Question

Last week my youngest son and I visited my father at his new home in Tucson, Arizona. He moved there a few years ago, and I was eager to see his new place and meet his friends.

My earliest memories of my father are of a tall, handsome, successful man devoted to his work and family, but uncomfortable with his children. As a child I loved him; as a school girl and young adult I feared him and felt bitter about him. He seemed unhappy with me unless I got straight A’s and unhappy with my boyfriends if their fathers were not as “successful” as he was. Whenever I went out with him on weekends, I used to struggle to think up things to say, feeling on guard.

On the first day of my visit, we went out with one of my father’s friends for lunch at an outdoor café. We walked along that afternoon, did some shopping, ate on the street table, and laughed over my son’s funny facial expressions. Gone was my father’s critical(挑剔的) air and strict rules. Who was this person I knew as my father, who seemed so friendly and interesting to be around? What had held him back before?

The next day my dad pulled out his childhood pictures and told me quite a few stories about his own childhood. Although our times together became easier over the years, I never felt closer to him at that moment. After so many years, I’m at last seeing another side of my father. And in so doing, I’m delighted with my new friend. My dad, in his new home in Arizona, is back to me from where he was.

1.Why did the author feel bitter about her father when she was a young adult?

   A. He was silent most of the time.           B. He was too proud of himself.

   C. He did not love his children.         D. He expected too much of her.

2.When the author went out with her father on weekends, she would feel ______.

   A. nervous          B. sorry             C. tired           D. safe

3.What does the author think of her father after her visit to Tucson?

   A. More critical.        B. More talkative.  C. Gentle and friendly.

    D. Strict and hard-working.

4.The underlined words “my new friend” in the last paragraph refer to ______.

   A. the author’s son                     B. the author’s father

   B. the friend of the author’s father            D. the café owner

Answer

1.D. 从第二段可知：我在学习中得不到A，他不高兴，与父亲不如他成功的男孩子交往，他也不高兴。由此可见：他对我的期望过高。

2.A.  根据第二段最后一句可知：无论周末什么时候和他出去，我得努力想出些东西来说，感觉到受到监视一样。故应是感到紧张。

3.C. 从第三段中可以看出：父亲与我一起散步，购物，吃饭，笑谈我儿子的可笑的面部表情，挑剔的眼泪和严厉的规则都不复存在；在第四段中，又进一步谈到我与父亲相处变得容易了。故C项正确。

4.B. 父亲与以往判若两人，变得不再严厉，是出乎意料之外的，故变成了我的新朋友。