Growing up in Georgin the 1970s, I always felt that the bad old day of Southern prejudice(偏见)and ignorance had passed and that we were 36 a new South built upon hard-won racial equality,chairty and the sense that no one was 37 than anyone else.

I'm not so 38 anymore,Lately I feel like our moral compass has been 39 ,spinning to intolerance, greed and meanness.

In times of 40 ,I put my faith in Elvis Presley, who 41 the South's better angles. He was a hard worker, and _42_ he lived the high life, he never that he had been born into 43 . I don't think you'll 44 hear an interview with the man when he didn't express 45 for all that life had given him.

And he Was a self-made talent, perhaps the 46 entertainer of all time, born in a two-room shack (棚屋）in Tupelo, Miss. I've been there many times, reflecting on what it says about America.

Greaitness can be bom 47 .

Elvis was famous for his generosity- 48 cars, expensive gifts and other handouts to anyone in need. That's how the Presleys 49 the Great Depressidn(l929-1933). His father Vernon was a laborer who was often out of 50 , and the Presleys relied on the kindness of family and neighbors to get them 51 the hard time.

Today's politicians please the crowds With messages that praise the rich and powerful and think of the poor as 52 their fate, 53 ,the crowds believe that their problems could be solved if only the poor people below them didn't 54 so much. To blame an immigrant (移民)for " 55 " a job, instead of the CEO who won't pay a living wage.

Yet, I still believe, as Elvis once said, "Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain't goin' away."

36.A. entering B.finishing C. deserting D. keeping

37. A.taller B. better C.smarter D.prettier

38. A.worried B.sure C. happy D. calm

39. A. checked B. fixed C. broken D. adjusted