Question

The dirty, homeless man sat on the pavement, staring at the stones. He thought back more than twenty years to when he was a boy living in a small red brick house on this very street. He recalled the flower garden, the swing his dad made, and the bike he had saved up for months to buy.

  The man shrugged impatiently, for the brightness of those pictures hurt him, and his memory travelled on another ten years. He had a job by then, plenty of friends and started to come home less. He did not really want to remember those years, nor the day when, because of debts, he had gone home planning to ask for money. He felt embarrassed, but he knew exactly where his dad kept the money. When his parents stepped out of the room, he took what he wanted and left.

  That was the last time he had seen them. Ashamed, he went abroad, and his parents knew nothing about the years of wandering or time in prison. But locked in his cell he often thought of home. Once free, he would love to see his parents again, if they were still alive, and still wanted to see him.

  When his prison time was up, he found a job, but couldn't settle. Something was drawing him home. He did not want to arrive penniless, so he hitchhiked most of the long journey back. But less than a mile from his destination he started to feel sick with doubt. Could they ever accept this man who had so bitterly disappointed them?

  He spent most of that day sitting under a tree. That evening he posted a letter which, although short, had taken him hours to write. It ended with:

  I know it is unreasonable of me to suppose you want to see me ... so it's up to you. I'll come early Thursday morning. If you want me home, hang a white handkerchief in the window of my old bedroom. If it's there, I'll come in; if not, I'll wave good-bye and go.

  And now it was Thursday morning and he was sitting on the pavement at the end of the street. Finally he got up and walked slowly toward the old house. He drew a long breath and looked.

  His parents were taking no risks. Every inch of the house was covered in white. Sheets, pillowcases and table clothes had been placed on every window and door, making it look like a snow house.

  The man threw his head back, gave a cry of relief and ran straight through the open front door.

【小题】Why did the man shrug impatiently (Paragraph 2) while he was thinking of his childhood?

A. The thoughts made him angry.

B. He felt he had wasted time.

C. He was anxious to go home.

D. The sweet memory caused him much pain.

【小题】Why did it take him hours to write the letter?

A. He doubted if his parents still lived in that house.

B. He had much news to tell his parents.

C. He felt ashamed to ask for forgiveness.

D. He was longing to return home and felt excited.

【小题】The best title of the passage is _______.

A. Sweet Memory        B. White Handkerchief

C. Abandoned Son       D. Leaving Home

【小题】Which of the following is Not true?

A. The man asked his parents to lend money

B. His parents welcomed him home.

C. The man became homeless when he got out of prison.

D. He felt sorry for hurting his parents.

Answer

1.D

2.C

3.B

4.A

【解析】

试题分析：一个无家可归的男子坐在人行道上，他回想起了二十年的生活场景。十年前，男子因为债务问题，想向父母借钱。结果，他竟偷走了家里的钱。男子一直惦记着家人，但又担心父母不会原谅自己而不敢回家。

1.for the brightness of those pictures hurt him ...because of debts, he had gone home planning to ask for money ...he took what he wanted and left.”可知，男子耸肩是因为儿时的记忆让他回想起了一些糟糕的事情，故选D。

2.That was the last time he had seen them. Ashamed,”和第四段“Could they ever accept this man who had so bitterly disappointed them?”可知，男子因偷拿了家里的钱而感到羞耻，他很想家却又不敢回家，男子不确定父母是否会原谅自己。故选C。

3.If you want me home, hang a white handkerchief in the window...”和倒数第二段可知，男子让一块白色手帕来决定自己是否回家。结果，男子的父母把整个房子几乎都挂上了白色的床单、枕头套、桌布等物品，说明父母原谅或者从未责怪过男子，男子放心地回家了。A项只是事情的开端；C项错误，男子的父母未责怪过他；D项太宽泛，故选B。

4.When his parents stepped out of the room, he took what he wanted and left.”可知，男子并未向父母开口借钱，而是趁父母外出，把钱拿走了，A项错误，故选A。

考点：生活类短文阅读