One cold night, I was growing sick of my life in San Francisco．There I was walking home around one o clock m the morning after a   36  practice at the theatre With he opening night only a week away, I was still learning my lines by heart. I was having   37 handling my part-time job at the bank in the daytime and my acting at night at the same time. As I walked, I thought seriously about  38 both acting and San Francisco. I had  39 too much of city life.
As I walked down the  40 streets under the tall buildings, I felt very small and cold, so I began  41 both to keep warm and to keep away from any possible robbers. Very few people were still out  42 a few homeless people under blankets.
About a block from my  43 , I heard a sound behind me. I   44  quickly, half expecting to see someone with a knife or a gun. The street was empty. All I saw was a shining streetlight. Still, the noise had made me  45 so I started to run faster. Not until I reached my apartment building and unlocked the door did I   46  what the noise had been. It had been my wallet  47 to the sidewalk.
Suddenly I wasn’t cold or tired anymore. I ran out of the door and back to where I’d heard the noise. Although I searched the sidewalk   48 for 15 minutes, my wallet was   49 to be found.
Just as I was about to quit the  50 , I heard the garbage truck stop to the sidewalk next to  51 .when a voice came from the inside, “Alisa Camcho?” I thought I was dreaming. How could this man know my name? The door opened and out jumped a small blonde man with an  52 look in his eyes. “Is this  53  you’re looking for?” He asked, holding up something like a wallet.
It was already 3 a.m. by the time I got into bed. I couldn’t get much sleep, but I had got my wallet back. I also had got back some  54 of city life. I realized the city couldn’t be a bad place  55 people were willing to help each other.

小題1:	A．comfortable B．serious C．tiresome D．fortunate

小題2:	A．comfort '' B．desire C．pain D．trouble

小題3:	A．setting up B．giving up C．holding up D．picking up

小題4:	A．expected B．changed C．controlled D．possessed

小題5:	A．deserted B．crowded C．blank D．narrow

小題6:	A．running B．jumping C．moving D．marching

小題7:	A．towards B．except C．including D．between

小題8:	A．bank B．theatre C．a(chǎn)partment D．office

小題9:	A．stood B．walked C．turned D．left

小題10:

A．satisfied B．confused C．frightened D．a(chǎn)nnoyed

小題11:

A．turn out B．figure out C．give out D．pull out

小題12:

A．belonging B．a(chǎn)dding C．sticking D．falling

小題13:

A．gratefully B．a(chǎn)nxiously C．skilfully D．delightedly

小題14:

A．nowhere B．a(chǎn)nywhere C．everywhere D．somewhere

小題15:

A．instruction B．training C．search D．a(chǎn)cting

小題16:

A．it B．him C．someone D．me

小題17:

A．a(chǎn)mused B．unpleasant C．uneasy D．embarrassed

小題18:

A．what B．who C．whichever D．whomever

小題19:

A．production B．judgment C．friendship D．a(chǎn)ppreciation

小題20:

A．a(chǎn)s soon as B．a(chǎn)s long as C．a(chǎn)s far as D．a(chǎn)s well as

When middle-aged Alex quit his job and made up his mind to become a self-employed writer, no one could tell for sure whether he would succeed or not．He found a cold storage room in a building, set up a used typewriter and settled down to work．
After a year or so, however, Alex began to doubt himself．He found it was difficult to earn his living by selling what he wrote．But Alex determined to put his dream to the test—even though it meant living with uncertainty and fear of failure．This is the shadowland （虛幻世界） of hope, and anyone with a dream must learn to live there．
One day Alex got a call, "We need an assistant, and we're paying $ 6,000 a year．" $ 6,000 was real money in 1960．It would enable Alex to get a nice apartment, a used car and more．Besides, he could write in his spare time．As the dollars were dancing in Alex's head, something cleared his senses．He had dreamed of being a writer ?full time．"Thanks, but no," Alex said firmly and swiftly, "I'm going to stick it out and write．"
After Alex got off the phone, he pulled out everything he had: two cans of vegetables and 18 cents．Alex put the cans and cents into a paper bag, saying to himself," There's everything you've made of yourself so far．I'm not sure I ever felt so low．"
Finally his work was published in 1970．Instantly he had the kind of fame and success that few writers ever experience．The shadows had turned into focus of attention．
Then one day, Alex found a box filled with things he had owned years before．Inside was a paper bag with two cans and 18 cents．Suddenly he pictured himself working in that cold storage room．It reminds Alex, and anyone with a dream, of the courage and persistence （堅(jiān)毅） it takes to stay the course （持續(xù)到底） in the shadowland．
小題1:Why did Alex give up his job?

A．Because he didn't like the working conditions．

B．Because he couldn't earn enough to make a living．

C．Because he wanted to be a full-time writer．

D．Because he felt he had no potential in his job．

小題2:What did Alex express when he answered the call?

A．He refused the job offer．

B．He was willing to give them a hand．

C．He expected them to pay him more money．

D．He would write in his spare time．

小題3:What kind of person is Alex?

A．Determined．	B．Modest．
C．Shy．	D．Brave．

小題4:Which of the following can summarize the passage best?

A．Look before you leap．

B．Two heads are better, than one．

C．Hold on to your dream, and it will come true．

D．A bird in hand is worth two in the bush．

James sat outside the office waiting for the interview. He felt so ___36___  that he didn’t know what to do with ___37___.The person who had gone in ___38___ him had been there for nearly an hour. And she looked so confident when she went in. ___39__ James. He felt __40___ that she had already got the ___41___. The problem was that he wanted this job ___42__. It meant ___43___ to him. He had ___44___ it such a lot before the day of the interview. He had imagined himself ___45___ brilliantly at the interview and __46___ the job immediately. But now here he was feeling ___47___ .He couldn’t ___48___ all those things he had  ___49___ to say. At that moment, he almost decided to get up and ___50___.But no — he had to do this. He had spent so much time considering it that he couldn’t ___51__ like that. His hands were hot and sticky and his mouth felt dry. At last the door of the office opened. The woman who had gone in an hour earlier came out looking very ___52___ with herself. She smiled sympathetically at James. At that moment James ___53___ her . The managing director then appeared at the office door. “Would you like to come in now, Mr. Davis? I’m sorry to have kept you waiting.” James suddenly ___54___ that he had gone home after all. He got up, legs  ___55____ and forehead sweating and wondered whether he looked as terrified as he felt.

小題1: A．healthy B．nervous C．careless D．confident

小題2: A．the director B．the woman C．himself D．the situation

小題3: A．by B．with C．before D．a(chǎn)fter

小題4: A．Not like B．So did C．Do as D．Do like

小題5: A．doubtful B．sure C．a(chǎn)ngry D．a(chǎn)stonishing

小題6: A．reward B．first C．prize D．job

小題7: A．hopelessly B．naturally C．easily D．so much

小題8: A．everything B．happiness C．difficulty D．nothing

小題9: A．dreamed of B．learned of C．thought about D．talked about

小題10: A．explaining B．performing C．a(chǎn)nswering D．performed

小題11: A．offered B．a(chǎn)sked for C．being offered D．being asked for

小題12: A．crazy B．excited C．probable D．terrible

小題13: A．depend on B．a(chǎn)fford C．believe in D．remember

小題14: A．kept B．been taught C．planned D．been supplied

小題15: A．leave B．go in C．prepare D．practise

小題16: A．take back B．put off C．give up D．put down

小題17: A．ugly B．pleased C．sad D．pretty

小題18: A．noticed B．loved C．missed D．hated

小題19: A．thought B．hoped C．wished D．regretted

小題20: A．shaking B．bending C．walking D．stopping

According to Andrew, it never would have happened if he had not had a flat tire on Highway 10 last night at about 7:30. He was on his way to attend a three-day sales meeting when he had the flat. tyre. Unfortunately, he did not have a spare, so he pushed the car off the road, locked it up, and managed to thumb a ride back to Pine Grove. It was after eleven o'clock when he finally got home, and it was then that his real problems started.
When Andrew left home at about 5:30, he had told his wife not to expect him back until Thursday or Friday. Knowing that his wife was nervous about staying in the house alone at night, Andrew took the precaution of checking all the windows in the house to be sure they were locked, so that he could report to his wife that the house was secure. He convinced his wife that the house was burglar-proof, and that she would be perfectly safe, providing she bolted （閂上）the front door as soon as he drove away.
Andrew's only thought as he made his way in the dark to his front door was how surprised his wife was going to be to see him, since he was not supposed to be back until Thursday or Friday. He had forgotten about the bolt on the front door. When he turned his key in the lock and the door wouldn't budge, he remembered the bolt. And he remembered that he had carefully locked all of the windows.
Although Andrew didn't know it at the time, a next-door neighbor had seen him approaching the house and had watched him go up the steps to the front door. In the dark, it was impossible for the neighbor to recognize Andrew, and, besides, the neighbor knew that Andrew had gone out-of-town for a three-day meeting. As a matter of fact, Andrew had asked the neighbor to keep an eye on the house while he was gone.
Finding that he couldn't get in, Andrew began pounding（砰砰地敲） on the front door to get his wife to open the door. According to Andrew, however, his wife is a very sound sleeper, and he knew it was going to be hard to wake her up. In the meantime, because of all the noise he had been making, the neighbor was convinced that somebody was trying to break into the house; so she called the police.
When we talked to Andrew at the country jail this morning, he said that he still didn't understand how the police managed to circle the house without his seeing them. He stated that he had decided the only way to get in was to break one of the dining room windows, and that he was about, to hurl his briefcase into the window to break it when two of the officers grabbed him from behind.
Andrew could not make the officers believe that he lived there; so they took him off to jail. Apparently, he did succeed in convincing them that they ought to wake up the woman in the house to check his story. But there was no answer when they knocked at the door. He tried to explain to them that his wife was a very sound sleeper, but they concluded there was nobody in the house.
小題1:As Andrew had a flat tyre on the way, he          .

A．had to take another car to attend the meeting

B．rode on a bike to attend the meating

C．a(chǎn)sked for a lift to go back home

D．borrowed a car to go back home

小題2:When Andrew was approaching the house        .

A．he was sure he would pleasently surprise his wife

B．he was deep in thought

C．he was sure that his neighbor would help him

D．he was worried about how to wake his wife up

小題3:The  underlined word “budge” in Paragraph 3 probably means           .

A．move slightly

B．lock tightly

C．knock lightly

D．close tightly

小題4:Why did the police officers take Andrew off to jail?

A．It was too late for them to contact Andrew’s wife.

B．Andrew did not explain clearly why he broke into the house.

C．They thought it unnecessary to check Andrew’s story.

D．they concluded that Andrew’s story was a complete invention.

For a small town, Mantattan, Kansas has some big surprises. And one of them is the Holiday Inn Hotel, with rooms built around a swimming pool and a friendly atmosphere.
The Holiday Inn is where Manhattan people often go for a special party, or a night out. A lot of them choose to eat in the bright?lit restaurant near the pool, And many of them will be served by Ellen Logan, who has worked as a waitress here for more than two years.
Ellen, like most of the waitresses, is also a student. She comes from Nebraska, but she’s planning one day to be a veterinary surgeon, and to care for small animals. But in order to support herself at college, she works twenty hours a week at the Holiday Inn.
Ellen soon learned what every waitress finds out. Your best friend has a good pair of shoes. She paid forty?five dollars for hers, much more than she would usually spend. She’s discovered something else too. You don’t have to know much about food to be a good waitress, but you do have to know a lot about people.
“A lot of business people always stay here when they come to Manhattan”, she explains. “They like you to recognize them and remember their favorite dishes. But some couples come for a night out together. They just want to be left alone. Then there are people who can’t make up their minds. They look down the menu and say,‘What do you suggest?’So I ask them how hungry they are. If they say,‘Not very.’I suggest the salad bar, with soup, salad, bread, and a fruit plate. But if they say they’re very hungry, I suggest a Kansas Strip Steak, with potatoes or rice. You get salad and bread as well. It’s very nice. Real good value”.
Ellen may get tired sometimes, but at least she’s learning too much about people. She’s learning too much about people. She’ll probably make a good animal doctor, but if she finds she doesn’t like it after all, she can become a psychiatrist(心理醫(yī)生)instead.
小題1:What does the underlined phrase “a veterinary surgeon” mean?

A．An animal doctor

B．A hotel manager

C．A food expert

D．A restaurant waitress

小題2:According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?

A．Businessmen like to be suggested what to eat.

B．Many couples often want you to recognize them.

C．Why people like to eat in the hotel is that it is full of a friendly atmosphere.

D．If you know a lot about people,you’ll be a good veterinary surgeon.

小題3:From the passage we can infer that       .

A．waitresses in the Holiday Inn are all students.

B．waitresses are required to buy a good pair of shoes before they go to work.

C．waitresses should be familiar with the food there.

D．it is more important for the waitresses to know much about people than food.

小題4:Choose the best title for the passage.

A．How to Deal with People	B．A Special Holiday Inn Hotel in Manhattan
C．American Holiday Inn	D．Ellen Logan at the Holiday Inn

Someone said that encouragement is simply reminding a person of the “shoulders” he’s standing on, the heritage he’s been given. That’s what happened    36   a young man, the son of a(n)   37   baseball player, was chosen by one of the minor league teams. Hard as he tried, his first season was    38   , and by midseason he expected to be removed    39  day. The coaches were     40   by his failure because he possessed all the characteristics of a superb（杰出的）athlete, but he seemed to have become    41   from his potential.
His    42   seemed darkest one day when he had already struck out his first time at bat. Then he stepped up to the batter’s box again and quickly ran up two strikes. The catcher called a     43   and ran for a conference to discuss strategies. While they were busy, the    44  , standing behind him, spoke casually to the boy.
Then play    45  , the next pitch was thrown and the young man knocked it out of the park. That was the turning    46  . From then on, he played the game with a new confidence and power that quickly    47   the attention of the parent team, and he was called   48   to the majors.
On the day he was leaving for the city, one of his coaches asked him what had caused such a turnaround. The young man replied it was the    49   remark the judge had    50   that day when his baseball career had seemed    51  .
“He told me I reminded him of all the times he had stood    52   my dad in the batter’s box,” the boy explained. “He said I was holding the bat just the way Dad had held it.    53  he told me, ‘I can see his genes in you; you have your father’s    54   .’ After that, whenever I swung the bat, I just    55   I was using Dad’s arms instead of my own.”

小題1:	A．a(chǎn)s B．since C．while D．when

小題2:	A．star B．a(chǎn)verage C．a(chǎn)mateur D．old

小題3:	A．embarrassing B．disappointing C．satisfying D．rewarding

小題4:	A．some B．a(chǎn) C．one D．a(chǎn)ny

小題5:	A．a(chǎn)mazed B．impressed C．puzzled D．a(chǎn)shamed

小題6:	A．separated B．different C．inconsistent D．divided

小題7:	A．hope B．future C．dream D．a(chǎn)mbition

小題8:	A．break B．rest C．pause D．stop

小題9:	A．catcher B．coach C．batter D．judge

小題10:

A．began B．lasted C．restarted D．moved

小題11:

A．part B．point C．place D．spot

小題12:

A．drew B．fixed C．focused D．took

小題13:

A．in B．for C．up D．out

小題14:

A．encouraging B．casual C．demanding D．wise

小題15:

A．said B．made C．given D．pointed

小題16:

A．fixed B．useless C．endless D．helpless

小題17:

A．on the right B．on the left C．before D．behind

小題18:

A．And B．So C．Thus D．Therefore

小題19:

A．strength B．a(chǎn)rms C．body D．talent

小題20:

A．supposed B．pretended C．imagined D．expected

The teacher who did the most to encourage me was, as it happened, my aunt. She was Myrtle C. Manigault, the wife of my mother’s brother Bill. She taught in second grade at all-black Summer School in Camden, New Jersey.
During my childhood and youth, Aunt Myrtle encouraged me to develop every aspect of my potential, without regard for what was considered practical or possible for black females. I liked to sing; she listened to my voice and pronounced it good. I couldn’t dance; she taught me the basic dancing steps. She took me to the theatre ---- not just children’s theatre but adult comedies and dramas—and her faith that I could appreciate adult plays was not disappointed.
My aunt also took down books from her extensive library and shared them with me. I had books at home, but they were all serious classics. Even as a child I had a strong liking for humor, and I’ll never forget the joy of discovering Don Marquis’s Archy & Mehitabel through her.
Most important, perhaps, Aunt Myrtle provided my first opportunity to write for publication. A writer herself for one of the black newspapers, she suggested my name to the editor as a “youth columnist”. My column, begun when I was fourteen, was supposed to cover teenage social activities—and it did—but it also gave me the freedom to write on many other subjects as well as the habit of gathering material, the discipline of meeting deadlines, and, after graduation from college six years later, a solid collection of published material that carried my name and was my passport to a series of writing jobs.
Today Aunt Myrtle is still an enthusiastic supporter of her “favourite niece”. Like a diamond, she has reflected a bright, multifaceted (多面的) image of possibilities to every pupil who has crossed her path.
小題1:Which of the following did Aunt Myrtle do to the author during her childhood and youth?

A．She lent her some serious classics.	B．She cultivated her taste for music.
C．She discovered her talent for dancing.	D．She introduced her to adult plays.

小題2:Aunt Myrtle recommended the author to a newspaper editor mainly to ______.

A．involve her in teenage social activities	B．give her a chance to collect material
C．develop her capabilities for writing	D．offer her a series of writing jobs

小題3:We can conclude from the passage that Aunt Myrtle was a teacher who ______.

A．gave pupils confidence in exploiting their potential

B．trained pupils to be diligent and well-disciplined

C．emphasized what was practical or possible for pupils.

D．helped pupils overcome difficulties in learning

On the first day of the sixth grade, I noticed one little girl called Amy on the school bus. “ Don’t  16  her,” warned Lauren, who sat beside me. “or they will make fun of you.”
Amy had many  17  differences － lots of reasons for other kids to make fun of her. Her eyes weren’t straight. Her glasses were an inch thick. And she had really uneven teeth.
Every day  18  we drove to and from school, kids would shout insults(侮辱) at Amy. “God，what a strange face! Stop  19  me!”“Mr. Rolland (the driver)! Amy took off her glasses, and now her eyes are frightening me.  20  her put them back on!” For a while I shouted my  21  of insults, just so I’d fit in.  22 , I didn’t want them to treat me the same way they treated Amy.
But while I was insulting her, my heart  23  for the girl. I could see that the insults were making her look uglier, because she was so  24  and alone. Then I wanted to  25  her. I just didn’t know how to stop my schoolmates － 26  the night of our class roller-skating party.
Our whole class was there,  27  Amy. Amy didn’t know how to skate, but I could see how much she wanted to have  28  like the rest of us. So I skated over to her and took her by the hand.  29  we began the journey together around the skating rink. She just smiled, and every once in a while she would laugh in excitement.
On the school bus the next morning, there was much  30  about Amy and me skating together. But  31  insulted her or me. And they didn’t do that for the rest of the year. I  32  heard from Amy again after the school year. But I’ve always  33  that I changed her life for the better.
She changed my  34 . After becoming her friend, I no longer tried to impress people by trying to  35  like them. I became myself.

小題1: A．take to B．a(chǎn)sk about C．talk to D．a(chǎn)ccount for

小題2: A．common B．spiritual C．social D．physical

小題3: A．a(chǎn)s B．unless C．a(chǎn)fter D．even if

小題4: A．dancing with B．looking at C．paying off D．sticking with

小題5: A．Make B．Notice C．Hear D．Watch

小題6: A．subject B．a(chǎn)greement C．view D．share

小題7: A．At all B．After all C．Still D．Therefore

小題8: A．beat B．lost C．a(chǎn)ched D．opened

小題9: A．unpleasant B．ordinary C．puzzled D．embarrassed

小題10: A．devote to B．deal with C．stand up for D．change for

小題11: A．until B．in C．before D．a(chǎn)fter

小題12: A．expect B．including C．together with D．a(chǎn)way from

小題13: A．love B．fun C．time D．freedom

小題14: A．Again B．Even C．Yet D．Then

小題15: A．information B．report C．news D．reference

小題16: A．somebody B．everybody C．a(chǎn)nybody D．nobody

小題17: A．sometimes B．never C．often D．once

小題18: A．hoped B．doubted C．intended D．reminded

小題19: A．life B．mind C．interest D．a(chǎn)im

小題20: A．think B．live C．a(chǎn)ct D．work

Last year, I lived in Chile for half a year. I lived with a Chilean family and had the responsibilities of any Chilean teenager. I had good days and bad days I didn’t understand.
Chuquicamata, my host community, is a mining camp. When I arrived there, I was scared. It was so different from what I was used to. There were lots of dogs on the streets, and there was no downtown, few smoothly paved streets, and little to do for entertainment. Rain was not seen very often, earthquakes and windstorms were frequent.
I had studied Spanish for two and a half years and was always one of the best students in my class. But in my first week in Chile I was only able to communicate and needed one person to whom I could explain my shock. I couldn’t speak the thoughts in my head and there were so many.
Most exchange students experience this like me. Culture shock presents itself in everything from increased aggression (敵對心理) towards the people to lack of appetite. I was required to overcome all difficulties.
As time passed, everything changed. I began to forget words in English and to dream in Spanish and love Chilean food. I got used to not depending on expensive things for fun. Fun in Chuquicamata was being with people. And I took math, physics, chemistry, biology, Spanish, art, and philosophy.
But the sacrifices were nothing compared to the gain. I learned how to accept and to succeed in another culture. I now have a deeper understanding of both myself and others.
小題1:The author came to Chile last year with the purpose of ________.

A．paying a visit to Chile as a tourist

B．experiencing Chilean life as a teacher

C．studying Chilean culture as a college student

D．studying knowledge as an exchange student

小題2:On arriving in Chile, why did the author feel frightened?

A．Because he did not know how to get along with the local people.

B．Because it was full of dangers like earthquakes and windstorms.

C．Because its living conditions were worse than what he was used to.

D．Because it was not convenient for him to shop there.

小題3: In the first week in Chile the author ________.

A．was not used to eating Chilean food

B．had some friends to have a chat with

C．couldn’t communicate with people

D．couldn’t express his thoughts in English

小題4: What did the author most probably think of his life in Chile?

A．Wonderful and worthwhile	B．Difficult but meaningful
C．Difficult and meaningless	D．Boring and disappointing

小題5:According to the passage, which of the following statements about Chile is TRUE?

A．its official language is Spanish and English.

B．It is a developing country without foreign students.

C．It seldom rains and natural disasters often happen.

D．Most Chileans are not friendly to foreigners.

This was an unforgettable and wonderful experience．It happened about three years ago and it has had a 26 effect on me．I would like to show respect here for the two men I do not know 27 but whose actions gave a new 28 to the words — kind and generous．
I was walking down a busy street on a cold, windy day in early 29 , A homeless man, probably about 60 and without wearing any shoes, was 30 for change on a street corner．
A BMW car 31 on the other side of the street and an executive（主管）who was perfectly dressed stepped out of the car．He was probably about 32 years old．He was wearing a blue business suit with a deep red silk tie．He walked33across the street and over to the homeless man．Without saying anything, he first gave him a lot of 34 and then he sat down and took off his leather gloves（手套）, beautiful black leather shoes and his black dress socks．Then he 35 them to the homeless man．The homeless man took them and stared with a/an 36 mouth．
As he drove off, I couldn’t 37 thinking that it was probably the first time he had 38 the pedal（ 踏板）of that top-brand BMW car with a 39 foot! I stood there and the looks of 40 appeared on my face and the homeless man’s．
Two men of about the same age 41 very different lives had met and the one who was42 in materials had offered 43 than his shoes．He had left this BMW car and 44 down from his high position．He lifted up the other man when he offered respect, 45 and real generosity．

小題1:	A．strong B．bad C．light D．slow

小題2:	A．officially B．Personally C．similarly D．generally

小題3:	A．benefit B．a(chǎn)ttitude C．meaning D．a(chǎn)ward

小題4:	A．spring B．summer C．a(chǎn)utumn D．winter

小題5:	A．searching B．making C．blaming D．begging

小題6:	A．called up B．broke up C．pulled up D．sped up

小題7:	A．40 B．50 C．60 D．70

小題8:	A．directly B．usually C．unwillingly D．fluently

小題9:A．money     B．water          C．sand          D．oil

小題10:

A．posted B．handed C．kicked D．threw

小題11:

A．closed B．full C．open D．empty

小題12:

A．stand B．delay C．forget D．help

小題13:

A．bended B．cut C．repaired D．pressed

小題14:

A．relaxed B．large C．bare D．single

小題15:

A．excitement B．a(chǎn)stonishment C．sadness D．pride

小題16:

A．but B．or C．a(chǎn)nd D．before

小題17:

A．successful B．careful C．useful D．helpful

小題18:

A．rather B．more C．other D．better

小題19:

A．broken B．fell C．stepped D．rolled

小題20:

A．surprise B．disappointment C．a(chǎn)nxiety D．kindness