When my first wartime Christmas came, I was in basic training in New Jersey and not sure if I could make it home for the holidays. Only on the afternoon of December 23 was the list of men who would have three-day passes (通行證) posted. I was one of the lucky soldiers.
It was Christmas Eve when I arrived, and a light snow had fallen. Mother opened the front door. I could see beyond her, into the corner of the living room where the tree had always stood. There were lights, all colors, and ornaments (裝飾物) shining against the green of a pine.
“Where did it come from？” I asked.
“I asked the Gates boy to cut it,” my mother said. “I wouldn’t have had one just for myself, but when you called--- oh, such a rush! He just brought it in this afternoon…”
The pine reached to the proper height, almost to the ceiling, and the Tree Top Krystal Star was in its place. A few green branches reached about a little awkwardly (難看地) at the side, I thought, and there was a bit of bare trunk showing in the middle. But the tree filled the room with warm light and the whole house with pleasant smell of Christmas.
“It’s not like the ones you used to find,” my mother went on. “Yours were always in good shape. I suppose the Gates boy didn’t know where to look. But I couldn’t be picky.”
“Don’t worry, ” I told her. “It’s perfect.”
It wasn’t, of course, but at the moment I realized something for the first time: all Christmas trees are perfect.
【小題1】When the writer got home, ________.

When my first wartime Christmas came, I was in basic training in New Jersey and not sure if I could make it home for the holidays. Only on the afternoon of December 23 was the list of men who would have three-day passes (通行證) posted. I was one of the lucky soldiers.
It was Christmas Eve when I arrived, and a light snow had fallen. Mother opened the front door. I could see beyond her, into the corner of the living room where the tree had always stood. There were lights, all colors, and ornaments (裝飾物) shining against the green of a pine.
“Where did it come from？” I asked.
“I asked the Gates boy to cut it,” my mother said. “I wouldn’t have had one just for myself, but when you called--- oh, such a rush! He just brought it in this afternoon…”
The pine reached to the proper height, almost to the ceiling, and the Tree Top Krystal Star was in its place. A few green branches reached about a little awkwardly (難看地) at the side, I thought, and there was a bit of bare trunk showing in the middle. But the tree filled the room with warm light and the whole house with pleasant smell of Christmas.
“It’s not like the ones you used to find,” my mother went on. “Yours were always in good shape. I suppose the Gates boy didn’t know where to look. But I couldn’t be picky.”
“Don’t worry, ” I told her. “It’s perfect.”
It wasn’t, of course, but at the moment I realized something for the first time: all Christmas trees are perfect.
【小題1】 When the writer got home, ________.

Advertisements (廣告)

1．The Browns are looking for a new house．Mr. Brown wants to live in the north of town near his workplace．Mrs. Brown wants, a house with four bedrooms．The Browns' children don't care what the house is like as long as(只要) the garden is big enough．

Why didn't the Browns buy the house in the advertisement?

A．it was on the wrong side of the town．

B．There weren't enough bedrooms．

C．There was no dinning room．

D．The garden was too big．

2．Man: Why don't we rent (租、借) one of the Seaview Holiday Flats for our holiday, Mary? They sound just as good as the Seaview Hotel, and it would be much cheaper．

Mary: There's one big difference between the holiday fiats and the hotel．The hotel would be much less work．

Why would Mary rather stay at the hotel?

A．They wouldn't have to cook．

B．It's not so expensive．

C．She would enjoy the beautiful gardens．

D．It's near the sea．

3．Tom: There's a new football team standing in the village, Mum．I'm old enough to play in it．We stop school at half past three, so I'd have plenty of time．

Mum: Well, I suppose you could do your homework later．But look, Tom, you haven't read the advertisement carefully．You can't possibly play for this team．

Why can't Tom play for the new football team?

A．He's not old enough．

B．Tom hasn't read the advertisement carefully．

C．School stops too late．

D．He has to do his homework

4．Man: I'm looking for a room to rent．It doesn't matter how big it is．I don't care what color the walls are or how old the furniture(家具) is．I've got to study for my exams, so the house must be quiet and near the school．

Girl: There are some advertisements for rooms in the paper．What about this one?

   Man: Yes…Yes…that's all right．Oh, dear, no, I don't think it would do．

What's wrong with the room in the advertisement about rooms?

A．It's too small．                               B．The walls are the wrong color．

C．The man likes old furniture better．              D．It's too noisy．

5．Ann has always wanted to work in a restaurant．She thinks they're exciting places．It's hard work but she isn't lazy．You have to work on Saturdays and Sundays but you get other days off．It's not very well-paid, but who cares about money?

Why does Ann want to get the job in the restaurant?

A．It's an easy job．                                B．The pay is good and the food is free．

C．She thinks it would be fun．                       D．You get long holidays．