Question

Raised in a fatherless home, my father was extremely tightfisted towards us children. His attitude didn’t soften as I grew into adulthood and went to college. I had to ride the bus whenever I came home. Though the bus stopped about two miles from home, Dad never met me, even in severe weather. If I grumbled, he’d say in his loudest father-voice, “That’s what your legs are for!” The walk didn’t bother me as much as the fear of walking alone along the highway and country roads. I also felt less than valued that my father didn’t seem concerned about my safety. But that feeling was canceled one spring evening.

It had been a particularly difficult week at college after long hours in labs. I longed for home. When the bus reached the stop, I stepped off and dragged my suitcase to begin the long journey home.

A row of hedge（树篱）edged the driveway that climbed the hill to our house. Once I had turned off the highway to start the last lap of my journey, I always had a sense of relief to see the hedge because it meant that I was almost home. On that particular evening, the hedge had just come into view when I saw something gray moving along the top of the hedge, moving toward the house. Upon closer observation, I realized it was the top of my father’s head. Then I knew, each time I’d come home, he had stood behind the hedge, watching, until he knew I had arrived safely. I swallowed hard against the tears. He did care, after all.

On later visits, that spot of gray became my watchtower. I could hardly wait until I was close enough to watch for its secret movement above the greenery. Upon reaching home, I would find my father sitting innocently in his chair. “So! My son, it’s you!” he’d say, his face lengthening into pretended surprise.

I replied, “Yes, Dad, it’s me. I’m home.”

1.What does the underlined word “grumbled” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?

A. Accepted happily.    B. Spoke unhappily.

C. Agreed willingly.    D. Explained clearly.

2.What made the author feel upset was ______.

A. the feeling of being less than valued

B. the fear of seeing something moving

C. the tiredness after long hours in labs

D. the loneliness of riding the bus home

3.The author’s father watched behind the hedge because ______.

A. he didn’t want to meet his son at the doorway

B. he wanted to help his son build up courage

C. he was concerned about his son’s safety

D. he didn’t think his son was old enough to walk alone

4.Which of the following can be the best title for the text?

A. My College Life.    B. My Father’s Secret.

C. Terrible Journey Home.    D. Riding Bus Alone.

Answer

1.B

2.A

3.C

4.B

【解析】这篇文章主要讲了父亲一直对我很严厉。我回家，他从不出来接我。有一次，我回家时，不经意地发现了父亲的秘密，原来父亲担心我的安全，一直躲在树篱后面看我。这时，我才明白，其实父亲很关心我，只是他有他自己关心我的方式。

1.词意猜测题。根据Though the bus stopped about two miles from home, Dad never met me, even in severe weather. If I grumbled, he’d say in his loudest father-voice, “That’s what your legs are for!”可猜出“grumbled”的意思是不愉快地说，所以选B。

2.细节理解题。根据The walk didn’t bother me as much as the fear of walking alone along the highway and country roads. I also felt less than valued that my father didn’t seem concerned about my safety.可知让作者心烦的是这种被轻视的感觉，所以选A。

3.细节理解题。根据Then I knew, each time I’d come home, he had stood behind the hedge, watching, until he knew I had arrived safely.可知作者的父亲一直在树篱后面看是因为他关心儿子的安全，所以选C。

4.主旨大意题。这篇文章主要讲了父亲一直对我很严厉。我回家，他从不出来接我。有一次，我回家时，不经意地发现了父亲的秘密，原来父亲担心我的安全，一直躲在树篱后面看我。这时，我才明白，其实父亲很关心我，只是他有他自己关心我的方式。所以这篇文章最好题目是《我父亲的秘密》，故选B。