Years ago， there was a very wealthy man who， with his devoted young son， shared a passion for art collecting. Together， they traveled around the world， adding only 1 art treasures to their collection.

One year， as winter approached， 2 engulfed （吞沒） the nation， and the young man left to 3 his country. After only a few short weeks， his father received a telegram. His beloved son was 4 in action. The art collector was 5 waiting for more news， 6 he would never see his son again. Within days， his fears were 7 . The young man had died while rushing a fellow soldier to a doctor.

Upset and lonely， the old man faced the coming Christmas holidays with 8 . On Christmas morning， a knock on the door 9 the sad old man. As he opened the door， he was greeted by a 10 with a large package in his hands.

He introduced himself to the old man by saying， “I was a 11 of your son. I was the one he was 12 when he died. May I come in for a few moments？ I have something to show you.”

As the two began to 13 ， the soldier told of how the mans son had told everyone of his， not to mention his fathers， 14 of fine art. “I am no 15 ，”said the soldier， “but I want to give you this.”

As the old man unwrapped the package， he saw a portrait of his son. Though the world would 16 consider it the work of a genius， the painting featured the young mans 17 in striking detail.

Overcome with emotion， the man 18 the soldier. After the soldier had left， the old man put the painting above the fireplace， pushing aside thousands of dollars worth of art. His task 19 ， the old man sat in his chair and spent Christmas gazing at the 20 he had been given.

1. A. latest B. richest C. finest D. cheapest

2. A. flood B. fire C. storm D. war

3. A. save B. help C. serve D. build

4. A. missing B. acting C. fighting D. dying

5. A. calmly B. anxiously C. quietly D. secretly

6. A. fearing B. doubting C. wondering D. expecting

7. A. disappeared B. doubled C. removed D. confirmed

8. A. hope B. care C. sadness D. eagerness

9. A. awakened B. troubled C. interested D. comforted

10. A. farmer B. soldier C. painter D. seller

11. A. guard B. leader C. partner D. friend

12. A. rescuing B. carrying C. guarding D. hiding

13. A. argue B. move C. talk D. sit

14. A. description B. love C. sense D. understanding

15. A. artist B. businessman C. hero D. reporter

16. A. sometimes B. never C. often D. still

17. A. experience B. hope C. body D. face

18. A. thanked B. questioned C. welcomed D. treated

19. A. forgotten B. faced C. completed D. set

20. A. fireplace B. gift C. souvenir D. package