2013届高三英语星级阶梯阅读练习二星级10AOnecoldJanuaryeveninginPhiladelphia,Pennsylvania,America,Iwentwithmyfatheronanoilburnerservicecall.MyfatherwasinhisfortiesatthattimeandIwasabouttwelveyearsold.Hewasalwaysworkinghardtryingtosupportussevenkids.IenjoyedhangingoutwithhimwheneverIcould—hetaughtmesomuch.Wearrivedatthecallandafterwalkingoversnowandice,weknockedonthecustomer’sdoor.Aseniorcitizenopenedthedoorandletusintoherverycoldhome.Shewaswearinganold,worn-outbrowncoatthatwentdowntoherknees.Onherhead,coveringhergrayhair,wasanoldandwornhat.Thehomewasn’tfurnishedverywellandwasquitedark,exceptforasinglelightbulboverthediningroomtable.Belowthelightwasanoldermancountingchangefromseveraloldcoffeecans.Helookedupatusaswepassedbytogettothekitchenwheremydadwouldfixtheoilburner.Hedidn’tsayanything.Hejustlookedupatus.Hecouldn’tspeakEnglish,norcouldhiswife.Sheonlypointedtothekitchenandsmiledatus.Afterashortwhile,myfatherhadtheheaterupandrunning,anditbegantoheattheircoldhome.TheladyaskedmydadinpoorEnglishhowmuchsheowedhimforfixingtheheater.Mydadlookedaroundthehouseandsaidthathehadtogoouttothetruckandwritethebill.Onceinthetruckhemarkedthebill“noanswerathome,nocharge”,sotheywouldn’tbechargedforhiswork.Helookedoveratmeandsaid,“Hewascountinghischangetopayme.TheyneedtheirmoneymorethanIdo.”Asusual,myfathertaughtmesomethingimportantthattime,whichwastobekindtothepoor.51.AccordingtoParagraph1,weknowthatthewriter’sfather.A.oftentaughtthewriterhowtowork1B.workedseveraljobsatthesametimeC.hadaverybigfamilytosupportD.broughtuphischildrenalone52.ThedescriptioninParagraph2showsthattheoldcouple.A.hadnojobB.ledaverypoorlifeC.didn’tknowhowtosavemoneyD.werenotveryfriendlytostrangers53.Whatcanweinferfromthepassage?A.TheoldcouplehadnochildreninAmerica.B.Theoldmandidn’tplantopaymoney.C.Theoldwomanfeltveryembarrassedallthetime.D.TheoldcouplewerenotnativeAmericans.54.Thewriter’sfatherdidn’tchargeforhisworkbecause.A.hedidn’tneedthatmoneyB.hefeltpityfortheoldcoupleC.hewasnotsatisfiedwithhisworkD.hewantedtosetagoodexampletoothersBHallmarkarrivedinmyhometownofCalcutta,IndiawhenIwas16.OnValentine’sDay(情人节),Iwaitedinlinewithmanyotherteenagersjustforachancetogetintothestore.Irememberwishingtwothings.Oneofthemisthatthegood-lookingboywhomIcouldseethroughthestorewindowwaspickingoutagiftforme.Unfortunately,Valentine’sDaypassedandIreceivednothingbutalecturefrommyfatheronhowWesterncapitalism(资本主义)wasruiningyourculture.ThenextValentine’sDay,Istilldidn’thaveaboyfriend,butIdidreceiveagreetingcardfromasecretadmirer.Ican’trememberwhatitexactlysaidinsidethecard,butithardlymattered.IknowI’mnottheonly2onewho’shadthebluesbecauseofbeingsingleonValentine’sDay.It’snotjustonValentine’sDaythatI’mremindedofthesefeelings.Onenight,myfriendandIwereatthesubwaystationinNewYorkCitywaitingforthelocaltoarrive.Thestationwasmostlyfullofcollegestudents,andlateranoldercouplewalkedin.Justatthatmoment,astreetmusicianstartedplayingShe’sOnlyaWomantoMe.Thecouplebegandancingaroundthestationandlostintheirownworld.Onthetrain,IfoundmyselfrecallingthetimewhenIwaswithadateatthesubwaystation,andtherehepickedmeupinhisarmslikeIwasaballerina(芭蕾舞女演员).MyviewofromancehaschangedfromwhenIwas16inCalcuttatonow,23,andlivinginManhattan.Thisyear,Iwon’tfocusallmyromanticexpectationsononeparticularday.I’llspendValentine’sDaywithfri...
