完形填空（共10小题，计15分）通读下面的短文，掌握其大意，然后从各小题所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项。
Tom and Bertie were students at a boarding school寄宿学校. Both were sad because they had to stay at school over the 31 holiday. Tom’s parents were far away from home. Bertie’s sister was 32 , so he couldn’t go home until she was well.
The day before Christmas, the boys were 33 fairies 精灵: whether they were somewhere to make them happy over the Christmas. 34 , Tom’s aunt, Laura appeared. She invited Tom to her home. Tom’s face shone with happiness. However, when he saw Bertie, he turned to his 35 .
“Dear Aunt,” he said, “I’m very sorry, but I can’t go.”
“Can’t go? Why not?”
“Because I can’t leave Bertie alone,” he said. “When I was going to be 36 , he asked his mother to let me go home with him. And, he has 37 been away from home at Christmas time before, so I can’t go without him.”
For a 38 Aunt Laura looked at Tom as if she could not believe him. Then she caught him in his arms and kissed him.
“My dear, you shall not 39 Bertie. We shall all enjoy ourselves together. Boys, remember, it is kindness that is never wasted in the world.
So Bertie and Tom 40 that there was such a thing as a fairy after all.
31. A. summer B. winter C. Christmas
32. A. angry B. sick C. lonely
33. A. playing with B. fighting with C. talking about
34. A. Firstly B. Suddenly C. Slowly
35. A. aunt B. friend C. teacher
36. A. free B. alone C. out
37. A. never B. ever C. always
38. A. week B. help C. minute
39. A. refuse B. help C. leave
40. A. found B. hoped C. doubted