Today I was at the mall waiting for friends, when a lady wearing a knit hat and a sweater came up to me and, shivering, said, “I’m homeless. Would you mind buying me some food?”
In that split second, everything I’d learned since kindergarten flashed through my mind. Don’t talk to strangers… Be a good citizen… People will take advantage of you… Treat others as you wish to be treated…I guess love won the debate. “Sure,” I said. “What would you like?”
She thought and then said, “I’d like to get Chinese food.” We headed upstairs. She ordered soup, an egg roll, white rice, and pepper chicken. I would normally think that was a lot, but she had probably barely eaten in the last few days. I got my usual – lo mein and General Tso’s chicken.
Meanwhile I was eating my lo mein, picking around the cabbage and the other vegetables. Joyce said, “If you don’t like it you can take it back.” I told her that I liked it, but was not fond of the vegetables. She broke into a big grin. “You don’t like vegetables, huh? Neither did I. But now I do.” I immediately felt guilty. How could I be picking at my food across from someone who barely gets to eat at all?
I tried my best to finish, but she seemed to sense my guilt and said, “You don’t have to eat it if you don’t want it.” How could she know what I was feeling? I told her the dish was my favorite, but I just eat slowly.
She got up to get a to-go box. “Would you like one?” she asked, but I refused. I realized that this food would probably last her for a few days, and I was glad she had ordered a lot.
“Would you like these?” I asked, gesturing at the food I had left untouched. “Oh, no, thank you,” she said. “This is enough.” I got up to throw my tray away, feeling guilty again.
“I need to meet my friends now,” I explained. “It was so nice to meet you, Joyce.”
“You too, Claire,” she replied with a smile. “Thank you.”
I headed to the theater, and she went back downstairs. I kept puzzling, Why is Joyce homeless? She shouldn’t need people to buy her dinner. She was a nurse. She got good grades. She took pictures for her yearbook. She was the person I hope to be in the futu
re. How could such a good life be rewarded with horrible luck?
Anyway, I wish her the best, and hope that the force that brought us together will help her find what she deserves in life.
【小題1】 From the second paragraph we know that the writer ___________.
| A．debated with the girl over moral issues |
| B．hated having to make a quick decision |
| C．hesitated before she decided to reach out |
| D．fell in love with the girl at first sight |
【小題2】The writer felt guilty for a moment because _________.
| A．she was particular about food and also wasted so much |
| B．she was a strict vegetarian who ate very little |
| C．she didn’t order enough food for the girl |
| D．she urged the girl to take her share of food |
【小題3】 Why did Joyce end up unemployed and homeless?
| A．She was a victim of high education. |
| B．She actually had some kind of mental disorder. |
| C．She graduated with average grades. |
| D．The reason is not yet given. |
【小題4】 The passage is intended to _________.
| A．a(chǎn)rouse readers' curiosity |
| B．explore social problems |
| C．teach readers a lesson |
| D．share a personal story |
