阅读理解。
We always celebrated Dad's November birthday on Thanksgiving Day, even after he entered a nursing
home. As years went on, these events took on a double meaning for me-a traditional birthday party for Dad,
and a personal thanking for all he had been to me in my life.
When we knew that it might be his last birthday, the whole family decided to prepare for a huge Grandpa
Simon birthday celebration at the nursing home. It was a crowded party with lots of noise and food.
During a quiet moment, I announced that it was now Dad's turn to listen to some stories for a change. I
wanted everyone to tell Grandpa Simon what we loved about him. The room became still, and even Dad was
quiet as his family crowded around him. One after another, people told stories from their hearts, while Dad
listened with wet, flashing blue eyes. People recalled all kinds of lost memories-stories about when they were
little, stories about when Dad was young, stories that are shared family treasures. The stories flowed. Each
one seemed to trigger the memory of two more. Even the littlest grandchildren couldn't wait to tell Dad why
they loved him. For a man who had been kind to so many hundreds of people in his life, here was our chance
to celebrate him.
A few months later, at Dad's memorial service, we more fully realized what we had given Dad that night.
Those were the stories people normally tell at a burial service, after a loved one is no longer around to hear the
words. They are told, then, full of tears, with the hope that the person who passed away will somehow hear
the outpouring of love. But we had given those loving memories to Dad in life, told through laughter, with hugs
and joy. He had them to hold and roll over in his mind during his last months and days.
1. Why did they organize a special birthday party for Dad?
A. Because he enjoyed crowded and noisy parties most.
B. Because he was badly ill, perhaps unable to live long.
C. Because they would like to share the loving memories.
D. Because they were eager to show how they loved him.
2. While listening to their stories, Dad was ____.
A. moved
B. angry
C. worried
D. surprised
3. The underlined word "trigger" in Paragraph 3 probably means ____.
A. destroy
B. lose
C. result from
D. bring back
4. We can learn from the text that ____.
A. words are sometimes very useful
B. we need to express thanks secretly to the ones we love
C. to celebrate others' birthdays is the way to give back love
D. each parent's birthday party should be specially designed
