阅读理解
A small ,white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree and it has been there for
the past ten y
ears or so.
It all began because my husband Justin hated Christmas-oh, not the true meaning of Christmas.
Overspending was one thing, but compared to the difficult experience of choosing gifts-running around
at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and a pair of gloves for Grandma…,spending money is
nothing. I felt too tired to think of any special gifts.
Knowing Justin felt the same way, I decided one year not to buy the usual shirts, sweaters, ties
and so on. I reached for something special just for Justin. The inspiration came in an unusual way.
Our son Kevin, who was 12 that year, was wrestling (摔跤)at the junior level at the school he
attended; and shortly before Christmas, there was a match against a team sponsored (赞助) by an
inner-city church.These youngsters, dressed in such worn-out shoes that shoe strings seemed to be
the only thing holding them together, while our boys were in their blue and gold uniforms and new
wrestling shoes.
As the match began, I was shocked to see that the other team were wrestling without wearing
helmets (头盔) to protect their ears. Well, our boys ended up defeating them. We took every weight
class.
Justin, seated beside me, shook his head sadly, "I wish just one of them could have won," he said.
"They have a lot potential (潜力) , but losing like this could take the heart out of them." Justin loved
kids-all kids, and he knew them, having coached little league football and baseball. That's when the
idea for his present came. That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought different
kinds of wrestling helmets and shoes. I sent them to inner-city church without leaving my name.
On Christmas Eve, I placed the envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Justin what I had done
and that was his gift from me. His smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year and since
then the envelope has become the highlight of our Christmas.
1. Justin hated Christmas because _____.
A. he didn't enjoy receiving gifts
B. he had a hard time choosing gifts
C. he spent too much money buying gifts
D. he disliked putting gifts under the Christmas tree
2. We know from the passage that the team sponsored by inner-city church_____.
A. were well dressed
B. paid no attention to safety
C. feared Kevin's team
D. couldn't afford a helmet
3. How did Justin feel about the team's failure ?
A. Upset
B. Angry
C. Hopeless
D. Shameful
4. Why did the writer send gifts to the inner-city church without leaving her name ?
A. To avoid being thanked
B. To play a joke on Justin
C. To give Justin a surprise
D. To protect her private
information
5. Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?
A. The Church Gift
B. A Special Note
C. The White Envelope
D. A Christmas Card
