I returned to Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, after graduation． I had been there before my mother became a minister． Two weeks later, I told my mother I was bored． She said, “Here’re the car keys． Go and buy some fruit．”
_36_, I jumped into the car and speeded off．
Seeing me or rather my
37 , a boy sprang up,
38 to sell his bananas and peanuts． “Banana 300 naira． Peanut 200 naira!” Looking at his black-striped bananas, I
39 to 200 total for the fruit and nuts． He
40 and I handed him a 300 naira note． He didn’t have
41 , so I told him not to worry． He was
42 and smiled a row of perfect teeth．
When, two weeks later, I
43 this same boy, I was more aware of my position in Nigerian society． I should
44 this country as the son of a
45 ． But it was hard to find pleasure in a place where it was so
46 to see a little boy who should have been in school selling fruit．
“What’s up?” I asked． He answered in
47 English, “I…I no get money to buy book．” I took out two 500 naira notes． He looked around
48 before sticking his hand into the car
49 the bills． One thousand naira means a lot to a family that
50 only 15,000 each year．
The next morning, security officers told me, “In this place, when you give a little, people think you’re a fountain of opportunity．”
51 it’s right, but this happens everywhere in the world． I wondered if my little friend had actually used the money for
52 ． After six months’ work in northern Nigeria, I returned and saw him again standing on the road． “Are you in school now?” He nodded． A silence fell as we looked at each other, and then I
53 what he wanted． I held out a 150 naira note． “Take this．” He shook his head fiercely and stepped back
54 hurt． “It’s a gift．” I said． Shaking his head again, he handed me a basket of bananas and peanuts． “I’ve been waiting to
55 these to you．”
| 小题1: | | A．Encouraged | B．Disappointed | C．Delighted | D．Confused |
|
| 小题2: | | A．car | B．mother | C．driver | D．keys |
|
| 小题3: | | A．willing | B．afraid | C．eager | D．ashamed |
|
| 小题4: | | A．got down | B．bargained down | C．put down | D．took down |
|
| 小题5: | | A．explained | B．promised | C．agreed | D．admitted |
|
| 小题6: | | A．change | B．notes | C．checks | D．bills |
|
| 小题7: | | A．troubled | B．regretful | C．comfortable | D．grateful |
|
| 小题8: | | A．ran after | B．ran into | C．ran over | D．ran to |
|
| 小题9: | | A．protect | B．enjoy | C．help | D．support |
|
| 小题10: | | A．minister | B．headmaster | C．manager | D．president |
|
| 小题11: | | A．lucky | B．amazing | C．funny | D．common |
|
| 小题12: | | A．old | B．broken | C．traditional | D．modern |
|
| 小题13: | | A．proudly | B．madly | C．curiously | D．nervously |
|
| 小题15: | | A．spends | B．pays | C．makes | D．affords |
|
| 小题16: | | A．Possibly | B．Actually | C．Certainly | D．Fortunately |
|
| 小题17: | | A．joys | B．nuts | C．books | D．bananas |
|
| 小题18: | | A．asked | B．imagined | C．reminded | D．realized |
|
| 小题19: | | A．when | B．as if | C．even if | D．after |
|
| 小题20: | | A．send | B．provide | C．sell | D．give |
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