I made a promise to myself on the way down to the vacation beach cottage. For two weeks I would try to be a loving husband and father. Totally loving. No ifs, ands or buts.
The idea had come to me as I listened to a talk on my car radio. The speaker was quoting a passage from the Bible about husbands being thoughtful of their wives. Then he went on to say, “Love is an act of will. A person can choose to love.” To myself, I had to admit that I had been a selfish husband. Well, for two weeks that would change.
And it did. Right from the moment I kissed Evelyn at the door and said, “That new yellow sweater looks great on you.” “Oh, Tom, you noticed,” she said, surprised and pleased. Maybe a little puzzled. After the long drive, I wanted to sit and read. Evelyn suggested a walk on the beach. I started to refuse, but then I thought, “Evelyn’s been alone here with the kids all week and now she wants to be alone with me.” We walked on the beach while the children flew their kites.
So it went. Two weeks of not calling the Wall Street firm where I am a director; a visit to the shell museum though I usually hate museums. Relaxed and happy, that’s how the whole vacation passed. I made a new pledge to keep on remembering to choose love.
There was one thing that went wrong with my experiment, however. Evelyn and I still laugh about it today. On the last night at our cottage, preparing for bed, Evelyn stared at me with the saddest expression.
“What’s the matter?” I asked her.
“Tom,” she said in a voice filled with distress, “do you know something I don’t?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well…that medical checkup I had several weeks ago…our doctor…did he tell you something about me？Tom, you’ve been so good to me…am I dying?” It took a moment for it all to sink in. Then I burst out laughing.
“No, honey,” I said, wrapping her in my arms. “You’re not dying; I’m just starting to live.”
1.From the story we may infer that Tom drove to the beach cottage __________.
A. with his family B. with Evelyn
C. all by himself D. with his children
2.During the two weeks on the beach, Tom showed more love to his wife because __________.
A. she looked lovely in her new clothes
B. he could afford time to care for her
C. he was willing to be a good husband
D. she was seriously ill
3.The author says, “There was one thing that went wrong with my experiment.” What was the one thing that went wrong?
A. He praised her sweater, which puzzled her.
B. She insisted on visiting a museum, which he hated.
C. He knew something about her illness but didn’t tell her.
D. He was so good to her that she thought she would be dying.
4.By saying “I’m just starting to live,” Tom means that __________.
A. he is just beginning to understand the real meaning of life
B. he is just beginning to enjoy life as a loving husband
C. he lived an unhappy life before and is now starting to change
D. he is beginning to regret what he did to his wife before
The young couple had another quarrel. They were sitting silently when the landlady came in and asked, “You don’t 31 the house any more?” He kept silent and she 32 shook her head.
The landlady began 33 the house. After looking around, the landlady screamed, “See how you have 34 my house? The walls are full of nails! How could I rent it to others?”
She began looking around her 35 room. Four years ago on the wedding night, he felt deeply 36 to her, saying, “I feel so sorry to you for 37 you live in this small room. In the future I will buy our own big house.”
This tiny room has two nails on the wall next to the door, one for her bag and the other 38 . At that time, she threw all her stuff such as her bag and umbrella on the 39 once she entered the room, staring at the whole 40 and feeling terribly upset. Then he began 41 more nails into the wall. There were three nails on the left, on which 42 his clothes yesterday and four on the right used to 43 their wedding photo frame.
The landlady started to pull the nails out with a tool. After the nails were 44 , the walls were left with countless holes. Suddenly, she felt heartbroken as if she were 45 nonstop through these holes.
She 46 to her feet and exclaimed, “Stop removing the nails! We will rent the house 47 we buy our own!” He gazed at her surprised, and then turned round, tears over his cheek.
She 48 realized that marriage was like a wall and that all 49 and “cold wars” were like the nails on the wall. 50 , when they were removed, only a wall with holes would remain. But if all the nails were still in their own places, the wall was still complete and reliable.
1.A. like B. clean C. rent D. keep
2.A. simply B. barely C. coldly D. proudly
3.A. observing B. examining C. watching D. spotting
4.A. shared B. ruined C. kept D. decorated
5.A. familiar B. dirty C. empty D. bright
6.A. devoted B. attached C. optimistic D. guilty
7.A. leaving B. having C. asking D. getting
8.A. clothes B. pictures C. umbrellas D. hats
9.A. floor B. wall C. ceiling D. door
10.A. trouble B. mess C. confusion D. order
11.A. putting B. striking C. driving D. beating
12.A. hung B. fastened C. dropped D. swung
13.A. connect B. fix C. hang D. put
14.A. replaced B. separated C. unfastened D. removed
15.A. crying B. aching C. bleeding D. disturbing
16.A. jumped B. held C. stuck D. got
17.A. if B. unless C. as D. until
18.A. especially B. eventually C. fortunately D. sadly
19.A. chaos B. troubles C. quarrels D. challenges
20. A. Therefore B. Besides C. Thus D. However
As a wise department manager, he possesses a unique way to ______ huge tasks into small and doable units.
A. break through B. break away C. break off D. break down
Most Asian women try to be shaded from the sun while touring in Europe in summer, fearing that the strong sunshine may ______ the aging process of their skin.
A. accumulate B. protect C. accelerate D. develop
Professional and skilled as she is in drama, there are ______ when she can make some funny mistakes while acting in a movie.
A. situations B. occasions C. scenes D. conditions
The terrible drought has captured worldwide attention. As responsible citizens, we must never ______ the terrible situation that our common home is faced with.
A. overlook B. miss C. forget D. overestimate
