“Hey, Dad, are you going to come to my award ceremony tonight?” I __21___asked my father. “I have to work late tonight. I doubt if I’ll be able to __22__ it on time. I am just too busy right now,” he replied.
My mind could not ___23__the idea that he would be too busy working late. He was also too busy to __24__ my horse show, football games and the 15th birthday party. He always used the same __25__. Why had I even taken trouble to ask? __26__, there was always a slight hope that tonight would be __27__.
As my mother and I arrived at school, two friends__28__ me. “Jill, meet my dad. Dad, this is my friend Jill.” I shook the hand of a tall man. Camera flashes lit up the room, and claps filled the __29__ as students accepted their awards. My name was finally called, __30__ three others. I followed my classmates to the __31__. When I reached out my hand to shake the __32__, a big smile lit up her face. The blinding flash from my mother’s camera ___33__ my eyes and I knew my dad wasn’t there. I walked back to my seat __34___.
Back at home, seeing my dad’s car in the garage. I told myself he would not be __35__. But the strong smell of alcohol hit me as soon as I __36__inside, and I could feel my tears __37__ . I followed the sound of his drunken words and saw him __38__ on the couch.
__39__ did Father lie to me? I threw my award on the floor, walked to my bedroom, and shut the door. Tears rolled down my face. I wondered if I would ever be more__40__ than his whiskey bottle.
21. | A. confidently | B. eagerly | C. proudly | D. fearfully |
22. | A. reach | B. keep | C. take | D. make |
23. | A. create | B. support | C. appreciate | D. accept |
24. | A. watch | B. avoid | C. attend | D. speed |
25. | A. excuse | B. reply | C. promise | D. trick |
26. | A. Besides | B. Thus | C. Otherwise | D. However |
27. | A. active | B. formal | C. different | D. serious |
28. | A. recognized | B. greeted | C. encouraged | D. showed |
29. | A. air | B. audience | C. school | D. playground |
30. | A. rather than | B. other than | C. except for | D. along with |
31. | A. stage | B. position | C. office | D. exit |
32. | A. Jill’s | B. teacher’s | C. mother’s | D. father’s |
33. | A. fixed | B. touched | C. hurt | D. inserted |
34. | A. successfully | B. disappointedly | C. delightedly | D. hopefully |
35. | A. drunk | B. woken | C. forgiven | D. hidden |
36. | A. stepped | B. noticed | C. examined | D. glanced |
37. | A. getting off | B. taking down | C. building up | D. turning around |
38. | A. learning | B. lying | C. putting | D. carrying |
39. | A. How | B. Where | C. Why | D. Whether |
40. | A. perfect | B. comfortable | C. fortunate | D. important |