When I was growing up, I was ashamed to be seen with my father. He was severely disabled and very short, and when we would walk together, his hand on my arm for balance, people would stare. If he ever noticed or was bothered, he never let on.

　　It was difficult to coordinate（协调）our steps—his slow, mine impatient—and because of that, we didn’t say much as we went along. But as we started out, he always said, “You set the pace. I will try to adjust to you.”

　　He never talked about himself as an object of sympathy, nor did he show any envy of the more fortunate or able. What he looked for in others was a “good heart”, and if he found one, the owner was good enough for him. I believe that is a proper standard by which to judge people, even though I still don’t know accurately what a “good heart” is.

　　Unable to join in many activities, my father still tried to participate in some way. I now know he participated in some things indirectly through me, his only son. When I played ball (poorly), he “played” too. When I joined the Navy, he “joined” too. And when I came home on leave, he saw to it that I visited his office. Introducing me, he was really saying, “This is my son, but it is also me, and I could have done this, too, if things had been different.” Those words were never said aloud.

　　He has been gone many years now, but I think of him often. I wonder if he sensed my unwillingness to be seen with him during our walks. If he did, I am sorry I never told him how sorry I was, how unworthy I was, how I regretted it. I think of him when I complain about small affairs, when I am envious of another’s good fortune, when I don’t have a “good heart”.

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

1.The author felt unhappy walking with his father because ________.

A. he felt sympathy for his father’s physical disability

B. it was hard for them to walk at the same pace

C. he didn’t want others to know he had an ugly father

D. it was not easy for his father to keep balance

2.In the father’s view, the most important quality a good person should have is ________.

A. beautiful appearance    B. excellent health  C. a smart head D. a good heart

3.It can be inferred from the text that ________.

A. the father was proud of his only son

B. the father took part in all his son’s activities

C. the author was upset when asked to his father’s office

D. the author was an outstanding player

4.According to the last paragraph, by saying “You set the pace. I will adjust to you.” the author means that ________.

A. he is now glad to help his father to walk

B. he regrets his unwillingness to walk with his father

C. he will follow Father’s standards of being a good man

D. he will never forget how mentally strong his father was

My aunt Edith was a widow of 50，working as a secretary，when doctors discovered she had got what was then thought to be a very serious heart illness.?

Aunt Edith didn’t accept defeat easily. She began studying medical reports in library and found an article in a magazine about a well-known heart doctor，Dr.Michael Debakey，of Houston，Texas. He had saved the life of someone with the same illness. The article said Dr Debakey’s fees were very high；Aunt Edith couldn’t possibly pay them. But could he tell her of someone whose fee she could pay??

So Aunt Edith wrote to him. She simply listed her reasons for wanting to live：her three children，who would be on their own in three or four years and among them a little girl who always dreamed of traveling and seeing the world. There wasn’t a word of self-pity-only warmth and humor and the joy of living. She mailed the letter，not really expecting an answer.

A few days later，my doorbell rang. Aunt Edith didn’t wait to come in；she stood in the hall and read aloud:?

Your beautiful letter moved me very deeply. If you can come to Houston，there will be no charge for either the hospital or the operation.?

Signed：Michael Debakey?

That was seven years ago. Since then，Aunt Edith has been around the world. Her three children are happily married. For her age，she is one of the youngest，most alive people I know.?

1. “Aunt Edith didn’t accept defeat easily” means that 　　　　.

A. she was very beautiful

B. she was very strong?

C. she was very brave

D. she was very warm hearted?

2. Why did Aunt Edith write to Dr. Debakey? Because 　　　　 .

A. she had no time to visit him?

B. she didn’t know the way to Houston?

C. she didn’t believe in him?

D. she wanted to get some help from him?

3.In fact，Aunt Edith’s letter to Dr.Debakey was full of 　　　　.?

A. courage　　　　　　　 B .illness

C. pity　　　　　　　　　　 D. sadness?

4.After reading Dr.Debakey’s letter，Aunt Edith felt 　　　　 .?

A. discouraged　　　　　　 B. frightened

C. disappointed　　　　　　 D. encouraged?

He gets up early and reads English aloud, ___ he has greatly improved his English

　 A. on the way 　 B. by the way  C. in this way 　 D. in this means

He gets up early and reads English aloud, ___ he has greatly improved his English.

　 A. on the way　　　 B. by the way

　 C. in this way 　    D. in this means