One summer day my father sent me to buy wire for our farm. At 16, I liked 36 better than driving our truck, 37 this time I was not happy. My father had told me I’d have to ask for credit(赊账) at the store.
Sixteen is a 38 age, when a young man wants respect, not charity. It was 1976, and the ugly 39 of racial discrimination was 40 a fact of life. I’d seen my friends ask for credit and then stand, head down, while the store owner 41 whether they were “good for it.” I knew black youths just like me who were 42 like thieves by the store clerk each time they went into a grocery.
My family was 43 . We paid our debts. But before harvest, cash was short. Would the store owner 44 us ?
At Davis’s store, Buck Davis stood behind the cash desk, talking to a farmer. I nodded 45 I passed him on my way to the hardware shelves. When I brought my 46 to the cash desk, I said 47 , “I need to put this on credit.”
The farmer gave me an amused, distrustful 48 . But Buck’s face didn’t change. “Sure,” he said 49 . “Your daddy is 50 good for it.” He 51 to the other man. “This here is one of James Williams’s sons.”
The farmer nodded in a neighborly 52 . I was filled with pride. James William’s son. Those three words had opened a door to an adult’s respect and trust.
That day I discovered that the good name my parents had 53 brought our whole family the respect of our neighbors. Everyone knew what to 54 from a Williams: a decent person who kept his word and respected himself 55 much to do wrong.
36. A. something B. nothing C. anything D. everything
37. A. and B. so C. but D. for
38. A. prideful B. wonderful C. respectful D. colorful
39. A. intention B. shadow C. habit D. faith
40. A. thus B. just C. still D. ever
41. A. guessed B. suspected C. questioned D. figured
42. A. watched B. caught C. dismissed D. accused
43. A. generous B. honest C. friendly D. modest
44. A. blame B. excuse C. charge D. trust
45. A. until B. as C. once D. since
46. A. purchases B. sales C. orders D. favorites
47. A. casually B. confidently C. cheerfully D. carefully
48. A. look B. stare C. response D. comment
49. A. patiently B. eagerly C. easily D. proudly
50. A generally B. never C. sometimes D. always
51. A. pointed B. replied C. turned D introduced
52. A. sense B. way C. degree D. mood
53. A. earned B. deserved C. given D. used
54. A. receive B. expect C. collect D. require
55. A. very B. so C. how D. Too