5. A. Because of B. In spite of C. Apart from D. As for

6. A. loved B. envied C. pleased D. criticized

7. A. gradually B. constantly C. recently D. obviously

8. A. self-respect B. self-doubt C. self-pity D. self-defense

9. A. imagining B. observing C. wondering D. regretting

10. A. also B. even C. always D. still

11. A. expect B. remember C. believe D. accept

12. A. writing B. reviewing C. editing D. giving

13. A. quietly B. repeatedly C. quickly D. firmly

14. A. lucky B. lonely C. only D. likely

15. A. entrance B. middle C. front D. back

16. A. slept B. smiled C. shouted D. quarreled

17. A. intended B. pretended C. refused D. happened

18. A. change B. praise C. thanks D. visits

19. A. difficult B. painful C. valuable D. enjoyable

20. A. early B. slowly C. frequently D. occasionally

Ⅳ. 语法填空