On my eighth birthday, Dad bought me an accordion(手風琴) and said excitedly, "Once you learn to play, it'll stay with you for life." But I didn't want to play it. I just wanted to play games, But Dad asked me to take accordion lessons.
One day, I found a box in a corner. When I opened it, I saw a beautiful violin. "It was your father's," Mum said. "His parents bought it for him. I guess he got too busy on the farm to learn to play it."
I had to practice half an hour every day, and every day I tried to get out of it. But
Dad didn't allow. I asked why. He answered, "Because you can bring people joy. You can touch their hearts." He added softly, "Someday you'll have the chance I never had: you'll play beautiful music for your family. And you'll understand why you've worked so hard." I was speechless.
The lessons stopped after I finished high school. When I grew up, I got married and moved into a new house. I put the accordion in the attic(閣樓).
One afternoon, my two children found the accordion by accident (偶然). They got very excited. "Play it. Play it," they laughed and said. I started to play some simple songs. I was surprised I could still remember them. Soon the kids were dancing. Even my wife was laughing and clapping to the beat.
At that moment, my father's words came back to me, "Someday you'll have the chance I never had. And you'll understand." I finally knew why Dad had asked me to practice hard. Dad never learnt to play his violin. But I told my family, "This is my father's music."
小題1:My father didn't learn to play his violin when he was young because _______.
A.he didn't like to play the violin |
B.he had to support his family |
C.he wanted to play games |
D.he didn't keep on practicing |
小題2:How might the writer feel when he had to practice playing the accordion?
A.Delighted. | B.Excited. | C.Bored. | D.Relaxed. |
小題3:"
Dad didn't allow" means "_______".
A.Dad didn't agree with me. |
B.Dad didn’t keep me doing it. |
C.Dad didn't help me do it. |
D.Dad didn't see me do it. |
小題4:What were the writer’s children doing when he started to play simple songs?
A.Singing | B.Dancing | C.Clapping to the beat | D.Screaming |
小題5:Dad asked me to learn to play the accordion so that _______.
A.I could go to a better school |
B.I could give myself much joy |
C.I could be a useful man |
D.I could make people happy |