Beforeyouputonafrown(皺眉)，makeabsolutelysuretherearenosm...

來源：國語幫 1.43W

問題詳情：

Before you put on a frown (皺眉)，make absolutely sure there are no smiles available.

—Jim Beggs

The last time my eighty-three-year-old mother visited, I asked how she was feeling. It’s a valid question. She has, ___16___, had two knee replacements, a metal rod placed in her femur, and arthritis (關節) is settling into her bones so ___17___ she can no longer roll the dough (生麪糰) to make her famous cinnamon crisps. She moves ___18___ and with precision (準確) to avoid another ___19___.

But she hasn’t ___20___ moving. In fact, she and my father attended their first Jimmy Buffet concert this summer, where they sat on the lawn. Here’s the thing about my parents: They ___21___ say no to an invitation or a new ___22___. If they can make it work, they’re willing to ___23___ just about anything. When we need them to come stay with the kids, we have to get on their ___24___ far in advance.

They ___25___ us daily.

When asked how she was feeling, my mother responded without an ounce (盎司) of ___26___: “Well, almost everything hurts every day. Some days are better than others. But you know what I’ve discovered? It doesn’t ___27___ a bit to smile. So that’s what I’ve decided to do...___28___ at everyone I see. I may not be able to do all the things I used to do, but I can at least ___29___ someone’s day.”

It is such simple wisdom, and such a profound shift.

Moving the ___30___ from what we don’t have, from what we’ve lost, from how we’ve been burdened to what we can ___31___ others is the difference between living in the dark and giving off ___32___. And illumination (光亮), of course, makes traveling so much easier for us and for others.

In chaos theory (混沌理論), the butterfly effect maintains that the ___33___ breeze from a butterfly’s wing can ___34___ the path of a hurricane halfway across the world.

Imagine, then, the possibilities that exist ___35___ a single smile.

16. A. after all B. on average C. for sure D. at first

17. A. wisely B. perfectly C. thoroughly D. patiently

18. A. curiously B. slowly C. cruelly D. freely

19. A. rest B. fall C. hurry D. cure

20. A. stopped B. tolerated C. regretted D. risked

21. A. sincerely B. constantly C. scarcely D. reluctantly

22. A. destination B. investment C. trust D. adventure

23. A. recover B. repeat C. try D. refuse

24. A. programs B. routines C. schedules D. procedures

25. A. tolerate B. inspire C. praise D. reward

26. A. self-pity B. self-trust C. self-blame D. self-pride