In 1989, an 8.2 earthquake almost flattened America, killing over 30, 000 people in less than four minutes. In the midst of utter destruction and chaos, a father left his wife safely at home and rushed to the school where his son was supposed to be, only to discover that the building was as flat as a pancake.
After the unforgettably initial shock, he remembered the promise he had made to his son: “No matter what, I'll always be there for you!” And tears began to fill his eyes. As he looked at the pile of ruins that once was the school, it looked hopeless, but he kept remembering his commitment to his son.
He began to direct his attention towards where he walked his son to class at school each morning. Remembering his son's classroom would be in the back right corner of the building, he rushed there and started digging through the ruins.
As he was digging, other helpless parents arrived, crying: “My son!” “My daughter!” Other well-meaning parents tried to pull him off what was left of the school, saying, “It's too late! They're all dead! You can't help! Go home! Come on! Face reality; there's nothing you can do!”
To each parent he responded with one line, “Are you going to help me now?” And then he continued to dig for his son, stone by stone. The fire chief showed up and tried to pull him off the school's ruins saying, “Fires are breaking out ; explosions are happening everywhere. You're in danger. We'll take care of it. Go home.” To which he replied, “Are you going to help me now?” Then came the police, but the father repealed the same line, “Are you going to help me now?” No one helped.
Courageously he went on alone because he needed to know for himself: “Is my boy alive or is he dead?” He dug for eight hours....12 hours...24 hours...36 hours...Then in the 38th hour, he pulled back a large stone and heard his son's voice. He screamed his son's name, “ARMAND!” He heard back, “Dad! It's me, Dad! I told the other kids not to worry. I told them that if you were alive, you'd save me and when you saved me, they'd be saved. You promised that no matter what happens, you'll always be there for me! You did it, Dad!”
【小题1】Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?| A．Over 30, 000 people were killed in the initial shock. |
| B．Most of the buildings in America were destroyed. |
| C．The earthquake only lasted for four minutes. |
| D．The earthquake left the city in chaos. |
| A．devotion | B．admission | C．promise | D．mission |
| A．Appreciation from the parents whose children were saved. |
| B．How to save the kids under the ruins. |
| C．The happy reunion between father and son. |
| D．The great loss the earthquake resulted in for the school. |
| A．report a destructive earthquake in American history |
| B．emphasize the great loss resulting from the earthquake |
| C．praise a father who managed to save his son during the earthquake |
| D．educate people not to give up easily when in difficulty |
