Baseball was always where my heart lay. However, my father did not care for baseball. Two recreational activities he enjoyed were golfing and fishing, neither of which I considered a real sport. He didn’t talk much and he wasn’t good at expressing himself. Frankly, I wasn’t entirely certain he cared about me. In a way, my father was like a familiar stranger I saw every day.

One day, watching the play on television made me want a glove of my own. To my surprise, my father said he wanted one, too. He was on the portly side, but then again, one of the famous pitchers (投手) on the Mets was even fatter. So I thought, why not?

We bought two gloves, and that evening, he suggested we go out to the courtyard and toss (掷) the ball around. I’d already practiced catching and throwing at school, but I could tell this was the first time for my father, because every time he caught the ball, it landed directly in his palm. If you’ve ever caught a ball with a baseball glove, you know how much this hurts.

But my father caught ball after ball this way. Slap! Slap! He winced (龇牙咧嘴). After about five minutes, I told him I’d had enough. It wasn’t out of mercy, but for my own self-interest. Neighborhood kids were watching and would no doubt tease me later for having an old man who didn’t know how to properly catch a baseball do that. When my father took the glove off, his palm was red and swollen.

Dad, who passed away 11 years ago, never told me he loved me. But that sound of the baseball landing in the soft flesh of his hand, over and over again—it spoke its own tender language, though at the time, all I felt was shame.

1.What does the underlined word “portly” mean in Paragraph 2?

A. Experienced. B. Cool.

C. Famous. D. Fat.

2.What can we learn from the passage?

A. The father didn’t feel hurt when catching the ball.

B. The father didn’t understand his child at all.

C. The author didn’t realize his father’s love for him back then.

D. The author criticized his father when playing baseball together.

3.What could be the best title for the passage?

A. A Crying Shame for Baseball

B. Saying “I Love You” with Baseball

C. A Loving Father and His Son

D. Living a Happy Life with Baseball

There are an unbelievable number of reasons to go to Greece;just like there are an unbelievable number of things to do once a traveler arrives there.Here is a look at just some of the great historical things to see when vacationing in Athens,Greece.

Agora

Agora lies in ruins now,but during its glory days it was a lively and active open marketplace where Greeks came to buy,sell,and exchange their goods and services.Agora has ties to common people of ancient Greece.Guided tours are available and there is also a small museum with many artifacts from this area on display.

Parthenon

One of the most famous landmarks in Athens is the legendary Parthenon.This building is still today admired by architects who are appreciative of the decorative design,as well as the engineering involved in its construction.Those interested in history will be impressed beyond belief with the opportunity to see this historic structure up close and personal.

Temple of Olympian Zeus

One of the most impressive monuments to see up close is the Temple of Olympian Zeus.Many people see this monument from far away,or even from the window of a taxi,and never stop for a firsthand look themselves.This is a huge mistake as the size of it cannot truly be appreciated without visiting it up close.

Odeum of Herodes Atticus

Built into the hillside and providing a nice view of Athens is the Odeum of Herodes Atticus.This theater was constructed in the second century and was an important gathering place for both the upper and lower classes.It holds a little over 5,000 people,is located just below the Acropolis,and is still used for performances to this day.

1.What did the ancient Greeks do in Agora?

A. They did business. B. They toured around.

C. They visited museums. D. They prayed for blessings.

2.Who will show the most interest in Parthenon?

A. Electrical engineers. B. Building designers.

C. Ordinary visitors. D. Religious people.

3.How can visitors fully appreciate the Temple of Olympian Zeus?

A. By approaching it. B. By looking in the distance.

C. By taking a bird’s-eye view. D. By seeing through a taxi window.

4.In what way is Odeum of Herodes Atticus different from the others?

A. It has great historical value. B. It has ties to common people.

C. It is famous for its architecture. D. It still serves its original purpose.

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