6.阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

　　My husband Jeff and I moved into our new home in Scottsbluff last year just before Christmas. I did not have the __（1）__ or energy to carry out my traditional Christmas decorating and baking activities. What was the point, anyway? It was going to be a __（2）__ Christmas after all. __（3）__，the neighborly nature of west Nebraska residents started to trickle （陆续临近） in.

　　There was a __（4）__ on the door one evening. It was Jeff's new colleague, John Smith, and his wife, Phyllis. The Smiths had stopped by to __（5）__ us to town with a loaf of homemade bread. They pointed out a __（6）__ on the porch （门廊）. Apparently the doorbell wasn't working in the cold snowy weather and we had __（7）_ a visit from the Browns, our across­the­street neighbors, who brought us a Christmas card and more Christmas cookies.

　　The __（8）__ feelings brought by these thoughtful gestures lasted longer than the food.

　　As Jeff and I were clearing pre­Christmas __（9）__ from our driveway, Ernie Guzman came over from next door to __（10）__ us to dig out.

　　Then, we received an invitation to __（11）__ a Christmas Eve meal with our neighbors, Ernie and Nancy Sommer, and their __（12）__—a 90­year­old lady, who also had no family in the immediate area with whom to spend the holiday.

　　Our Christmas Eve was quite merry, thanks to our __（13）__. Our Christmas morning __（14）__ was special, thanks to the Smiths' gift of bread. I was so __（15）__ for these gestures of welcome, especially during the holidays.

　　This year, we were again unable to be with our families for Christmas. The __（16）__ and work schedules just made things too difficult. __（17）__ that sense of Christmas isolation （孤立） all too well, we decided to try to round up some other folks who were __（18）__ in the holidays.

　　Lonely people are all around us, but most of us __（19）__ notice them. Just take a look around you. Sometimes, the smallest __（20）__ gesture can make a world of difference.

（1）A. chance    B. anxiety     C. time      D.ability

（2）A. lonely     B. free    C. merry     D. usual

（3）A. Therefore    B. However    C. Somehow    D. Meanwhile

（4）A. sign     B. knock    C. card     D. note

（5）A. invite     B. welcome    C. drive    D. send

（6）A. tree    B. flower    C. mail    D. package

（7）A. forgot    B. missed     C. arranged    D. received

（8）A. warm     B. deep     C. true    D. mixed

（9）A. rubbish     B. snow     C. dust    D. leaves

（10）A. teach     B. urge    C. help     D. forbid

（11）A. prepare    B. share     C. taste     D. exchange

（12）A. guest    B. aunt    C. maid     D. partner

（13）A. folks     B. relatives     C. neighbors     D. colleagues

（14）A. call    B. greeting    C. meeting    D. breakfast

（15）A. sorry     B. eager    C. grateful     D. ready

（16）A. season     B. expense    C. distance    D. situation

（17）A. Knowing    B. Showing    C. Studying    D. Discovering

（18）A. happy    B. busy     C. alone    D. active

（19）A. always    B. usually     C. finally    D. seldom

（20）A. careful    B. kind     C. pretty    D. patient