People say teenagers are no good.They make too much noise in shopping malls; they drive recklessly up and down America’s main streets; they carry chips on their shoulders as big as the Sears Tower.And at least some of the time those things are true.But we shouldn’t forget that there are hard moments in the life of a teenager too.
I watched such a moment not long ago at a woman’s funeral(葬禮).I didn’t expect the event to affect me.Through much of the ceremony, in fact, I remained unmoved.
Then her teenage grandson stepped forward.With his very first deep breath, every heart in that church was achingly reminded of something we had all forgotten.Softly he began: “I want to share a few values that Nana taught me.She never failed to see light in any situation.When our family dog would literally attact her, what would Nana say? ‘Oh, what beautiful markings that dog has.’ That was Nana.
“She was a strong woman who often lived in the shadow of my grandpa, who was a successful businessman in this city.But she was the one behind the scenes who provided the strength and support for Grandpa’s career,” he said, with a voice now trembling.“That was Nana’s way.”
Through a muffled sob, he continued.“Whenever she did anything worth recognition, you’d have to hear about it from a different source, because she was never one to brag.”
Finally, in a voice breaking free of sorrow, he looked up and said, “Nana taught me courage.She put up an incredible fight to the end, when she died peacefully, which is how she lived her life.That was Nana’s way, and I hope I can carry on in the same manner.”
There are no hearts as sensitive as those of teenagers, because everything is happening to them for the first time.The trouble with teenagers is that they haven’t learned to be controlled.
When that boy rose to speak about the woman who surely had been his truest ally and est friend, his honest voice dragged each of us out into the open where we could no longer hide in the calm ritual.He exposed us to the truth about this very real woman who believed in a boy who probably tried the patience of many adults.He reminded us that his grandmother was more than another dot on the chart of life and death.
All over again we felt those powerful losses crisscrossing our own hearts, and we knew that when you say good-bye to a beloved grandparent, you say good-bye to something happy, something young in yourself.And that something never really returns, and the pain never really goes away.
小題1:From the boy’s speech, we know his grandmother ____________.
A.was a weak woman living in the shadow of his grandpa |
B.liked dogs very much even if they often attacked her |
C.could see everything around her though she was old |
D.had great influence over the boy when she was alive |
小題2:According to the first paragraph, _____________.
A.young people should keep quiet before the public |
B.people don’t think highly of the teenagers |
C.people shouldn’t forget the young people |
D.young people are living a hard life |
小題3:The writer wanted to tell the readers ____________.
A.the young people were too weak to face the fact |
B.the young people had to learn to control themselves |
C.the adults could learn something valuable from the young |
D.the adults should teach the young how to deal with the death |
小題4:We can infer from the passage that the boy ___________.
A.was filled with sadness and gave up finishing his talk |
B.was always very good at expressing himself |
C.practiced a lot in order to give a moving speech |
D.had great difficulty in accepting the loss of Nana |