It was a week before Christmas, but things were far from cheery. Our task was to deliver as many boxes of food as possible to those in need in Camden, New Jersey. There were no Christmas carolers (唱頌歌的人) walking these streets that were lined with boarded-up (用木板封住的) houses and broken windows. Mothers kept their children close as they hurried down the streets.  It was mid-afternoon, but even the bright sun couldn't warm this place.

Red tickets in the windows marked which houses we were to visit. Our white truck stopped in front of one townhouse and our group knocked on the door. In our arms were boxes filled with ham, bread and other essentials to make the perfect Christmas dinner. Four small faces glanced through the curtains and one exhausted mom answered the door. She seemed embarrassed to be caught in her nightgown with undone hair. She was in her mid-20s, but her rough skin and tired eyes added years.

"Sacred Heart food delivery service," I smiled. "Where can we put this for you?"

She pointed and as we entered the house, I noticed the conditions they lived in. The children climbed around, wearing only diapers (尿布). There were no carpets, only cold concrete beneath our feet. There was no Christmas tree or decorations. My heart sank. It was so cold, and I found it hard to believe that this was reality for this family. We set the boxes down and the mother grabbed my hand.

"You don't know how much of a blessing this is to me and my family," she said, crying. "We are just getting by." I opened my arms and gave her a hug.

"Happy holidays!" I replied before I headed out the door. I realized how warm I felt inside.

This was unlike anything I had ever experienced. We cannot help what family we are born into, but we can help each other.

56. From Paragraph 1, we can infer that Camden may be a place where ________.

A. the living conditions were terrible            B. people had no belief

C. there was no sign of life                         D. little sunshine was received

57. What impression did the woman leave on the author?

A. She was shy and cold to visitors.            B. She was confident and energetic.

C. She wasn't good at dressing herself up.   D. She looked much older than her age.

58. By saying "We are just getting by", the woman meant __________.

A. they were waiting for help                      B. they were looking for food and clothing                                              

C. they were going to move away               D. they were living a very poor life                                                    

59. The passage mainly tells us that _______________.

A. the poor can also help others                  B. assisting the poor needs actions

C. people should help each other                                                                                          D. having more children causes poverty

Our thoughts, words, and actions often cause harm to others and to us. Without reconciliation

(和解), we cannot deepen our understanding and only cause more suffering. "Beginning Anew" is

a(n)   36   of reconciliation. It involves three steps ---- sharing appreciation, expressing  37 , and expressing hurt and difficulties.

In the first step, we share appreciation. We acknowledge the  38  qualities of the other person. The second step -- expressing regret, is to   39      with the other person our regrets for the things we have done or said that might have caused him or her  40 . This requires humility (謙遜), and the   41  to let go of our own pride. In the third step, we    42  our own hurt with mindful and loving  43   without blaming or criticizing. We speak in such a way that the other person can listen and  44  our words. If we  45  the other person, his heart will  46  and he will not be able to hear us. We ask the other person to help us to understand  47  he has spoken and acted as he has , causing us so much pain. Perhaps, later, he can share his feelings  48  we can understand him more deeply. If a strong  49   arises in us while we are expressing our suffering,  we should simply  50  and come back to our breathing until the emotion becomes   51 . The other person can  52  us by following his breathing until we are ready to continue. We can enjoy practicing "Beginning Anew" with our partner, our family, or our friends  53 . By doing this, we will    54   misunderstandings from accumulating. Rather, we will take care of them as they arise,   55  we take care of our children.

36. A. method       B. practice             C. example           D. experience

37. A. concern              B. belief               C. regret              D. sympathy

38. A. positive       B. poor               C. confident           D. selfish

39. A. chat                 B. compare          C. debate            D. share

40. A. pain          B. anxiety              C. confusion         D. loss

41. A. willingness      B. kindness            C. happiness         D. weakness

42. A. charge               B. argue              C. express           D. combine

43. A. speech               B. letter                C. story             D. question

44. A. choose               B. accept              C, spread            D. change

45. A. trust          B. praise              C. envy               D. blame

46. A. open         B. close               C. beat              D. melt

47. A. when                B. how                     C. what             D. why

48. A. so that               B. even though         C. as though          D. in case

49. A. emotion        B. responsibility          C. value             D. interest

50. A. continue      B. stop               C. leave             D. repeat

51. A. quieter               B. warmer           C. deeper            D. stronger

52. A. forget         B. support            C. hate              D. remember

53. A. quickly         B. carefully             C. regularly            D. willingly

54. A. prevent          B. protect              C. separate            D. forbid

55. A. for                    B. so                                                                                          C. like                D. if

– You look so upset, Jane. _____?

   -- I have been told my father has got skin cancer.

   A. What’s for                                                   B. What’s up                                          C. So what                D. How’s up

Hurry up!  The train ______. You know it______ at 8:30 am.

      A. leaves; leaves          B. is leaving; is leaving                                    C. leaves; is leaving     D. is leaving; leaves

________ a precious diamond necklace for his wife, Martin could hardly afford a tie for himself.

      A. Having bought  B. Buying                                                                                  C. Being bought            D. To buy

_____ I say Clancy is a smart boy, he still needs to work hard to achieve his goal.

　 A. Then　　　　　　　　　 B. When　　　　　　　　 C. While 　　　　　　　　　 D. As

She ___ volleyball regularly for many years when she was young.

A. was playing 　　　　　　　　 B. played　　　　　　　　　

C. has played 　　　　　　　　 D. had played

I really appreciate ____ to help me with my maths, but I’m afraid that I have no time this week.

A. you to offer 　　　　　　　　 B. it you offer　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

C. your offering 　　　　　 D. this you are offering

_____ all my teachers, Mr. Moore is the one who impresses me most.

　　 A. At　　　　　　　　 B. On　　　　　　　　 C. To　　　　　 D. Of

Unfortunately, ____ stone hit him on ______ head and he got injured.

      A. the; a                                                         B. a; 不填                                                     C. a; the                     D. the ; the