I was eleven years old standing outside in just my underwear while I watched the house that I grew up in rapidly ___21___to the ground． A few minutes earlier I had been___22___asleep in my nice， warm bed when a___23___woke me up． My Nana's bedroom was just next to mine and my brother's． A fire had ___24___there and awakened her．___25___hearing her， my older brother began to take action． The house， however， was over 50 years old and made of ___26___．Before we could do anything the fire ___27___it．
I stood there quaking with fear___28___the fire destroyed my books， clothes， and toys． I watched ___29___while my Mom cried and my Dad swore． I wondered what was going to happen to us____30____we had lost all of our things． As I looked around， though， I ____31____something for the first time： What matters aren't____32____． I saw my older brother running across the swinging （摇摆的）____33____by our house to get help． I saw my oldest brother who was on ____34____from an earlier accident standing____35____on one leg． I saw my Nana and Dad gathering together and my Mom____36____our little dog in her arms． Everything that was ____37____had survived the fire． Our lives would continue． And that was all that mattered．
I still think of that fire in the night that helped me to learn the____38____we share is far more important than____39____things． Live your life then for the things that matter， not for the things you own． Love others． Help everyone． Let the ____40____inside of you make this world a warmer place． Let your soul shine brightly．
21. A. pull B. fall C. bum D. throw
22. A. sound B. wide C. light D. heavy
23. A. dream B. neighbor C. scream D. thunder
24. A. broke in B. broke out C. broke up D. broke down
25. A. Without B. As C. Since D. Upon
26. A. mud B. steel C. wood D. curtain
27. A. consumed B. claimed C. spread D. injured
28. A. though B. unless C. until D. while
29. A. hopefully B. excitedly C. helplessly D. appropriately
30. A. as though B. as long as C. even if D. now that
31. A. dismissed B. recognized C. desired D. approached
32. A. families B. surroundings C. things D. people
33. A. bridge B. pole C. fence D. rope
34. A. guard B. walking﹣sticks C. feet D. hand
35. A. freely B. unsteadily C. casually D. purposely
36. A. holding B. quitting C. lifting D. beating
37. A. alive B. native C. expensive D. necessary
38. A. experience B. bitter C. wealth D. love
39. A. physical B. mental C. social D. psychological
40. A. heart B. fire C. spirits D. feelings
【答案】21. C 22. A 23. C 24. B 25. D 26. C 27. A 28. D 29. C 30. D 31. B 32. C 33. A 34. B 35. B 36. A 37. D 38. D 39. A 40. B
