Angels My friend Heather mentioned that she had never seen an Angel. Then I remembered the 36 I had with my sister Sandra earlier this week. This will be Sandra’s first Christmas without her husband. This summer he died in her arms. On Thursday, she was in the store 37 ____ for an ideal card for her two sons and daughter. Time passed by quickly as she 38 the many choices. She wanted a card that sent something special to each of them, 39 she knew they would have a(n) 40 place in their heart this holiday season. Finally! She found the one that expressed the 41 feeling. The words expressed the feelings that she wished to share. However, a sharp pain pierced(穿透) her heart when she realized that the card was 42 “mom and dad.” She stood there, 43 it close for a long time, unable to move from the 44 . Tears began to run down her cheeks. “Is there something I can do for you?” a 45 voice asked. She 46 to face a stranger, a woman, who was looking at her with 47 and concern. “Uh…oh...OH!” Sandra responded, “I can’t give this card to my children because…because my husband died and this is the 48 card.” Hearing this, the stranger’s face softened with sympathy(同情) and love. She reached out and 49 my sister into her arms, giving her unspoken permission to cry in the protection of her embrace(拥抱). She 50 held my sister until her calmness 51 . “Thank you for listening to me cry on,” was what my sister said when all was better. “You are welcome, and I am so sorry for your 52 ,” the stranger answered and said goodbye to her. During her telling of this event I was feeling 53 that I hadn’t been there. My sister needed me and a stranger had to do my 54 .  “You know,” she went on, “a friend suggested that it was like meeting with an Angel.” My 55 disappeared in an instant. My sister required an Angel, and I think that is exactly what she got. 36. A. conversation B. difficulty C. accident D. quarrel 37. A. paying B. caring C. calling D. looking 38. A. left B. offered C. read D. discovered 39. A. although B. as C. when D. if 40. A. other B. empty C. safe D. different 41. A. sad B. strange C. amazing D. perfect 42. A. for B. to C. from D. by 43. A. seizing B. holding C. keeping D. grasping 44. A. spot B. stair C. area D. home 45. A. firm B. proud C. cold D. soft 46. A. walked B. turned C. decided D. woke 47. A. question B. shock C. regret D. upset 48. A. harmful B. special C. wrong D. right 49. A. pulled B. caught C. sent D. protected 50. A. quietly B. tightly C. strongly D. seriously 51. A. disappeared B. went C. arrived D. returned 52. A. failure B. idea C. loss D. death 53. A. shocked B. angry C. happy D. hopeless 54. A. task B. time C. favor D. job 55 A. responsibility B. sympathy C. guilt D. hurt