On Sundays my father always wore that gray apron(围裙)—the one with the race cars all over it. The ritual (老规矩) began.
breakfast when Dad always announced, “Go ahead everyone. I’ll
the dishes!” For the next hour Dad did the dishes, singing ballads (歌谣) like “I Had a Hat When I Came in.” and “Who Put the Chow in Mrs. Marphy’s Chowder?”
I suppose it was
for a boy’s father to wear an apron—even one with race cars—
I never thought much of it until the day that Dad broke with tradition. It was the last Sunday in August. As we
home slowly from church together, my father seemed very
. “Tommy,” he said letting my name roll off his
. “There comes a time in every boy’s
when he must take on responsibilities. It’s time you
a greater role in the family. From now on, I want you to
the dishes on Sunday morning, so your mother and I can work the crossword puzzle (纵横字谜) together.”
“The dishes!?” I
in surprise.
“Anything wrong with taking over the dishes, son?” father said.
I started to say something about a man’s
or woman’s work, but I knew immediately that my protests (抗议) would be
.
I didn’t taste a bit of
that morning. Dad seemed joyful as he described an American game.[]
At the end of the meal, my father
, “Let’s go to read the paper, honey.” “Aren’t you doing the dishes?” my
51 asked surprisedly. Father smiled and said, “your oldest son has
to fill the position.”
“I want you to have this apron on, Tommy. It’ll keep your clothes from getting
.” And before I could go against it, he had put the thing on me. “Thanks, Son. Your mother and I
this.”
With that he disappeared into the Sunday paper. I looked
at the dishes. I could see my dad reaching for the dishes. He was always happy to help the family. My anger soon flew off and I began to sing.
| 小题1: | | A．Until | B．During | C．Before | D．After |
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| 小题2: | | A．keep up | B．take care of | C．look for | D．turn over |
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| 小题3: | | A．important | B．natural | C．strange | D．exciting |
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| 小题5: | | A．rushed | B．hurried | C．walked | D．danced |
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| 小题7: | | A．eyes | B．tongue | C．ears | D．hands |
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| 小题8: | | A．death | B．school | C．work | D．life |
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| 小题9: | | A．made | B．played | C．did | D．carried |
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| 小题11: | | A．smiled | B．laughed | C．whispered | D．screamed |
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| 小题12: | | A．game | B．joy | C．job | D．feeling |
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| 小题13: | | A．turned down | B．turned to | C．turned up | D．turned off |
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| 小题14: | | A．breakfast | B．lunch | C．supper | D．juice |
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| 小题15: | | A．ordered | B．announced | C．demanded | D．chatted |
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| 小题16: | | A．brother | B．sister | C．mother | D．friend |
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| 小题17: | | A．started | B．gone | C．managed | D．offered |
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| 小题19: | | A．hate | B．scold | C．appreciate | D．require |
|