Over the years, thanks in part to my own lifes obstacles, I thought I understood the meani

ng of faith and the strong will to survive. It took Hurricane Ike for me to fully【C1】______the beauty of our strength and a humans motivation to【C2】______Morn had a two-week【C3】______at the end of the summer. While in Southeast Texas enjoying our holiday, we didnt【C4】______the fact that Ike would cause months and likely years of "labor" . By September 7th, the "eyes of Texas" were watching Hurricane Ike more【C5】______, making the typical mad rush for last minute hurricane【C6】______. Two days later, as Ike crossed the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico, both oil and ice were in high demand. In the early hours of September 11th, some neighbors were planning to【C7】______the storm in their homes,【C8】______others were making final preparations to evacuate(撤离). At first, we decided to【C9】______. But that afternoon, the Houston/Galveston area would be on the more【C10】______side of the storm. Morn and I【C11】______some of our most prized【C12】______in the car and headed towards the East Texas town of Lufkin. As Ike pushed farther in land, we lost【C13】______in Lufkin. On Sunday, our next door neighbor told us【C14】______cell phone that our house had【C15】______well. Our hopes could not have been【C16】______, but a few hours later, the neighbors reported that our brick chimney had【C17】______, and was sitting in our living room, leaving a hole in the roof between two skylights(天窗). We wouldnt be allowed to return home until September 17th. I carefully climbed【C18】______to the view Id always loved. I looked towards the hole in the roof which showed a beautiful blue sky. Without【C19】______, I shouted, "Wow! A third skylight!" My neighbors could not believe I was making jokes instead of crying, but【C20】______is always good medicine. It was with that joke that I knew, given time, everything would be okay.

【C1】

A．observe

B．appreciate

C．understand

D．improve