Learning to Accept
I learned how to accept life as it is from my father. 36 , he did not teach me acceptance when he was strong and healthy, but rather when he was 37 and ill.
My father was 38 a strong man who loved being active, but a terrible illness 39 all that away. Now he can no longer walk, and he must sit quietly in a chair all day. Even talking is 40 . One night, I went to visit him with my sisters. We started 41 about life, and I told them about one of my 42 . I said that we must very often give things up 43 we grow—our youth, our beauty, our friends—but it always 44 that after we give something up, we gain something new in its place. Then suddenly my father 45 up. He said, “But, Peter, I gave up 46 ! What did I gain?” I thought and thought, but I could not think of anything to say. 47 , he answered his own question: “I 48 the love of my family.” I looked at my sisters and saw tears in their eyes, along with hope and thankfulness.
I was also 49 by his words. After that, when I began to feel irritated (恼怒的) at someone, I 50 remember his words and become 51 . If he could replace his great pain with a feeling of love for others, then I should be 52 to give up my small irritations. In this 53 , I learned the power of acceptance from my father.
Sometimes I 54 what other things I could have learned from him if I had listened more carefully when I was a boy. For now, though, I am grateful for this one 55 .
36. A. Afterwards B. Therefore C. However D. Meanwhile
37. A. tired B. weak C. poor D. slow
38. A. already B. still C. only D. once
39. A. took B. threw C. sent D. put
40. A. impossible B. difficult C. stressful D. hopeless
41. A. worrying B. caring C. talking D. asking
42. A. decisions B. experiences C. ambitions D. beliefs
43. A. as B. since C. before D. till
44. A. suggests B. promises C. seems D. requires
45. A. spoke B. turned C. summed D. opened
46. A. something B. anything C. nothing D. everything
47. A. Surprisingly B. Immediately C. Naturally D. Certainly
48. A. had B. accepted C. gained D. enjoyed
49. A. touched B. astonished C. attracted D. warned
50. A. should B. could C. would D. might
51. A. quiet B. calm C. relaxed D. happy
52. A. ready B. likely C. free D. able
53. A. case B. form C. method D. way
54. A. doubt B. wonder C. know D. guess
55. A. award B. gift C. lesson D. word
