B

Evenings With Dad

Some of my earliest memories involve sitting with my dad in his study every night when he came home from the office. I'd watch as he put his personal items away: his watch, wallet, comb and car keys would always occupy the same spot on the table every time.

Dad's comb was jade green. I heard he bought it when he married Mum. Every night, he would smile, hand me the comb and say: "Be a good girl and help Daddy clean it, OK?"

I was more than happy to do it. At age five, this kind of task brought me such joy. I would excitedly turn the tap on, then brush the comb with a used toothbrush as hard as I could. Satisfied that I'd done a good job, I would proudly return the comb to Dad. He would smile at me, and place the comb on top of his wallet.

About two years later, Dad left his sales job and started his own wholesale business. I started primary school. That was when things started to change. Dad's business wasn't doing so well, and our stable life started getting shaky. He didn't come home as much as he used to. And when he did come home, it was always late and I'd already be in bed. I started to get mad. Why didn't he listen to Mum and just stick to his old job? Why take the risk and place the whole family in trouble? Over the years, I stopped waiting for him to come home, and stopped going downstairs to check on him.

Now 28, I've graduated from college and got a job. Dad's business has also started to get back on track. Yet the uncomfortable silence between Dad and me went on.

Two days before my birthday last year, Dad came home early. As usual, I helped him carry his bags into his study. When I turned to leave, he asked me to clean his comb. I looked at him for a while, then took the comb and headed to the sink.

It was a new comb. This one was brown. I hadn't noticed that he'd changed it. After cleaning it, I passed it back to Dad. He looked at it and smiled. But this time, I noticed something different. My dad had aged. He had wrinkles next to his eyes when he smiled, yet his smile was still as heartwarming as before.

24 How did the author feel about her earliest memories with her Dad?

A. Moved. B. Cheerful. C. Challenging. D. Tired.

25. The reason why Dad started his own business was most probably that ____.

A. he lost his job and had to make a living

B. he was eager to get a sense of achievement

C. he hoped to earn a better life for the family

D. he wanted to protect his life from getting shaky

26. From the passage we know that the author's Dad was ____.

A kind to the colleagues B. confident in his work

C. strict with his daughter D. responsible for his family

27 The author shared her story with her Dad because ____.

A. she intended to remember their happy time

B. she took pride in helping her father clean the combs

C. she was grateful for what her father had done for the family

D. she wanted others to draw a lesson from her personal experience