Passage 2
The war was the most peaceful period of my life. The window
of my bedroom faced southeast. My mother had curtained it, but
that had small effect. I always woke up with the first light and,
with all the responsibilities of the previous day melted, felt
myself rather like the sun, ready to shine and feel joy. Life
never seemed so simple and clear and full of possibilities as
then. I stuck my feet out under the sheets-I called them Mrs.
Left and Mrs. Right-and invented dramatic situations for them in
which they discussed the problems of the day. At least Mrs.
Right did; she easily showed her feelings, but I didnt have the
same control of Mrs. Left, so she mostly contented herself with
nodding agreement.
They discussed what Mother and I should do during the day,
what Santa Claus should give a fellow for Christmas, and what
steps should be taken to brighten the home. There was that
little matter of the baby, for instance. Mother and I could
never agree about that. Ours was the only house in the
neighborhood without a new baby, and Mother said we couldnt
afford one till Father came back from the war because if cost
seventeen and six. That showed how foolish she was. The Geneys
up the road had a baby, and everyone knew they couldnt afford
seventeen and six. It was probably a cheap baby, and Mother
wanted something really good, but I felt she was too hard to
please. The Geneys baby would have done us fine.
Having settled my plans for the day, I got up, put a chair
under my window, and lifted the frame high enough to stick out
my head. The window overlooked the front gardens of the homes
behind ours, and beyond these it looked over a deep valley to
the tall, red-brick house up the opposite hillside, which were
all still shadow, while those on our side of the valley were all
lit up, though with long storage shadows that made them seem
unfamiliar, stiff and painted.
After that I wentsintosMothers room and climbedsintosthe
big bed. She woke and I began to tell her of my schemes. By this
time, though I never seem to have noticed it, I was freezing in
my nightshirt, but I warmed up as I talked until the last frost
melted. I fell asleep beside her and woke again only when I
heard her below in the kitchen, making breakfast.
1. How did the author feel early in the morning A. He felt
frightened by the war. B. He felt cheerful. C. He felt puzzled
by the dramatic situations around him. D. He felt burdened with
responsibilities.
2.When he woke up in the morning, he would ____.
A. visit Mrs. Left and Mrs. Right B. roll up the curtains
C. try to work out his plans for the day D. make
Mrs. Left argue with Mrs. Right
3.What did the author think of his mother
A. She was stubborn.
B. She was poor. C. She was not very intelligent.
D. She did not love him very much.
4.Where was the authors father during the war
A. He was out on business.
B. He was working in another town.
C. He went traveling.
D. He was fighting in the front.
5.In which month did the story probably take place
A. In January. B. In September. C. In December.
D. In November.
Keys to Passage 2
B C A D C