A handsome middleaged man walked quietly into the cafe and sat down. Before he ordered, he
couldn't help but noticed a group of younger men at the table next to him. It was obvious they were
making fun of something about him and it wasn't until he remembered he was wearing a small pink
ribbon (丝带) on the lapel of his suit that he became aware of what the joke was all about.
The man pretended not to notice it, but the whisper and laughter began to get to him. He looked one
of the rude young men straight into the eye, placed his hand beneath the ribbon and asked, "This?"
With that the young men all began to laugh out loud. The man he spoke to said, "Hey, sorry, man,
but we were just commenting on how pretty your little pink ribbon looks against your blue jacket!"
The middleaged man calmly invited the joker to come over to his table, and politely seated him. As
uncomfortable as he was, the young guy had to, not really sure why. In a soft voice, the middleaged man
said, "I wear this ribbon to bring awareness about breast cancer. I wear it in my mother's honor. "
"Oh, sorry. She died of breast cancer?"
"No, she didn't. She's alive and well. But her breasts nourished me as a baby, and were a soft
resting place for my head when I was scared or lonely as a little boy. I'm very grateful for my mother's
breasts, and her health. "
"Umm, "the young replied, "yeah. "
"And I wear this ribbon to honor my wife," the man continued.
"And she's okay, too?" the young guy asked.
"Oh, yes. She's fine. Her breasts have been a great source of loving pleasure for both of us, and with
them she nurtured and nourished our daughter 23 years ago. I'm grateful for my wife's breasts, and her
health."
"Uh, huh. And I guess you wear it to honor your daughter, also?"
"No. It's too late to honor my daughter by wearing it now. . . "
Shaken and ashamed, the young guy said, "Oh, I'm so sorry, mister."
"So, in my daughter's memory, too, I proudly wear this little ribbon, which allows me the opportunity
to enlighten others. And here. . . "With this, he reached in his pocket and handed the young man a little
pink ribbon. The young guy looked at it, slowly raised his head and asked, ". . . ?"
1. The young men joked about the middle-aged man's ______.
A. looks
B. ribbon
C. attitude
D. clothes
2. What may have happened to the man's daughter?
A. She died of breast cancer.
B. She was ill with cancer.
C. She had gone abroad.
D. She got married.
3. What will the young man probably ask at the end of the story?
A. May I give it to my mother?
B. Can you help me put it on?
C. Will you please forgive me?
D. Shall we have some drink together?
4. What is the best title for the passage?
A. An Unusual Meeting
B. An Impressive Lesson
C. Be Grateful to Your Beloved
D. A Little Pink Ribbon
