“Hey, Dad, are you going to come to my award ceremony tonight?” I 36 asked my father.
“I have to work late tonight. I doubt I’ll be able to 37 it on time. I am just too busy right now,” he replied.
My mind could not 38 the idea that he would be too busy working late. He was also too busy to 39 my horse show and the 15th birthday party. He always used the same 40 . Why had I even bothered to ask? 41 , there was always a slight hope that tonight would be 42 .
As my mother and I arrived at school, two friends 43 me. “Jill, meet my dad. Dad, this is my friend Jill.” I shook the hand of a tall man. Camera flashes lit up the room, and claps filled the 44 as students accepted their awards. My name was finally called, 45 three others. I followed my classmates to the 46 . When I reached out my hand to shake the 47 , a big smile lit up her face. The blinding flash from my mother’s camera 48 my eyes and I knew my dad wasn’t there. I walked back to my seat 49 .
Back at home, seeing my dad’s car in the garage, I told myself he would not be 50 . But the strong smell of alcohol hit me as soon as I 51 inside, and I could feel my tears 52 . I followed the sound of his drunken words and saw him 53 on the couch.
54 did father lie to me? I threw my award on the floor, walked to my bedroom, and shut the door. Tears rolled down my face. I wondered if I would ever be more 55 than his whiskey bottle.
A. confidently B. eagerly C. proudly D. casually
A. reach B. keep C. take D. make
A. create B. support C. appreciate D. accept
A. watch B. avoid C. attend D. speed
A. excuse B. problem C. promise D. trick
A. Besides B. Thus C. Otherwise D. However
A. active B. formal C. different D. serious
A. recognized B. greeted C. encouraged D. showed
A. air B. audience C. school D. playground
A. up to B. other than C. out of D. along with
A. stage B. position C. office D. exit
A. Jill’s B. teacher’s C. mother’s D. father’s
A. fixed B. touched C. hurt D. inserted
A. successfully B. disappointedly C. delightedly D. hopefully
A. drunk B. woken C. forgiven D. hidden
A. stepped B. noticed C. examined D. glanced
A. getting off B. taking down C. building up D. turning around
A. leaning B. lying C. moving D. crying
A. How B. Where C. Why D. Whether
A. perfect B. comfortable C. fortunate D. important