On Sundays my father always wore that dull gray apron - the one with the race cars all over it.
The ritual began after breakfast when Dad always announced: "Go ahead everyone. I'll take care of
the dishes!" With that my mother disappeared into the folds of the Sunday paper. Off came the suit
coat he had worn to church that morning. Up went the shirtsleeves. On went that apron. For the next
hour Dad did the dishes, singing ballads like "I Had a Hat When I Came In" and "Who Put the Chow
in Mrs. Murphy's Chowder?"
      I suppose it was strange for a boy's father to wear an apron - even one with race cars - but I neve
r thought much of it until the day that Dad broke with tradition. It was the last Sunday in August. My
father seemed in an expansive mood as we walked home from church together.
      "Tommy," he said letting my name roll off his tongue. My mind raced ahead of his words: The birds
and the bees? A new bike? A part-time job?
      "There comes a time in every boy's life when he must take on responsibilities." This was important.
I might even get to back the car out of the driveway.
      "Responsibilities?" I asked.
      "Yes. It's time you took a greater role in the household." Power tools? Boss my baby brother?
      "Starting today, I want you to do the dishes on Sunday morning so your mother and I can work
the crossword puzzle together."
       "The dishes!?"
       "Anything wrong with taking over the dishes, son?"
      I started to say something about a man's job or woman's work, but I knew immediately that my
protests would fall on deaf ears.
      I didn't taste a bit of breakfast that morning. Dad seemed in a cheerful mood and was describing
a wonderful baseball game he saw last night.
      Suddenly, everything grew quiet. My sister began to clear the table. My brother was finishing the
last of the egg from his plate. And then that ancient family ritual (程序、仪式) that had filled so many
Sunday mornings came to an end. My father announced: "Let's go read the paper, Hon."
      "Aren't you doing the dishes?" my mother asked in puzzlement.
      "Your oldest son has generously offered to fill the position."
      My brother and sister stopped cold. So this was what my life had come to. A dark angel sat on
my left shoulder and reminded me that I could hit a baseball farther than anyone in my class. I could
bench-press my weight. Ask me to run through a rainstorm. Command me to ride the roller coaster 
backward. These things I would do. But I could never do those dishes. There was nothing left but to
refuse.
      People often say there is a special chemistry between a father and a son. He came back into the
kitchen just as I was about to storm out. He had loosened his tie and rolled up the sleeves of his
shirt- ready to relax. In his right hand was the old apron.
      "I want you to have this, Tommy. It'll keep your clothes from getting wet." And before I could
mount a protest, he had put the thing on me. "Thanks, Son. Your mother and I appreciate this."
      With that he disappeared into the Sunday paper. I looked down at the plastic. It had seen better
days. I could see my dad reaching for the dishes. The dark angel flew off. Soon I was singing about
Mrs. Murphy's chowder. The words came out of nowhere. And out of nowhere I knew the kind of
man I wanted to be.

1. From paragraph 1, we can learn that ________.

A. the family usually had breakfast after going to church on Sundays
B. father was not really willing to wash dishes for the family
C. mother would wash dishes together with father
D. mother used to do the dishes alone

2. What did the author think of washing dishes at first?

A. It's natural for a man to wash dishes.
B. Children need to help parents wash dishes.
C. Parents should wash dishes more.
D. Washing dishes was women's work.

3. Which of the following is conveyed in the passage?

A. The writer understood his father at last.
B. The writer was asked to run through a rainstorm.
C. The writer's sister offered to wash dishes for him.
D. The writer's mother was happy that he offered to wash dishes.

4. Which of the following words can best describe the author's father?

A. Stubborn.    
B. Humorous.    
C. Responsible.    
D. Generous.

5. The writer wrote the passage in order to ________.

A. tell readers how his father taught him what it means to be a man
B. tell readers there is always a special chemistry between a father and a son
C. show readers the generation gap is actually something easy to deal with
D. show readers what an ideal relationship between a father and a son is like

     "BANG!" the door caused a reverberation (回声). It was just standing there, with father standing on one
side, and I on the other side.
     We were both in great anger. "Never set foot in this house again!" stormed father. With tears welling up
in my eyes, I rushed out of the flat and ran along the street.
     The street lights were shining, causing rather sad feelings. I wandered aimlessly.
     A young father who held a child in his arms walked past me. I felt as if I saw my childhood from another
space: happy and care-free.
     But now...I don't know whether it is because I have grown up or because dad is getting old. We differ in
our ways of thinking. He always put his opinions and codes of behavior on me. Whenever he do something
wrong, he never admits it. We are just like two people coming from two different worlds. It feels like there
is an iron door between us that can never be opened.
     I wandered the streets, without a destination in mind. My heart was frozen on this hot summer night. As 
I walked on, there were fewer and fewer people on the streets, until I had only the street lights to keep me
company. When I finally reached the high-rise apartment block in which I lived, I saw that the light was still
on.
     I thought to myself:"Is father waiting for me, or is he still angry with me?"
     In fact, it was nothing. Perhaps, dad was throwing away some of his old stamps. Perhaps he thought they
were useless. I never had the courage to tell him that I liked collecting stamps. I can't stand his outrageous (蛮
横的)words:"I can't throw you away, let alone these old papers!"
     All the lights were off except father's.
     Dad was always like this. Maybe he didn't know how to express himself. After shouting at me, he never
showed any mercy or any moment of regret. After an argument he has the habit of creeping up in my sleep
and then tucking (帮助盖被子) me underneath the covers.
     This was how he always was. He has been a leader for so long that telling everyone else what to do has
become his second nature.
     The light was still on. "Am I wrong?" I whispered, maybe... With the key in hand, I was as nervous as I
had never been. At last, I decided to open the door. As soon as I opened the door tears ran down my cheeks.
I suddenly realized that the iron door that I had imagined between us did not exist at all. Love-it's second to
none.

1. Decide which is the best order of the following according to what happened in the passage.
    a. I opened the door and entered the house.
    b. Sadly I ran out into the street.
    c. I reached the place where I lived and saw my house still brightly lit.
    d. I thought of my father's kindness towards me.
    e. I walked about in the street without any aim.

A. b,e,d,c,a
B. b,e,c,d,a
C. b,e,a,c,d
D. b,e,c,a,d

2. What made the writer think of his childhood?

A. The sight of the street lights.
B. The sight of the empty street.
C. The sight of a father with a child in his arms.
D. The sight of light in his own house.

3. Why do you think the father often shouts at his son?

A. Perhaps the father is getting older and older.
B. Perhaps the son has already grown up.
C. Perhaps they never agree with each other.
D. Perhaps the father has got used to doing that.

4. What conclusion can you come to after reading the passage?

A. The father is actually kind to his son.
B. The father treats his son in an unfair way.
C. The father is neither kind nor cruel to his son.
D. The father is always finding fault with his son.

     The whole morning we just checked our own things. We were looking for items to give away. We
thought of blankets, food and clothing. Our aim was not to find things we no longer wanted, but things
we use every day and would be useful to others.
     We made up boxes with the things and added some small toys. Inside the boxes a simple letter was
placed, reading:
     "Please take these items and know that your life is important. Times are difficult but they will pass.
We share what we have, believing it will matter. Use the blanket to stay warm. Be safe and know that the
human spirit can overcome anything. Don't hold your head down. Someday please do the same when you
can. How you do it and when, your heart will tell you.
    This kind act was not because the phone rang or for any reason. It was simply because it was the right
time to do. We have often seen homeless people at the park where we left the belongings. The city would
say that it isn't a problem but I see the lives walking to and from it.
     I noticed that my wife had put her favorite green coat into one of the boxes. I asked if she was sure
about it and she simply replied that it had a hood (风帽). She liked the coat but knew the hood could shelter
(遮挡)someone from the rain.
     We don't know where these gifts of compassion (同情) will go. We never go back and see what
happens. It's unimportant. The right things will find the right people and that is all that counts. On the way
my wife started to cry. When I asked why, she said because some things felt so right.

1. What can we learn from the first paragraph about the couple?

A. They had deep feelings of their work
B. They often threw the useless daily items away
C. They liked helping others by sharing their things
D. They often gave away the daily items they didn't use

2. The couple placed the letter inside the box mainly to______.

A. help the poor go through the difficulties
B. let the poor know who gave away the things
C. tell the poor how to use the items correctly
D. tell the poor to pass on the spirit to others

3. The couple liked this kind act because _______.

A. they thought it was the right thing to do
B. they had a good habit of saving things
C. they often received telephone calls for help
D. they hated being troubled by homeless people

4. What's the best title for this passage?

A. Boxes filled with compassion
B. Good behavior leading to happiness
C. The most important thing in our life
D. Happiness coming from sharing things

     "I'd be better off dead." he said, without any hesitation. Hearing those words come out of my best
friend's mouth tore my heart apart. He has repeated that phrase more than once, and my mind
continually plays it over like a voice recording.
     I met him about three years ago. After knowing me for six months, he told me about his struggles
with depression. Sadness was not the only feeling that came over me; I was shocked. He seemed so
outgoing and happy all the time. I soon learned that he was hurt physically and mentally as a young child,
causing him to have the thought of killing himself.
     He refuses to talk to others about his depression because he now distrusts adults, especially those in
his family. However, he feels as if I understand him and that I know the right words to speak. Therefore,
when it comes to helping him, convenience is not in my vocabulary. It does not matter where I am or
what I am doing, for he always comes first.
     Many students at his school laugh at him when they notice scars on his arms from cutting. As he sees
it, other kids have every right to make fun of him. But no one holds such a right, so I encourage him to
ignore the heartless kids who treat him badly. When he feels the weight of judging eyes or hateful voices,
I always remind him that I care about him unconditionally. Just hearing me say I will always be his best
friend seems to give him the safety he needs to keep on going.
     My best friend once told me that if he had not had me, he would not be alive. He said that my
encouraging words helped him not to take his life. Our friendship has taught me that a single kind word
can influence someone’s life. Life is not easy for every one, which makes me strongly believe in the
necessity of encouragement.

1. According to the first paragraph, hearing his friend's words, the author felt______.

A. puzzled
B. painful
C. frightened
D. hopeless

2. By saying "convenience is not in my vocabulary", the author means ______.

A. he is always ready to help his friend
B. he hardly spares time to help his friend
C. he has no good excuse for refusing his friend
D. he is not good at communicating with his friend

3. The author's friend got into depression mainly because __________.

A. he lived without his parents
B. he had poor health
C. he received little care at school
D. he had a terrible childhood

4. What is the best title for the passage?

A. I enjoy friendship
B. My friend and I
C. I believe in encouragement
D. The story of my friend