I shook hands with my father in the truck，and for a long time he looked straight ahead and didn’t say a word.But I knew he was going to say a little to me.“I can’t tell anything，” he finally said.“I never went to college，and none of your brothers went to college.I can’t say don’t do this and do that，because everything is different and I don’t know what is going to come up.I can’t help much with money either，but I think things will work out.”

　 He gave me a new check?book.“If things get pushing，write a small check.But when you write one，send me a letter and let me know how much.There are some things we can always sell.” In four years all the checks I wrote were less than a thousand dollars.My part?time jobs such as reading to the blind student and sitting with the teachers’ kids filled in the financial gaps.

　 “You know what you want to be，and they’ll tell you what to take，” my father went on.“When you get a job，be sure it’s honest，and work hard.” I knew that soon I would be alone in the big town，and I would be missing the cool winds and a life where your thinking was done for you.

　 Then my dad reached down beside his seat and brought the old，broken Bible that he had read so often，the one he used when he wanted to look something up in a friendly quarrel with one of the neighbours.I knew he would miss it.I knew，though，that I must take it.

　 He didn’t say read this every morning.He just said，“This can help you if you will let it.”

　 Did it help? I got through college without being a burden on the family.I have been able to make money since.

1.What is the writer’s main purpose (目的) in writing this passage?

　 A.To tell the readers his life story.

　 B.To tell people what kind of person his father was.

　 C.To let people know how poor he was.

　 D.To tell the readers what present he got from his father.

2.Why did the father not ask his son not to do this and do that?

　 A.Because he felt quite confident of him.

　 B.Because he was born from a poor family.

　 C.Because he was a man of few words.

　 D.Because he didn’t want to be much too strict with him.

3.What would you learn from this passage?

　 A.How to live by oneself.

　 B.How to stand on one’s own feet.

　 C.What a good father should do.

　 D.What the self?important is like.

4.What may be the proper Chinese for the underlined part in the passage?

　 A.闲暇时光。 　　　　　　　 B.学费。

　 C.经济不足。 　　　　　　　 D.精神空虚。

5.What kind of book did the Bible seem to be to the writer’s father?

　 A.It was a book which told you how you should get on well with others.

　 B.There were many good examples for you to copy in it.

　 C.It was a book that told you how to get a good job and a good future.

　 D.It was a good book that could help you when you were in trouble.

Dear Deidre,

I am 17. Further education is not for me. I want to be out seeing the world in the army. My mum and dad say they will cut me off and have nothing to do with me if I go into the military. They have other plans for me. My friends all laugh at me and say I won’t ever get on. I know I am not the fittest guy in the world but I thought that would come with the training. I am now asking myself if I should just give up my lifelong ambitions and get the sort of job my parents approve of. I don’t want to look back with regrets but sometimes I think maybe they are right and know more than me.

Samson

Dear Samson,

It’s your life and your future.

Your parents mean well, and may be fearful of what could happen to you if you are posted to a danger zone, but you must decide this by yourself.

At least talk to an army recruitment office about what is involved and about how fit you need to be. Do your research. Find out everything you can about what choices you will have. Then go for it. Start a sensible eating and exercise plan right away. If you are motivated you can get reasonably fit in a few weeks. Tell your parents and friends you want to give it a try. If you still feel it’s right for you, then apply. If it isn’t for you, at least you won’t regret for the rest of your life. Parents and friends may say, “I told you so”, but you will know that you’ve followed your dream and made up your own mind about the sort of career for you.

Talk to At East which is an independent and confidential organization providing advice and support for those who are in the military and those who would like to be. They can explain when you are allowed to leave and how much attention you have to give.

Deidre

56. Why do Samson’s friends laugh at him?

A. He has no independent opinion    B. He can’t break away from his parents.

C. He is not fit enough to join the army   D. He is in trouble now.

57. According to Deidre, Samson’s parents wouldn’t like him to join the army because _______.

A. they thought it may not be safe  B. they wanted their son to stay with them

C. they know he was not fit enough  D. they believed he would regret doing so

58. It can be inferred from the first letter that Samson is _______.

A. puzzled now                     B. an independent guy

C. disappointed with his parents   D. not popular with his friends

59. The advice that Deidre offers to Samson doesn’t include __________.

A. seeking some advice from an army recruitment office

B. deciding his life and future by himself

C. consulting At Ease on what to do

D. turning his dream of joining the army into reality

60. If the two letters are taken from a newspaper, which part may they appear?

A. Helping   B. Education   C. Military   D. News