I remember the way the light touched her hair.She turned her head, and our eyes met, a momentary awareness in that noisy fifth grade classroom.I felt as though I’d been stuck a blow under the heart.Thus began my first love affair.
Her name was Rachel, and I mooned my way through the grade and high school, stricken at the mere sight of her, tongue-tied in her presence.Does anyone, anymore, wander in the shadows of evening, drawn by the pale light of a window-her window-like some unlucky summer insect?
Her beauty made me awkward(笨拙的)and my voice crack(沙哑)is like some impossible dream now.I would catch sight of her, walking down an aisle of trees to or from, and I’d be-come a fool.She always seemed so charming.
At home, I’d relive each meeting between us, suffering at the thought of my shortcoming.We eventually got to know as we entered our adolescence, she knew I had a case on her, and I sensed her emotional tolerance for me.“Going steady” implied a maturity we still lacked.Her Orthodox Jewish upbringing and my own Catholic belief made even kissing a distant prospect(前景),however strongly desired.
At any rate, my love for Rachel remained without result.We graduated from high school, she went on to college, and I joined the Army.When World War II broke out, l was sent overseas.For a time we wrote, and her letters were the highlight of those terrible endless years.
I mentioned the possibility of marriage in my nest letter, and almost immediately her replies became less frequent, less personal.Her Dear John letter finally caught up with me while I was awaiting discharge.She gently explained the impossibility of a marriage between us.
Looking back on it, I must have recovered rather quickly, although for the first few months I believed I didn’t want to live.Like Rachel, I found someone else, whom I learned to love with a deep and permanent commitment that has lasted to this day.
(1)
According to the passage, how old was the author when his first love affair began?
[ ]
A.
Before he turned his teens.
B.
In his early twenties.
C.
In his middle twenties.
D.
When he was just out of his teens.
(2)
How did the author behave as a boy in love?
[ ]
A.
His first love motivated him toward hard study.
B.
His first love set off sentimental memories.
C.
He was overpowered by wild excitement and passion.
D.
He fulfilled his expectations and desires.
(3)
According to the passage, what held them back from a loving kiss?
[ ]
A.
Her Orthodox Jewish upbringing did not allow it.
B.
His Catholic belief forbade it.
C.
They were not sure whether it was proper to kiss in line with their religious decorum (礼节).
D.
Kissing was found to be inelegant or even distasteful.
(4)
According to the passage, what was Rachel’s response to the author’s tender affection before the war?
[ ]
A.
She recognized and accepted his love affectionately.
B.
She controlled his affection by flatly turning him down.
C.
She fondly permitted him to adore her without losing her own heart to him.
Directions:Read the following three passages.Each passage is followed by several questions or unfinished statements.For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C and D.Choose the one that fits best according to the information given in the passage.
My father was Chief engineer of amere hant ship, which was sunk in Word War II, The book Night of the U-boats told the story.
Mcmories
In September, 1940, my mother, sister and I went to Swansea, where my father's ship was getting ready to sail.We brought him a family photograph to be kept with him at all times and keep him sale.
Then I remember my mother lying lace down, sobbing.She had heard from a friend that the ship had been sunk by a torpcdo(鱼雷).
I can remember the arrival of the telegram(电报), Which in those days always brought had new.My grandmother opened it.It read,” Safe,, Love Ted.”
My most vivid memory Is being woken and brought douwn to sit o my father's knee, his arm in a bandage.
He was judged unfit to return to ea and took a shore job in Glasgow for the rest of the war.For as long as I can remember, he had a weak heart Mother said it was caused the tome does.He said it was because of the cigarettes, Whichever, he died suddenly in his ealy 50s.
Ten years later I read Night of the U-bouts and was able to complete the story.
Torpedo
One torpedo struck the ship, Father was in the engine room, where the third engineer was killed.He shut down the engines to slow the ship making it easier for it to be abandoncd.
By the time he got on deek(甲板)he was alone.Every lifeboat was gone except one which had stuck fast.When he tried to cut it free it swung againse the ship, injuring his hand and arm.He had no choice but to jume-still with the photogeaph in his pecket.
Three days later, he and other survivors were safe in Glasgow.All 23 with him signed the back of the photograph.
In my room is the book and the photograph.Often, glass in head, I have wondered how I would have dealt with an explosion, a sinking ship, a jump into a vast ocean rind a wait for rescue? Lest(以免)we forget, I have some more whisky and toast the heroes of the war.
(1)
We can infer that the mother and children went to Swansea ________.
[ ]
A.
to meet a friend
B.
to see the father off
C.
to take a family photo
D.
to engoy the sailing of the ship
(2)
What did the author leam about the father from the telegram?
[ ]
A.
he was still alive.
B.
His knee was broken.
C.
His ship had been sunk.
D.
He had arrived in Glasgow.
(3)
The underlind word” it” in Paragraph 6 refers to the father's ________.
[ ]
A.
weak heart
B.
taking a shore job
C.
failure to return to sea
D.
Injury caused by a torpedo
(4)
What can we know about the author's father after his ship was attacked?