16．Raised in a motherless home，my father was extremely tightfisted towards us children．His attitude didn't soften as I grew into adulthood and went to college．I had to ride the bus whenever I came home．Though the bus stopped about two miles from home，Dad never met me，even in severe weather．If I grumbled，he'd say in his loudest father-voice，"That's what
your legs are for!"
The walk didn't bother me as much as the fear of walking alone along the highway and country roads．I also felt less than valued that my father didn't seem concerned about my safety．But that feeling was cancelled one spring evening．
It had been a particularly difficult week at college after long hours in labs．I longed for home．When the bus reached the stop，I stepped off and dragged my suitcase to begin the long journey home．
A row of hedge（樹籬）edged the driveway that climbed the hill to our house．Once I had turned off the highway to start the last lap of my journey，I always had a sense of relief to see the hedge because it meant that I was almost home．On that particular evening，the hedge had just come into view when I saw something gray moving along the top of the hedge，moving toward the house．Upon closer observation，I realized it was the top of my father's head．Then I knew，each time I'd come home，he had stood behind the hedge，watching，until he knew I had arrived safely．I swallowed hard against the tears．He did care，after all．
On later visits，that spot of gray became my watchtower．I could hardly wait until I was close enough to watch for its secret movement above the greenery．Upon reaching home，I would find my father sitting innocently in his chair．"So!My son，it's you!"he'd say，his face lengthening into pretended surprise．
I replied，"Yes，Dad，it's me．I'm home．"
21．What does the underlined word"grumbled"in Paragraph 1probably mean？B
A．Accepted happily．
B．Spoke unhappily．
C．Agreed willingly．
D．Explained clearly．
22．What made the author feel upset wasC．
A．the tiredness after long hours in labs．
B．the fear of seeing something moving．
C．the feeling of being less than valued．
D．the loneliness of riding the bus home．
23．The author's father watched behind the hedge becauseB．
A．he wanted to help his son build up courage．
B．he was concerned about his son's safety．
C．he didn't want to meet his son at the doorway．
D．he didn't think his son was old enough to walk alone．
24．Which of the following can be the best title for the text？C
A．Terrible Journey Home．
B．My College Life．
C．My Father's Secret．
D．Riding Bus Alone．
分析 本文屬于說明文閱讀，作者通過這篇文章主要向我們以作者的真實經(jīng)歷描繪了父親的故事和點點滴滴，告訴了我們關(guān)于父親的"秘密"．
解答 21．B．細節(jié)理解題．根據(jù)前文的語境Dad never met me，even in severe weather…在糟糕的天氣，糟糕的境遇下做的心情會變得不高興，所以是不高興的說話．可知B選項正確．
22．C．細節(jié)理解題．根據(jù)原文的I also felt less than valued that my father didn't seem concerned about my safety．我對于父親不關(guān)心我的安全問題而感到缺少價值．可以推斷出C項正確．
23．B．推理判斷題．根據(jù)原文的Then I knew，each time I'd come home，he had stood behind the hedge，watching，until he knew I had arrived safely．I swallowed hard against the tears．He did care，after all．然后我意識到，每當我回到家的時候，他就會站在樹籬之后，看著我直到我能安全的到達，我強忍著淚水，意識到他是關(guān)心我的．可以推斷出B項．
24．C．推理判斷題．文章的結(jié)尾語句點破了本文的中心：I could hardly wait until I was close enough to watch for its secret movement above the greenery．句中的secret是一個委婉的說法，寓意父親對自己的愛．所以選擇C項．
點評 考察學(xué)生的細節(jié)理解和推理判斷能力，做細節(jié)理解題時一定要找到文章中的原句，和題干進行比較，再做出正確的選擇．在做推理判斷題不要以個人的主觀想象代替文章的事實，要根據(jù)文章事實進行合乎邏輯的推理判斷．
