When I was a little girl, my father had a unique way to put me into bed. Following my bedtime story, he would give me a nose kiss, rub my stomach and whisper the most wonderful words into my ear. “Michelle, of all the little girls in the whole wide world, ” he paused.
“Yes, Daddy? ”
“How did your mommy and I get so lucky to get the best one? ”
Before he had time to finish, I would say, “You got me! ” And then he would continue, “The best little girl in the whole wide world, and we got you. ”
“You got me! ” I would scream and clap.
“Yes, you, Michelle, and we’re so lucky. ” He would end with a bear hug and another kiss to my forehead.
Years passed and my father never missed a night, even when I thought he should have. After my basketball team was defeated, he came into my room.
“Michelle, of all the basketball players in the whole wide world, ” he paused.
“Yes, Daddy? ” I stared at the floor.
“How did your mom and I get so lucky to get the best one? ”
“You didn’t. ”
“Of course we did, Michelle. We have you. ”
“But, Dad. . . ”
“Yes, you, Michelle, and we’re so lucky, ” he cheered, as he gave me a high five followed by a bear hug and a kiss to my forehead.
I thought becoming a teenager would end the ritual, but it didn’t.
“Michelle, of all the teenagers in the whole wide world. . . ” he would pause.
“Dad, I’m too old for this, ” I would sigh.
“How did your mother and I get so lucky to get the best one? ”
“ Come on, Dad, ” I grunted (咕哝着说).
“We have you, Michelle, and we’re so lucky. ” Then the embarrassing hug and kiss.
Following college, I became engaged. My father never missed a night to call or leave a message reminding me how special I was to him. I even wondered if he would continue calling after I got married, but he didn’t. The daily calls I had taken for granted all my life ended the day he died from cancer, only weeks before my wedding.
I deeply missed sharing the day with my father.
Standing behind the white church doors with my arm in my brother’s, my brother reached inside his pocket and handed me a white napkin decorated with pink ribbon. Written on it were the words:
Of all the precious wives in the whole wide world, how did Mark get so lucky to marry the best one? He married you, Michelle, and he is so lucky! I am so proud of you, my little girl.
Love,
Dad
Without a doubt, it was the best wedding gift I received. One I would never forget. My father showered me with his gifts every day of his life. How did I get so lucky?
【文章大意】本文是记叙文, 讲述父亲对女儿深厚的爱和女儿对他的缅怀。
1. Which one can best describe the author’s life as a little girl?
A. She could tell good bedtime stories.
B. She lived a happy life in her family.
C. Her brother usually kept her company.
D. Her mummy always patted her into bed.
【解析】选B。推理判断题。从她父亲对待她的方式及下文她父亲反复对她所说话的内容可知作者童年生活很幸福。
2. How did Michelle feel as she gradually grew up and went to school?
A. She didn’t want her father to say those childish words.
B. She got tired of her father’s daily calls.
C. She left home, not wanting to hear from her father any more.
D. She always missed the sharing days with her father.
【解析】选A。推理判断题。根据“Dad, I’m too old for this, ”和 “ Come on, Dad, ”可知, 作者觉得父亲的话有些幼稚不合时宜, 她已经长大了, 不愿意再听这些。
3. Which of the following statements agrees with the author?
A. If her father hadn’t died, she would not marry so quickly.
B. She was the best child of her siblings, so her parents loved her most.
C. Never did she think her father would fail to attend her wedding.
D. She was really the lucky one to get a husband one in a million.
【解析】选C。细节理解题。从文章I even wondered if he would continue calling after I got married, but he didn’t. The daily calls I had taken for granted all my life ended the day he died from cancer, only weeks before my wedding. 我甚至疑惑他是否会在我婚后继续打电话(说这些), 但他没有。那些我曾经想当然认为一辈子都会如此的日常电话, 在他因癌症死亡的那天终止了, 就在我婚礼前的几周时间。从定语从句I had taken for granted all my life 可知, 作者压根没想到父亲会在她婚礼前死亡, 所以也不会想到父亲会缺席她的婚礼。
4. Where does the author think the best wedding gift come from?
A. It was made up by her brother.
B. It was prepared by her dear mother.
C. It was prepared by her father before his death.
D. It was written by her husband Mark.
【解析】选C。推理判断题。从最后一段handed me a white napkin 可知, 这些话是写在餐巾纸上, 应该是父亲病中所书, 因当时条件所限只好因陋就简; 而且这些熟悉的话、这种熟悉的语气一下子就让她感受到了父亲的存在, 父亲虽然去世却以这种方式出席了她的婚礼, 弥补了她心中的缺憾。
【误区警示】A项不对, 因为她哥哥只是从口袋里掏出礼物递给她, 并没有说是他所写。B、D文中未提及。
