6.The tail
It began as the worst summer of my life.The evening before the first day of summer vacation,my mother broke the (31)A to me.
"Nancy,your father and I decided that you're old enough now to take on certain responsibilities.You need to look after Jackie for this summer."
"Not that,Mom!That's not fair.All summer with Jackie!I won't be able to play with my friends."
"Life isn't always (32)D."
I knew she would say that.Jackie is my seven-year-old brother and has been following me like a tail ever since he learned how to (33)B.I'd rather be in school rather than minding Jackie all day.
"You'll still be able to play with your friends,"she continued,"but Jackie comes first.He is your (34)B.We're a family and we all have to help out."
Jackie turned up and raised his right hand."I promise to do whatever Nancy says."
When I was out (35)C jumping ropes for the summer competition,he was there in front of me.When I was riding bike with friends,he was there,too."Jackie,you're not going to be in our faces all day."I shouted at him.
"Mon said you have to (36)A me,so I have to be in your face."
Later on,my friends and I decided to climb the hills which mom had warned me not to do.We were afraid that Jackie would tell mom the (37)B,so we lied to him we would play hide and seek(捉迷藏)in the park; But in fact,we went to the hills leaving Jackie behind.When we came back in an hour,Jackie was nowhere to find.We checked everywhere in the park,back at home,all the corners of the street…
"Jackie!"I cried,"You're my only baby brother.Dear God,please let me find him.I'll play any game he wants.I'll never lie to him…
Suddenly,we heard some sound up above a big tree.When we looked up,Jackie was there laughing at us."So all of you have (38)C of finding me,yeah?"…
"Everything's OK,Nancy?Nothing happened?"Mom asked me when she came back from work."No,Mom.Everything is fine.Nothing happened at all."Jackie shouted.
Well,the summer didn't turn out to be so (39)C after all.My parents both got pay rise,me and my friends won the rope-jumping competition,and I'd play a game with Jackie or read him a story.And Jackie never told my parents that I'd lost him.I found out that you (40)D miss a tail until you almost lose it.
31.A.bad news | B.good news | C.long news | D.big news |
32.A.exciting | B.surprising | C.busy | D.fair |
33.A.speak | B.walk | C.button | D.box |
34.A.necessity | B.responsibility | C.confidence | D.expectation |
35.A.getting | B.playing | C.practicing | D.beginning |
36.A.watch | B.see | C.keep | D.carry |
37.A.reason | B.truth | C.fact | D.story |
38.A.agreed | B.believed | C.failed | D.confused |
39.A.wonderful | B.lucky | C.terrible | D.dangerous |
40.A.always | B.usually | C.sometimes | D.never. |