请阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从36—55各题所给的四个选项(A、B、C、D) 中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将选项的标号涂黑。

I was on a bus one March evening. The driver didn’t ___36___ to start the bus soon because it was not yet ___37___. A middle-aged woman got on. Tired and sad, she told her story ___38___, not to anyone in particular. On her way to the station, half of her ___39___ was stolen. The other half was hidden under her blouse, so she ___40___ still had some left. A few minutes later, she stopped crying, but still looked ___41___.

When all the seats were taken, the driver started the engine. The conductor began to collect fares (车费). When she came to an old man in worn-out clothes, he ___42___ that he had spent all his money when he had accidentally got on a wrong bus and now he was trying to go home. On hearing this, she ordered the old man to ___43___ the bus. The old man was almost in tears as he ___44___ her to let him take the bus home. The driver took the conductor’s side and repeated the conductor’s ___45___.

The woman was watching the incident. ___46___ the driver and the conductor raised their voices at the old man, she interfered (干预).

“Stop ___47___ him! Can’t you see he’s only trying to get home?”

“He doesn’t have any money! ” the driver ___48___.

“Well, that’s no ___49___ to throw him off the bus,” she insisted.

Then she reached inside her blouse, took out her ___50___ money, and handed it to the conductor. “Here’s his fare and mine. Just stop giving him a ___51___ time.”

All heads turned to the woman. “It’s only money,” she shrugged.

She rode the rest of the way home ___52___ a happy smile, with the money she’d lost earlier ___53___.

On the road of life, the help of strangers can ___54___ our loads and lift our spirits. How much sweeter the ___55___ will be when we make it a little smoother for others!

36. A. try B. care
C. decide D. intend

37. A. empty B. full
C. crowded D. ready

38. A. tearfully B. seriously
C. carefully D. calmly

39. A. fare B. possession
C. money D. wealth

40. A. strangely B. happily
C. secretly D. fortunately

41. A. unsatisfied B. weak
C. unhappy D. excited

42. A. explained B. declared
C. admitted D. found

43. A. get off B. start
C. get on D. stop

44. A. begged B. scolded
C. praised D. thanked

45. A. request B. action
C. suggestion D. command

46. A. Unless B. Although
C. Until D. When

47. A. attacking B. bothering
C. blaming D. wronging

48. A. warned B. whispered
C. shouted D. repeated

49. A. problem B. need
C. matter D. reason

50. A. spending B. collected
C. remaining D. borrowed

51. A. busy B. cold
C. hard D. fearful

52. A. giving B. wearing
C. taking D. forcing

53. A. forgotten B. used
C. earned D. returned

54. A. move B. increase
C. lighten D. carry

55. A. world B. journey
C. smile D. friendship