Question

From my second year of primary school on, there was one event I was afraid of every year: the piano recital(獨奏會). A recital meant I had to practice a ______ piece of music and perform in front of strangers who knew the ______ much better than I. Each year I would ask my father if I could skip the recital “just this once”. And he ______ say something about building self-confidence and working toward a goal.

So it was with great satisfaction______ I stood in church one recent Sunday, and watched my father ______ in his shirt and tie before rising to play the piano in his very first recital. My father had ______ to play music when he was small. But his mother couldn’t afford lessons. A ______ couple helped him, but he soon ______ after being teased by other boys. Three years ago, when he retired he asked his church music director, Charles Staples, to take him as a/an ______. One recent Sunday just before the recital, he told me my dad was playing “the best I’ve ever seen him. I keep waiting for him to reach his ______, but he hasn’t yet.”

For a moment ______ my father sat down at the keyboard to play, he simply stared ______ at his fingers, and I wondered whether he would even begin. He’s forgotten the notes, I worried, remembering those moments decades ago when my mind would go ______ and my fingers would ______________. But then Aram Khachaturian’s melody came, and I realized he has been doing what music teachers always tell their new students to do: focus on the music and ______ the rest of us aren’t there.

My dad ______ it through Melody and then through another one. What he lacked in skill, he more than ______ in feeling. He rose, turned to his audience and bowed, making us laugh ______ relief and affection (愛).

Also in the audience was my 11-year-old son Jeff.

“So what did you think about your granddad?” I asked Jeff later.

“He was great,” Jeff replied.

“I’m ______ of him for starting something new at his age,” I said.

“Yeah, and doing it so well,” Jeff added.

My father may not have reached his peak(highest level) ______, but as far as his grandson is concerned, he’s at the top of the mountain.

1.A. sweet B. bright C. boring D. sad

2.A. profession B. notes C. recital D. event

3.A. would B. should C. could D. might

4.A. that B. when C. how D. while

5.A. wearing B. sweating C. gathering D. switching

6.A. longed B. learned C. managed D. started

7.A. senior B. rough C. gifted D. kind

8.A. started B. stopped C. enjoyed D. progressed

9.A. student B. teacher C. player D. assistant

10.A. goal B. aim C. peak D. standard

11.A. after B. while C. since D. as

12.A. away B. down C. out D. through

13.A. mad B. wild C. empty D. cool

14.A. move B. apply C. slide D. freeze

15.A. ignore B. pretend C. guess D. announce

16.A. made B. got C. reached D. played

17.A. put hands on B. made up for C. take the place D. came to life

18.A. with B. at C. from D. by

19.A. thankful B. satisfied C. fond D. proud

20.A. purposely B. thoroughly C. musically D. originally

Answer 1