Question

    When I was a child, our dining room had two kinds of chairs — two large ones with arm rests and four small ones without. The larger ones stood at the ends of the table, the smaller ones on the sides. Mom and Dad sat in the big chairs, except when one of us was away; then Mom would sit in one of the smaller chairs. Dad always sat at the end, at the "head" of the table. Sitting where he did, Dad was framed by the window through which the yard could be seen with its trees and grass. His chair was not just a place for him at table; it was a place in which he was situated against the yard and the trees. It was the holy(神圣的）and protected place that was his, and ours through him.

After Dad retired, he and Mom moved out into a small flat. When thy came to visit me at their old house, Dad still sat at the end of the table though the table was no longer his but mine. Only with my marriage to Barbara, did I hear a voice questioning the arrangement. She requested, gently but firmly, that I sit at the head of the table in our home. I realized then that I was head of the family, but I also felt unwilling to introduce such a change. How would I feel sitting in that "head" place in my Dad's presence? And how would he handle it? I was to find out on the occasion of our youngest child's first birthday.

Mom and Dad arrived for lunch, and went into the dining room. Dad moved toward his usual seat in front of the window. Before he could get around the side of the table, I took a deep breath and said, "Dad, this is going to be your place, next to Mom, on the side." He stopped, looked at me and then sat down. I felt sad, and angry at Barbara for pushing me to do this. It would have been easy to say, "My mistake, Dad. Sit where you always sit, ” But I didn't.

When he and Mom were seated, Barbara and I took our places. I don't know how Dad felt. I do know that, though removed from his usual place, he continued to share his best self with us, telling stories of his childhood and youth to the delight of his grandchildren. As I served the food, our lives experienced a change, which we continue to live with.

It wasn't easy, but I sense that there is also something good in the change which has occurred. I am beginning to learn that "honoring one's father” is more than the question of which place to occupy at the dining table. It also means listening, wherever we sit and whatever positions we own, to the stories Dad longs to tell We may then, during these magical moments, even be able to forget about whose chair is whose.

1.Why did Dad always sit in the big chair at the end of the table before he retired?

A.Because the chair was large enough for him.

B.Because sitting there he could see the trees and grass in the yard.

C.Because it was the holy seat for the head of the family.

D.Because the chair was comfortable with arm rests.

2.What do we know from the second paragraph?

A.The writer's parents moved out because the house was too old.

B.The writer didn't want to hurt his father’s feelings.

C.The writer's wife was rude to his parents.

D.The writer didn't dare to refuse his wife's request.

3.Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A.Dad felt upset after being removed from his usual place.

B.The writer was satisfied with the new seating arrangement.

C.Dad continued to tell stories to cover his embarrassment.

D.Dad didn't appear to mind where he sat.

4.What does the writer intend to tell us?

A.Respecting Dad is more than the question of dining seat.

B.It is not easy to go against parents' wishes.

C.Think twice before you act.

D.Every coin has two sides.

Answer

1.C

2.B

3.D

4.A

【解析】

本文是记叙文。通过作者和父亲餐厅座位的变化告诉我们尊重父母并不在于餐厅的座位，而是快乐相处。

1.细节理解题。根据第一段His chair was not just a place for him at table; it was a place in which he was situated against the yard and the trees. It was the holy(神圣的）and protected place that was his, and ours through him.可知父亲的餐桌位置不仅是靠着院子和树林的地方，还是一个一家之主神圣和受保护的地方。所以为什么爸爸在退休前总是坐在桌子尽头的大椅子上是因为那是一家之主的圣座。故选C。

2.推理判断题。根据第二段I realized then that I was head of the family, but I also felt unwilling to introduce such a change. How would I feel sitting in that "head" place in my Dad's presence? And how would he handle it?可知作者成为一家之主后，不愿意占据父亲原来一家之主的神圣座位。所以判断出作者不想伤害父亲的感情。故选B。

3.细节理解题。根据第三段Before he could get around the side of the table, I took a deep breath and said, "Dad, this is going to be your place, next to Mom, on the side." He stopped, looked at me and then sat down.和第四段though removed from his usual place, he continued to share his best self with us, telling stories of his childhood and youth to the delight of his grandchildren.可知作者让父亲坐在边上后，父亲似乎并没表现出介意坐在哪里，仍然和我们说笑，给孩子们讲他孩时和年轻时的故事。故选D。

4.推理判断题。根据最后一段I am beginning to learn that “honoring one's father” is more than the question of which place to occupy at the dining table. It also means listening, wherever we sit and whatever positions we own, to the stories Dad longs to tell We may then, during these magical moments, even be able to forget about whose chair is whose.可知作者开始认识到“孝敬父亲”不仅仅是在餐桌上占据什么位置的问题。无论坐在哪里，无论坐什么位置，我们都会倾听爸爸渴望告诉我们的故事。所以作者想告诉我们“孝敬父亲”，不仅仅是在餐桌上占据什么位置的问题。故选A.