Aftertheirbusinesstrip，JohnandMaryreturned，eagertoseetheirlovelychildren．Astheydroveintotheirhometownfeelinggladtobeback，theynoticed l6，andtheywentofftheirusualroutetoseewhatitwas.Theyfounda l7inflames．Marysaid，“Oh，well，itisn’tourfire，let’sgohome．’’

ButJohn18closerandscreamed，“ThathomebelongstoFredJoneswhoworksattheplant．Hewouldn’tbe l9 workvet．Maybethereissomethingwecoulddo．”“Ithasnothingtodowithus”Mary 20．

ButJohndroveupandstoppedandtheywerebothhorror-strickentoseethewholehousein21 ．Awomanonthelawnwasscreaming，“Thechildren!Getthechildren!’’John 22 herbytheshouldersaying．“Getaholdofyourselfandtelluswherethechildrenare!”“Inthe23，”criedthewoman，“downthehallandtotheleft．”

InspiteofMary’sdisagreementJohn 24 forthebasementwhichwasfullofsmokeand 25hot．Hefoundthedoorandtwochildren. 26heleft，hecouldhearsomemoresobbing．He27thetwobadlyfrightenedchildreninto28armsandstartedbackaskinghowmanymorechildrenweredownthere．Theytoldhim29moreandMarygraspedhisarmandscreamed"John!Don'tgoback!It's 30 !Thathousewillfalldownanysecond．’’

31herailintothesmoke-filledhallwayandatlasthefoundbothchildren．Asheclimbedupthe 32 stairsthethoughtwentthroughhismindthattherewassomethingstrangely 33 aboutthelittlebodiesnexttohim，andatlastwhentheycameoutintothe34andfreshairhefoundthathehadjust 35 hisownchildren．

Thebaby-sitterhadleftthematthishomewhileshedidsomeshopping.

16．A．direction B．mistake C．danger D．smoke

17．A．home B．plant C．store D．kitchen

18．A．ran B．walked C．drove D．rode

19．A．at B．off C．to D．on

20．A．whispered B．nodded C．disagreed D．required

21．A．ruins B．pieces C．flames D．silence

22．A．pushed B．seized C．greeted D．stopped

23．A．basement B．department C．house D．hall

24．A．went B．reached C．asked D．rushed

25．A．heavily B．slightly C．partly D．ter