Five months after my husband Steve died, I woke up one morning to the maddening sound of a leaking faucet (水龙头). I knew it needed repairs badly, but it 1 me so much just to think of it.
All our 2 life, I was the “artist,” bringing to our house much imagination. Steve was the “ 3 “ one. He had a real gift for handling chores (家务活), 4 me from unpleasant 5 jobs.
But how could such a good man have his life cut short so suddenly! I had been so sad and angry that I completely 6 the house. That leaky faucet somehow awakened me to the fact that I now had to 7 the challenge of getting things fixed.
I got a workman named Ahmed. Entering the house, he stopped before a picture of Steve and me. “Doesn’t your husband 8 this kind of work?” he asked. “It’s not hard.”
“He died months ago. When he was alive, he did all the repair jobs 9 ,” I said quietly. Ahmed looked at me 10 , but didn’t reply. He fixed the faucet, adjusted the dishwasher door, and replaced a showerhead. Apparently he was 11 as Steve had been.
He did a(n) 12 job. I asked him to name his fee. “No 13 , Ma’am,” he said. “My father died early, and the neighbors helped my family through. “
By fixing a faucet, Ahmed mended my soul. Although I would sure carry the pain of 14 with me along, Ahmed reminded me of the abundant 15 in the world.
1. A. hurt B. puzzled C. cost D. disappointed
2. A. separate B. shared C. spiritual D. social
3. A. active B. boring C. careless D. practical
4. A. attracting B. sheltering C. driving D. prohibiting
5. A. repair B. sewing C. cleaning D. cooking
6. A. ignored B. hated C. cleaned D. missed
7. A. come up with B. face up to C. look forward to D. step away from
8. A. begin B. check C. like D. find
9. A. gratefully B. firmly C. bravely D. wonderfully
10. A. strangely B. innocently C. painfully D. sympathetically
11. A. pleasant B. awkward C. gifted D. normal
12. A. terrible B. excellent C. important D. dangerous
13. A. benefit B. price C. cost D. charge
14. A. loss B. failure C. fear D. regret
15. A. friendship B. devotion C. kindness D. justice
