阅读理解
For years Tom Anderson's life was withered up (枯萎) by the memory of his part in a fraternity
(友爱, 互助会) adventure that resulted in the death of one of his classmates.He and his wife separated
after six years of marriage.Then the news about Tom changed.His wife Betty came back; he earned a
fine position.One day he told me what had changed his life."I used to think, 'Nothing can undo what I
have done.' The thought of my guilt would stop me in the middle of a smile or a handshake.It put a
wall between my wife and me."
"Then I had an unexpected visit from the person I was most afraid to see-the mother of the college
classmate who died.'Years ago', she said, 'I found it in my heart, through prayer, to forgive you. Betty
forgave you.So did your friends and employers.'She paused, and then said seriously, 'You are the one
person who hasn't forgiven Tom Anderson.Who do you think you are to stand out against the people
of this town and the Lord Almighty?'I looked into her eyes and found there a_kind_of_permission_to
_be_the_person_I_might_have_been_if_her_boy_had_lived.For the first time in my adult life I felt
worthy to love and be loved."
It is only through forgiveness of our mistakes that we gain the freedom to learn from experience.But
forgiving our shortcomings doesn't mean denying that they exist.On the contrary, it means facing them
honestly, realistically.
Can a person be allforgiving and still be human?A scientist I know spent four years as a slave
laborer in Germany.His parents were killed by Nazi street bullies; his younger sister and older brother
were sent to the gas chambers.This is a man who has every reason to hate.Yet he is filled with a love
of life that he conveys to everyone who knows him.He explained it to me the other day: "In the
beginning I was filled with hatred.Then I realized that in hating I had become my own enemy.Unless
you forgive, you cannot love.And without love, life has no meaning."Forgiveness is truly the saving
grace.
1. Tom Anderson and his wife separated after six years of marriage probably because________.
A. he had killed one of his classmates
B. he had cared more for his adventure than for his wife
C. his wife looked down upon his poor position
D. his life had been made in a great mess by his deep guilt
2. The key reason for which Tom's life changed back to normal may be that________.
A. his wife Betty came back to him
B. the mother of his college classmate asked Betty to forgive him for his guilt
C. he eventually learned to face his guilt honestly, realistically and forgave himself
D. he earned a fine position and finally made a lot of money
3. The underlined part in the second paragraph means that________.
A. the mother of my college classmate permitted me to be a real person
B. even my college classmate would permit me to be what I used to be
C. I wouldn't be a person unless my college classmate permitted me to
D. I might have been a successful person if my college classmate had lived
4. The best title for this passage could be________.
A. Forgiveness: the saving grace
B. Hatred: unrealistic way of living
C. Love: a meaningful worthy life
D. Guilt: unforgivable mistake
