It was midday when I got the call that my grandfather was not well and he was quickly getting worse. My family did not know how long he would stay in the world. I knew I had to get to the hospital to tell him how much I loved him. As I drove to the hospital, I pictured him before I got to tell him how much he meant to me. Trying to fight back the tears, I wanted to stay calm when I saw him.
When I got to the hospital, I hurriedly looked for his hospital room. I found him in a semi-conscious state (半清醒狀態(tài)). On my knees, I said softly, “Hello, Grandpa.”
Still feeling shy, I decided not to leave his bedside without letting him know. While I asked about how he was, he told me, “I’ll be fine, Henry.” although we both knew that wasn't true. Then he asked me with a smile how I was doing.
Hearing what my grandpa said, I was much moved. I made the decision that I had to show my gratitude for him. As I found all the courage (勇氣) I had, I hold his hand tightly. I cried out, “Grandpa. I just want to let you know how much I love you. I hope you already know that yet I just want to make sure.” By this time, tears were rolling down my face. All those years of love that I had shut and not let him know, became free.
Smilingly, he said, “I know. Thank you for telling me that. All I have on this planet is my family and my love for them. If there is anything I could ask of you, I want you to be good to your family, your mother, your father, and your brother. That’s all I want of you.”
What I learned that day changed my whole life. From then on, I began telling people how much I love them, care for them, and respect them. I get in touch with, for example, my babysitter, my barber, to show my appreciation. I go down into the city once a week and serve pizza to the homeless. I wake up every morning and list everything I’m thankful to in my life.
【小題1】The author got the news of Grandpa’s illness________.

When I was 16 years old, I made my first visit to the United States. It wasn’t the first time I had been abroad. Like most English children, I learnt French at school and I had often been to France, so I was used to speaking a foreign language to people who didn’t understand English. But when I went to America I was really looking forward to having a nice easy holiday without any language problems.
How wrong I was! The misunderstanding began at the airport. I was looking for a public telephone to give my American friend Danny a ring and tell her that I had arrived. A friendly old man saw me looking like being lost and asked if he could help me.
“Yes,”I said.“I want to give my friend a ring.”
“Well, that’s nice,”he exclaimed (驚呼).“Are you getting married? But aren’t you a bit young？”
“Who is talking about marriage?” I replied. “I just want to give my friend a ring to tell her I’ve arrived. Can you tell me where there’s a phone box?”
“Oh!”he said.“There’s a phone downstairs.”
When at last we did meet up, Danny explained the misunderstanding to me.“Don’t worry,” she said to me.“I had many difficulties at first. There are lots of words which the Americans use differently in meaning from us British. You’ll soon get used to all the funny things they say. But most of the time British and American people can understand each other!”
【小題1】When the writer arrived at the airport, he wanted to _____.

When I was 16 years old, I made my first visit to the United States. It wasn’t the first time I had been abroad. Like most English children, I learnt French at school and I had often been to France, so I was used to speaking a foreign language to people who didn’t understand English. But when I went to America I was really looking forward to having a nice easy holiday without any language problems.

How wrong I was! The misunderstanding began at the airport. I was looking for a public telephone to give my American friend Danny a ring and tell her that I had arrived. A friendly old man saw me looking like being lost and asked if he could help me.

“Yes,”I said.“I want to give my friend a ring.”

“Well, that’s nice,”he exclaimed (驚呼).“Are you getting married? But aren’t you a bit young？”

“Who is talking about marriage?” I replied. “I just want to give my friend a ring to tell her I’ve arrived. Can you tell me where there’s a phone box?”

“Oh!”he said.“There’s a phone downstairs.”

When at last we did meet up, Danny explained the misunderstanding to me.“Don’t worry,” she said to me.“I had many difficulties at first. There are lots of words which the Americans use differently in meaning from us British. You’ll soon get used to all the funny things they say. But most of the time British and American people can understand each other!”

1.When the writer arrived at the airport, he wanted to _____.

2.The old man thought _____.

3..At last, the old man _____.

4.Which sentence is wrong according to the passage?

A.The writer’s friend, Danny had a lot of difficulties in the U.S.A. at first.

B.There are some differences between American and British English.

C.British people can’t understand the Americans most of the time.

D.British and American people can understand each other most of the time.

閱讀短文，根據(jù)短文內(nèi)容回答下列問(wèn)題。

On the evening of his arrival in New York，Jimmy wanted to make a call to Mother．He found a telephone booth nearby and put some coins into a box in it，dialed 734-8681．At first the line was busy and then his call was put through．Jimmy was very glad to say “Hello” to his mother．Just then came a sweet lady's voice behind him．

“Are you through?”

“Yes．” Jimmy turned and said．

With a polite “Excuse me”，the lady took up the receiver and dialed．Jimmy had to wait outside until she put down the telephone．

After a while，Jimmy dialed again and heard Mother's voice from far．

“What's wrong with you? Why did you ring off just now?”

“I myself don't know why…” Jimmy didn't finish calling and suddenly a young man ran over and asked anxiously（焦急地）．

“Are you through?”

“Yes．”

With saying “OK”，the man quickly set the receiver to his ear and dialed．Jimmy did not know what to do．Just imagine（想象）how worried Mother was in London!

1．Where did Jimmy come from?

2．Who did Jimmy call?

3．What is a “telephone-booth”?

A “telephone-booth” is a place where___________________________．

4．What did the lady mean by saying “Are you through?’’

The lady meant “___________________________?”

5．How many times was Jimmy stopped while he was making a phone call?