My father was raised in a fatherless home at a time when the family of five struggled to survive, which caused my father to be extremely tightfisted(吝啬) with money.
When we children became16that other children got pocket money from their parents, we made a(n) 17to ask our father from some. Immediately his face turned stone-cold, and he said, “If you’re old enough to ask, you’re old enough to18.” And we had to seek odd jobs about the neighborhood.
He didn’t19his attitude as we grew into hood. There was a time when20of us had a car, so we had to ride a21whenever we came home. Though the bus stopped about two miles from home, Dad never met us, 22in bad weather. If someone23(and my brothers did a lot), he’d say in his24father-voice. “That’s what your legs are25 !”
One spring morning I was on the bus home from26. Tests and long hours in labs had27me exhausted. As other students were28at their stops. I looked silently out of the window. Finally, the bus came to a29at my destination, and I30, carrying my suitcase to begin the long journey home.
The row of privet hedge(树篱) came into31, which lined the driveway that climbed the hill to our house. I stopped to put a book in the suitcase. When I stood up, I saw something gray32along the top of the hedge toward the house.
It was the top of my father’s head. I33then, each time I came home, he would stand behind the hedge, watching,34he knew I had arrived safely. I held back my tears. He did care, 35.
Upon reaching home, I found my father innocently in his chair. “So! It’s you!” he said, his face lengthening into surprise.
小题1:A．aware B．certain C．surprised D．excited小题2:A．attempt B．suggestionC．troubleD．plan小题3:A．spendB．earnC．surviveD．raise小题4:A．strengthenB．softenC．takeD．show小题5:A．neither B．eachC．allD．none小题6:A．bicycleB．car C．train D．bus小题7:A．especiallyB．onlyC．evenD．once小题8:A．refusedB．complainedC．criedD．intended小题9:A．strangestB．lowestC．softestD．scariest小题10:A．onB．inC．byD．for小题11:A．workB．homeC．townD．college小题12:A．ledB．madeC．foundD．proved小题13:A．treatedB．receivedC．metD．greeted小题14:A．stopB．houseC．streetD．corner小题15:A．stepped offB．went offC．jumped onD．climbed on小题16:A．mindB．viewC．flowerD．leaf小题17:A．shiningB．flyingC．failingD．moving小题18:A．understoodB．thoughtC．imaginedD．realized小题19:A．sinceB．afterC．until D．though小题20:A．after allB．above allC．in advanceD．in total