When my father was getting ready for work, our   1  was ruled by knocks and words. One 2   on the table means "I'm ready for my breakfast" . Two knocks on the table   3   I amready for my tea.”

4   breakfast he said, "Boots". The paper was   5   for him over the back of an armchair.Today's paper was put on the chair for his elbows, and his boots were brought to him, freshly brushed.

He read   6   , at the same time putting on his boots and lacing them   7  . After finishing oneboot, he said, "Bus. “ At that   8   one of the girls went outside to the garden gate   9   waitedthere. Her job was to stop the bus  10   it came. It came early sometimes, and it had to  11   myfather.

"Overcoat, hat. " One of my sisters had already  12   his overcoat. Now she held it  13   forhim and guided his arms into it. Then she   14   his jacket down under the coat.  Another girl  15   his hat, nicely brushed. "Handkerchief, pipe. " They were brought and put, with his tobacco, into hispock . He   16   the window and said either "Walking stick" or "Umbrella". It was handed to him.Ready now, he was   17   reading the newspaper.

He didn't put it down  18   he heard the shout "Bus coming!" Then he kissed my mother andwent out. The girls all breathed   19    .20   lucky a man is to have a wife and five daughters at home.

1. A. house            B. room                 C. ears           D. mind

2. A. knock            B. knocks               C. words          D. word

3. A. means            B. showed               C. indicated      D. made

4. A. During           B. After                C. In             D. On

5. A. folded           B. opened               C. spread         D. covered

6. A. lying            B. standing             C. sitting        D. walking

7. A. up               B. on                   C. tight          D. together

8. A. case             B. moment               C. hand           D. time

9. A. when             B. while                C. in order       D. and

10. A. and             B. when                 C. since          D. for

11. A. wait for        B. missed               C. picked         D. taken

12. A. dried           B. polished            C. brushed         D. washed

13. A. open             B. up                 C. down            D. on

14. A. drew             B. pushed             C. dragged         D. pulled

15. A. came with        B. came up with       C. came to         D. came

16. A. looked into       B. looked up          C. looked out of   D. looked at

17. A. also             B. still              C. yet              D. too

18. A. before           B. than               C. when             D. until

19. A. hard             B. hardly             C. gently           D. freely

20. A. How              B. What               C. So               D.  Too

When my father was getting ready for work, our house was ruled by knocks and words.He used to come downstairs to breakfast.The morning paper lay beside his plate.He always read the “Deaths” first, and then he knocked once on the table.One of my sisters brought his bread, already buttered for him.Usually he said nothing, but once I heard him say, “I love you very much, Edith.I would love more if you buttered my bread on both sides.” He read the paper all through breakfast.Two knocks on the table meant “I am ready for my tea.” If a single knock followed that meant, “More bread, please.”
After breakfast he said, “Boots.” The paper was spread（展开） for him over the back of an arm-chair.Yesterday’s paper was put on the chair for his feet, and his boots were brought to him, freshly cleaned.He read standing at the same time putting on his boots.With one boot finished he said, “Bus.” At that point one of the girls went outside to the garden gate and waited there.Her job was to stop a bus when it came.It came early sometimes and it had to wait for my father.“Overcoat, hat.” One of my sisters had already brushed his overcoat.Now she held it open for him.Another girl came with his hat, nicely brushed.“Handkerchief, pipe（烟斗）.” They were brought and put, with his tobacco（烟草）, into his pocket.He looked out of the window and said either “Walking stick” or “Umbrella”.It was handed to him.Ready now, he was still reading the paper.He didn’t put it down until he heard the shout “Bus coming!” Then he kissed my mother and went out.The girls breathed freely.
How lucky a man was to have a wife and five daughters at home!

1. 1.

   When the father made the first knock, he meant _______.
   

   1. A.
      he had begun to read the morning newspaper
   2. B.
      he was made to feel sad by the” Deaths” news
   3. C.
      he would start to read the other parts of the paper
   4. D.
      his breakfast should begin
2. 2.

   What does “Edith” mean?
   

   1. A.
      A kind of bread.         
   2. B.
      One of the writer’s sisters.
   3. C.
      The writer.          
   4. D.
      The writer’s mother.
3. 3.

   All the daughters were quite busy in the morning because _______.
   

   1. A.
      their father never helped them
   2. B.
      their father always gave different instructions at the same time
   3. C.
      each of them had to start and finish her job just on time
   4. D.
      they were not clever or quick enough to do their jobs
4. 4.

   What was the father’s favorite?
   

   1. A.
      Reading newspaper.    
   2. B.
      Having bread buttered on both sides.
   3. C.
      Giving instructions.     
   4. D.
      Being clean and tidy.