Directions: Complete the following passage by using ONE word that best fits the context.
Thanksgiving Day was near. The first grade teacher gave her class 48 fun assignment --- to draw a picture of something for which they were thankful.
Most of the class would celebrate the holiday with turkey and other traditional goodies of the season. These, the teacher thought, would be the themes of most of her students’ art. And they were. Douglas made a different kind of picture, 49 . When asked to draw a picture of something for which he was thankful, he drew a hand. Nothing else. Just an 50 hand .
His abstract image captured the imagination of his peers. Whose hand could it be? One child guessed it was the hand of a farmer, because farmers raise turkeys. 51 suggested a police officer’s, because the police protect and care 52 people. Still others guessed it was the hand of God, for God feeds us. And so the discussion went --- until the teacher almost forgot the young artist himself.
When the children had gone on to other assignments, she stopped at Douglas’ desk, bent down, and asked him 53 hand it was. The little boy looked away and said, “It’s yours, teacher.”
She recalled the times she had taken his hand and walked with him here or there, as she had the other students. How 54 had she said, “Take my hand, Douglas, we’ll go outside.” Or, "Let me show you how to hold your pencil.” Or, “Let's do this together.” Douglas was most thankful for his teacher's hand. Brushing aside a tear, she went on with her work.
The story speaks of more than thankfulness. It says something about teachers teaching and parents parenting and friends showing friendship, and how much it means to the Douglases of the world. They might not always say thanks, 55 they'll remember the hand that reaches out.
