That morning, I got on the train as always. I was a publishing director and was reading my newspaper 41 . But that day, I read it very 42 . I thought I must be tired. At the office, I sat down, turned on my
43 and found I couldn’t read the message on the screen.
Eventually, worried 44 drove me to hospital. There, confirmation came that I suffered from aphasia(失语症), a condition that 45 it’s difficult or impossible to receive and produce language.
I was back at home a week later, and my 46 was to get better and return to work in a couple of months. I started 47 a speech therapist(治疗专家) three times a week, and was given homework to help
48 my vocabulary and grammar. After a month, my own speech became 49 —“Could you pass the salt?” “Shall we go for a walk?” — but I couldn’t have a conversation. I couldn’t read the newspaper.
For 25 years, I was used to a(n) 50 day of meetings, and bringing three manuscripts home with me each night. I didn’t feel 51 to say goodbye to my old self.
In the darkest months, I devoted myself to 52 . I would spend hours writing a description of something 53 like a pencil. I couldn’t 54 novels or newspapers, so I tried reading poetry, and found the shorter lines easier to 55 . My speech came back, and I learned how to read again, 56 much more slowly. I spent more time with my family, and 57 myself to slow down.
Now, 10 years later, my relationship with my 58 is deeper than ever. We have 59 to be very patient with each other. I’m no longer a high-achieving publisher or someone who 60 10 books a week. I’m a family man with aphasia, and if I read 10 books a year, that’s good.
41. A. once again B. as usual C. in time D. at last
42. A. smoothly B. patiently C. worriedly D. slowly
43. A. radio B. computer C. phone D. typewriter
44. A. friends B. coaches C. colleagues D. roommates
45. A. means B. proves C. explains D. admits
46. A. discovery B. goal C. ability D. reason
47. A. seeing B. teaching C. describing D. greeting
48. A. receive B. repeat C. reunite D. rebuild
49. A. easy B. delightful C. functional D. fast
50. A. exciting B. busy C. interesting D. short
51. A. afraid B. anxious C. ready D. right
52. A. trying B. preparing C. focusing D. asking
53. A. similar B. strange C. special D. simple
54. A. produce B. recognize C. manage D. arrange
55. A. create B. understand C. write D. believe
56. A. since B. though C. unless D. when
57. A. allowed B. expected C. advised D. ordered
58. A. books B. illness C. doctors D. family
59. A. decided B. chosen C. continued D. learned
60. A. sells B. delivers C. reads D. collects