My father was Chief Engineer of a merchant ship,which was sunk in World War Ⅱ. The bookNight of the U-boats told the story.
Memories
In September,1940,my mother,sister and I went to Swansea,where my father’s ship was getting ready to sail. We brought him a family photograph to be kept with him at all times and keep him safe.
Then I remember my mother lying face down,sobbing. She had heard from a friend that the ship had been sunk by a torpedo (鱼雷).
I can remember the arrival of the telegram (电报),which in those days always brought bad news. My grandmother opened it. It read,“Safe. Love Ted. “
My most vivid memory is being woken and brought down to sit on my father’s knee,his arm in a bandage.
He was judged unfit to return to sea and took a shore job in Glasgow for the rest of the war. For as long as I can remember,he had a weak heart. Mother said it was caused by the torpedoes. He saidit was because of the cigarettes. Whichever,he died suddenly in his early 50s.
Ten years later I readNight of the U-boats and was able to complete the story.
Torpedo
One torpedo struck the ship. Father was in the engine room,where the third engineer was killed. He shut down the engines to slow the ship making it easier for it to be abandoned.
By the time he got on deck (甲板)he was alone. Every lifeboat was gone except one which had stuck fast. When he tried to cut it free,it swung against the ship,injuring his hand and arm. He had no choice but to jump—still with the photograph in his pocket.
Three days later,he and other survivors were safe in Glasgow. All 23 with him signed the back of the photograph.
A Toast
In my room is the book and the photograph. Often,glass in hand,I have wondered how I would have dealt with an explosion,a sinking ship,a jump into a vast ocean and a wait for rescue?Lest(以免)we forget,I have some more whisky and toast the heroes of the war.
1. We can infer that the mother and children went to Swansea .
A. to meet a friend
B. to see the father off
C. to take a family photo
D. to enjoy the sailing of the ship
2. What did the author learn about the father from the telegram?
A. He was still alive.
B. His knee was broken.
C. His ship had been sunk.
D. He had arrived in Glasgow.
3. The underlined word“it” in Paragraph 6 refers to the father’s .
A. weak heart
B. taking a shore job
C. failure to return to sea
D. injury caused by a torpedo
4. What can we know about the author’s father after his ship was attacked?
A. He lost his arm.
B. He repaired the engines.
C. He managed to take a lifeboat.
D. He was the last to leave the ship.
5. What is the passage mainly about?
A. A group of forgotten heroes.
B. A book describing a terrifying battle.
C. A ship engineer’s wartime experience.
D. A merchant’s memories of a sea rescue.