My father was raised in a fatherless home at a time when the family of five struggled to survive, which caused my father to be extremely tightfisted(吝啬) with money.
When we children became 16 that other children got pocket money from their parents, we made a(n) 17 to ask our father from some. Immediately his face turned stone-cold, and he said, “If you’re old enough to ask, you’re old enough to 18 .” And we had to seek odd jobs about the neighborhood.
He didn’t 19 his attitude as we grew into adulthood. There was a time when 20 of us had a car, so we had to ride a 21 whenever we came home. Though the bus stopped about two miles from home, Dad never met us, 22 in bad weather. If someone 23 (and my brothers did a lot), he’d say in his 24 father-voice. “That’s what your legs are 25 !”
One spring morning I was on the bus home from 26 . Tests and long hours in labs had 27 me exhausted. As other students were 28 at their stops. I looked silently out of the window. Finally, the bus came to a 29 at my destination, and I 30 , carrying my suitcase to begin the long journey home.
The row of privet hedge(树篱) came into 31 , which lined the driveway that climbed the hill to our house. I stopped to put a book in the suitcase. When I stood up, I saw something gray
32 along the top of the hedge toward the house.
It was the top of my father’s head. I 33 then, each time I came home, he would stand behind the hedge, watching, 34 he knew I had arrived safely. I held back my tears. He did care, 35 .
Upon reaching home, I found my father innocently in his chair. “So! It’s you!” he said, his face lengthening into surprise.
16. A. aware B. certain C. surprised D. excited
17. A. attempt B. suggestion C. trouble D. plan
18. A. spend B. earn C. survive D. raise
19. A. strengthen B. soften C. take D. show
20. A. neither B. each C. all D. none
21. A. bicycle B. car C. train D. bus
22. A. especially B. only C. even D. once
23. A. refused B. complained C. cried D. intended
24. A. strangest B. lowest C. softest D. scariest
25. A. on B. in C. by D. for
26. A. work B. home C. town D. college
27. A. led B. made C. found D. proved
28. A. treated B. received C. met D. greeted
29. A. stop B. house C. street D. corner
30. A. stepped off B. went off C. jumped on D. climbed on
31. A. mind B. view C. flower D. leaf
32. A. shining B. flying C. failing D. moving
33. A. understood B. thought C. imagined D. realized
34. A. since B. after C. until D. though
35. A. after all B. above all C. in advance D. in total
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