楊艾春　袁會珍

(A)

Good Heart to Lean on

More than I realized, Dad has helped me keep my balance.

When I was growing up, I was embarrassed（尷尬的） to be seen with my father. He was severely disabled and very __1__, and when we would walk together, his hand on my arm for __2__, people would stare. I would inwardly feel uncomfortable at the unwanted __3__. If he ever noticed or was bothered, he never __4__ that he knew.

It was __5__ to coordinate (cooperate) our steps—his hesitant, mine impatient—and because of that, we didnt __6__ much as we went along. But as we started out, he always said, “You set the __7__. I will try to follow you.”

Our usual walk was to or from the subway, which was __8__ he got to work. He went to work despite illness and nasty weather. He almost never missed a day, and would __9__ it to the office even if others could not. A matter of __10__.

He never talked about himself as an object of pity, nor did he show any envy of the more fortunate or __11__. What he looked for __12__ others was a “good heart”, and if he found one, the __13__ was good enough for him.

Now that I am older, I believe that his idea is proper __14__ by which to judge people, even though I __15__ dont know exactly what a “good heart” is. __16__ I know the times I dont have one myself.

He has been gone many years now, but I think of him often. I wonder if he __17__ I was unwilling to be seen with him during our __18__. Now that I am older, Im sorry that I never told him how sorry I was for my feeling __19__ to be with him in public and how unworthy I felt to be his daughter. I think of him when I complain about trifles (something unimportant), when I am envious of anothers good fortune, and when I dont possess a “good heart”.

At such times I put my hand on his arm to __20__ my balance, and say, “You set the pace. I will try to follow you.”

1. A. strong B. energetic C. short D. handsome

2. A. balance B. strength C. comfort D. courage

3. A. care B. attention C. situation D. friendship

4. A. hoped B. found C. liked D. showed

5. A. easy B. difficult C. possible D. necessary

6. A. see B. pay C. say D. give

7. A. rule B. time C. step D. pace

8. A. how B. why C. when D. where

9. A. get B. make C. take D. walk

10. A. joy B. faith C. belief D. pride

11. A. rich B. successful C. able D. hardworking

12. A. on B. in C. at D. with

13. A. owner B. keeper C. winner D. other

14. A. method B. value C. standard D. level

15. A. yet B. also C. ever D. still

16. A. And B. But C. Now D. Then

17. A. sensed B. smelled C. agreed D. recognized

18. A. walks B. talks C. stays D. visits

19. A. afraid B. proud C. ashamed D. disappointed

20. A. find B. keep C. refill D. regain

(B)

Face the Music

When someone says, “Well, I guess Ill have to go to face the music”. It doesnt mean he is planning to go to a concert. It is __1__ less pleasant, like __2__ in by your boss to explain why you did this and did that, and why you did not do this __3__ that. Terrible music, indeed, but it has to __4__. At some time or __5__, every one of us has had to “face the music”, especially as children. We can all remember fathers __6__ voice, “I want to talk to you!”and only __7__ we did not obey him. What an unpleasant business it __8__!

The phrase “to face the music” is known __9__ every American, young and old. It is at least 100 years old. Where did the __10__ come from?

The first __11__ comes from American novelist James Fennimore Cooper. He said, in 1851, __12__ the expression was first __13__ by actors while waiting in the __14__ to go on stage. After they got their clue (暗示) to go on, they often said, “Its time to go to face the music.” And this is __15__ what they did face—the orchestra (管弦樂隊) which was just below the stage.

An actor might be frightened or __16__ as he moved on to the stage in front of him. The audience might be friendly, or perhaps unfriendly, especially __17__ he forgot his lines. But he had to go out. If he did not, there would be no play. So, “to face the music” __18__ to mean: having to go __19__ something, no matter how unpleasant the __20__ might be, because you knew you had no choice.

1. A. anything B. something C. nothing D. everything

2. A. call B. called C. calling D. being called

3. A. or B. and C. but D. with

4. A. face B. facing C. being faced D. be faced

5. A. other B. the other C. another D. others

6. A. loud B. angry C. calm D. worried

7. A. because B. since C. unless D. in case

8. A. is B. had been C. was D. has been

9. A. by B. for C. to D. of

10. A. question B. proverb C. information D. expression

11. A. saying B. method C. explanation D. point

12. A. when B. why C. whether D. that

13. A. used B. said

C. taken D. sent

14. A. clothes B. wings C. masks D. words

15. A. perhaps B. exactly C. mainly D. also

16. A. satisfied B. proud C. nervous D. mysterious

17. A. if B. while C. before D. until

18. A. went B. came C. continued D. got

19. A. through B. by C. on D. into

20. A. problem B. experience C. incident D. event

Key(2)