A couple, John and Mary, had two lovely children. John had just been asked to go on a business trip for several days. Mary would go along too, so they hired a (1) woman to care for their children.
They made the trip, returning home a little earlier than they had planned. As they drove into their home town, they noticed (2) . They drove to see what it was and they found a (3) in flames.
John drove closer and cried, “That house belongs to Fred Jones, who is working at the plant. He can’t be (4) work yet, and maybe there is something we would do.” “It has (5) to do with us,” protested(抗议) Mary.
But John drove up and stopped. A woman on the lawn was (6) , “The children! Get the children!” John grabbed her by the shoulder, saying, “Tell us (7) the children are!” “In the basement,” sobbed the woman, “down the hall and to the left.”
(8) Mary’s protests, John rushed into the (9) which was full of smoke and extremely hot. He (10) the door and two children. As he left he (11) hear some more crying. He delivered the two (12) frightened and nearly suffocated(窒息的) children into the waiting arms of the woman. He (13) how many more children were down there. They told him two more and Mary (14) his arm and screamed, “John! Don’t go back! It’s (15) ! That house will fall down in any second.”
But he (16) the house again. At last he found (17) children. As he walked up the endless steps, the thought went through his mind that there was something (18) about the little babies, and at last when they came out into the sunlight and (19) air, he found that he had just (20) his own children.
The babysitter had left them at Fred’s home while she did some shopping...