Question

When I was young, I sometimes traveled the country roads with my dad. He was a mail carrier, and on Saturdays he would ask me to go with him. Driving through the countryside was always fun: There were animals to see, people to visit, and chocolate cookies if you knew where to stop, and Dad did.

On Dad's final day of work, it took him well into the evening to complete his rounds because at least one member from each family was waiting at their mailboxes to thank him for his friendship and his years of service. Mailboxes were sometimes used for things other than mail. One note left in a mailbox read, “Nat, take these eggs to Marian; she's baking a cake and doesn't have any eggs.” A young girl wrote letters but had no stamps, so she left a few buttons on the envelope in the mailbox; Dad paid for the stamps. One businessman used to leave large amounts of cash in his mailbox for Dad to take to the bank. Once, the amount came to $32,000.

A dozen years ago, when I traveled back to my hometown on the sad occasion of Dad's death, the mailboxes along the way reminded me of some of his stories. I thought I knew them all, but that wasn't the case.

As I drove home, I noticed two lamp poles, which supported wooden boxes about four feet off the ground. For years children had dropped letters to Santa through those boxes. I made a turn at the corner and drove past the post office and across the railroad tracks to our house.

Frank Townsend, Dad's postmaster and great friend for many years. So we all sat down at the table and began to tell stories.

At one point Frank looked at me with tears in his eyes. “What are we going to do about the letters this Christmas？”he asked.

“The letters？”

“I guess you never knew.”

“Knew what？”

“Remember, when you were a kid and you used to put your letters to Santa boxes on Main Street? It was your dad who answered all those letters every year.”

I just sat there with tears in my eyes. It wasn't hard for me to imagine Dad sitting at the old oak table in our basement reading those letters and answering each one. I have since spoken with several of the people who received Christmas letters during their childhood, and they told me how amazed they were that Santa had known so much about their homes and families.

For me, just knowing that story about my father was the gift of a lifetime.

1.It can be inferred from the passage that the writer regarded his travels with Dad as ________.

A. exciting experiences with a lot of fun

B. happy occasions to play with baby chickens

C. great chances to help other people

D. good opportunities to enjoy chocolate cookies

2.The writer provides the detail about the businessman to show that ________.

A. Dad had a strong sense of duty

B. Dad had a strong sense of honor

C. Dad was an honest and reliable man

D. Dad was a kind and generous man

3.According to the passage, which of the following impressed the writer most?

A. Dad read letters for a blind lady for years.

B. Dad paid for the stamps for a young girl.

C. Dad answered children's Christmas letters every year.

D. Dad took the money to the bank for one businessman.

4.What surprised the children most when they received letters in reply from Santa Claus every year?

A. Santa Claus had so much information about their families.

B. Santa Claus answered all their letters every year.

C. Santa Claus had unique mailboxes for the children.

D. Santa Claus lived alone in the cold North Pole.

5.Which of the following is the best title for the passage?

A. Memorable Travels B. Christmas Gifts

C. Special Mailboxes D. The Mail

Answer 1