Passage 4

陜西卷

Dad had a green comb. He bought it when he married Mum. Every night, he would hand me his　 1 　and say, “Good girl, help Daddy clean it, OK?”

I was　 2 　to do it. At age five, this dull task brought me such　 3 　. I would excitedly turn the tap　 4 　and brush the comb carefully. Satisfied that I’d done a good job, I would happily return the comb to Dad. He would　 5 　affectionately at me and place the comb on his wallet.

Two years later, Dad started his own　 6 　, which wasn’t doing so well. That was when things started to　 7 　. Dad didn’t come home as early and as much as he used to. Mum and I became　 8 　with him for placing our family in trouble. With　 9 　, an uncomfortable silence grew between us.

After my graduation, Dad’s business was getting back on track. On my 28th birthday, Dad came home　 10 　. As usually I helped him carry his bags into his study. When I turned to leave, he said, “Hey, would you help me　 11 　my comb?” I looked at him a while, then　 12 　the comb and headed to the sink.

It hit me then:why, as a child,　 13 　Dad clean his comb was such a pleasure. That routine（習慣）meant Dad was home early to　 14 　the evening with Mum and me. It　 15 　a happy and loving family.

I passed the clean comb back to Dad. He smiled at me and　 16 　placed his comb on his wallet. But this time, I noticed something　 17 　. Dad had aged. He had wrinkles next to his eyes when he smiled,　 18 　his smile was still as　 19 　as before, the smile of a father who just wanted a good　 20 　for his family.

1. A. bag　B. wallet　C. comb　D. brush

2. A. annoyed　B. relieved　C. ashamed　D. pleased

3. A. joy　B. sadness　C. courage　D. pain

4. A. out　B. over　C. in　D. on

5. A. stare　B. smile　C. shout　D. laugh

6. A. family　B. business　C. task　D. journey

7. A. progress　B. change　C. improve　D. form

8. A. satisfied　B. delighted　C. mad　D. strict

9. A. time　B. patience　C. speed　D. ease

10. A. occasionally　B. early　C. frequently　D. rarely

11. A. sharpen　B. repair　C. clean　D. keep

12. A. dropped　B. took　C. handed　D. threw

13. A. watching　B. letting　C. helping　D. hearing

14. A. find　B. lose　C. waste　D. spend

15. A. affected　B. broke　C. meant　D. supported

16. A. firmly　B. hurriedly　C. casually　D. carefully

17. A. different　B. exciting　C. interesting　D. urgent

18. A. for　B. or　C. so　D. yet

19. A. convincing　B. heartwarming　C. cautious　D. innocent

20. A. origin　B. life　C. reputation　D. education