The sun was shining when I got on No. 332 bus. We passengers sat jammed together in heavy clothes. No one spoke. That’s one of the 1 rules. Although we see the same faces every day, we prefer to 2 behind our newspapers. People who sit so close together are suing those thin 3 of newsprint to keep their distance.
As the bus came near the Mile, a 4 suddenly rang out: “ 5! This is your driver speaking.” Stillness, we looked at all the back of the driver’s head. “Put your papers down. All of you.” The 6 came down. “Now, turn and face the person next to you. Go 7.”
Surprisingly we all did it. Still no one smiled. I face an older woman, her head wrapped 8 a red scarf. I saw her nearly every day. Our eyes met. We waited for the next 9 from the driver. “Now repeat after me. Good morning, neighbor!”
Our voices were 10. For many of us, these were the 11 words we had spoken that day. But we said hen together, like 12, to the strangers beside us. We couldn’t help 13. there was feeling of relief (解脱), that we were not being 14. But more, there was the sense of ice being 15. “Good morning, neighbor.” It was not so hard after all. Some of us repeated it, others shook hands, many laughed.
The bus driver said nothing more. He didn’t 16 to. Not a single newspaper went 17. I heard laughter, a warm sound I had never heard before in 18.
When I reached my stop, I said 19 to my seatmate, and then jumped off the bus. That day was 20 off better than most.
1. A. unwritten | B. strict | C. bus | D. city |
2. A. read | B. sit | C. talk | D. hide |
3. A. piece | B. sheets | C. maps | D. things |
4. A. message | B. warming | C. suggestion | D. voice |
5. A. Attention | B. Minding | C. Help | D. Listen |
6. A. papers | B. passengers | C. driver | D. tears |
7. A. on | B. round | C. ahead | D. down |
8. A. in | B. on | C. off | D. with |
9. A. turn | B. talk | C. order | D. remark |
10. A. loud | B. neat | C. slow | D. weak |
11. A. first | B. last | C. best | D. only |
12. A. passengers | B. citizens | C. patients | D. school children |
13. A. shouting | B. crying | C. smiling | D. wondering |
14. A. stolen | B. robbed | C. fought | D. commanded |
15. A. formed | B. heated | C. broken | D. frozen |
16. A. need | B. want | C. like | D. begin |
17. A. wrong | B. out | C. back up | D. along with |
18. A. my life | B. bus No. 332 | C. public | D. other words |
19. A. good morning | B. good-bye | C. hello | D. thanks |
20. A. starting | B. seeing | C. taking | D. turning |