FrommysecondgradeontherewasoneeventIfearedeveryyear:thepianorecital(独奏会).Arecital5Ihadtopractiseaboringpieceofmusicandper?formbeforestrangers.EachyearI6askmyfatherifIcouldskiptherecital"j
FrommysecondgradeontherewasoneeventIfearedeveryyear:thepianorecital(独奏会).Arecital5Ihadtopractiseaboringpieceofmusicandper?formbeforestrangers.EachyearI6askmyfatherifIcouldskiptherecital"justthisonce".Andeachyearhe'dshakehisheadmuttering(喃咕)7aboutbuildingself-confidenceandworkingtowardsa8 .
Soitwaswithreallygreat9thatIstoodinchurchonerecentSundayvideocamerainhandand 10 my68-year-oldfathersweatinginhisshirt11 risingtoplaythepianoinhisveryfirstrecital.
Myfatherhadlongedtoplaymusicsincechild?hoodbuthisfamilywaspoorandcouldn't12lessons.Hecouldhavegoneonregrettingit13toomanyofusdo.Butthoughhewasrootedinhispasthewasn't14there.Whenheretiredthreeyearsagohe15hischurchmusicdirectortotakehimasastudent.
Foramomentaftermyfathersatdownatthekey?boardhe16stareddownathisfingers.Hasheforgottenthe17 ? Iworriedrememberingthosesplitseconds18agowhenmymindwouldgoblankandmyfingerswould19Butthencamethebeauti?fulmelody(旋律),fromthe20fingersthatoncebaited(装馎于)myfishinglines.AndI21hehadbeendoingwhatmusicteachersalwaysstress:22themusicandpretendtheothersaren'tthere.
"I'm23ofhimforstartingsomethingnewathisage"IsaidtomysonJeff.
"Yeahanddoingitso 24Jeffadded.
Withhisfirstrecitalmyfathertaughtmemoreaboutcourageanddeterminationthanallthewordsheusedthose30-plusyearsago.
5. A. reflected B. explained
C. meant D. proved
6. A. would B. could
C. might D. should
7. A. nothing B. everything
C. anything D. something
8. A. goalB. stage
C. journey D. chance
9. A. trouble B. satisfaction
C. strength D. disappointment
10. A.kept B. sent
C. watched D. felt
11. A.through B. from
C. against D. before
12. A.miss B.afford
C. select D.understand
13. A.as B.once
C. if D.while
14. A.educated B.p
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