It was New Year’s night. An aged man was standing at a window. Few more hopeless people than himself now moved towards their certain goal—the tomb. He had already passed sixty of the age leading to it, and he had brought from his journey nothing but errors and regrets.
The days of his youth appeared like dreams before him, and he recalled the serious moment when his father placed him at the entrances of the two roads. One leading to a peaceful, sunny place covered with flowers and fruits; the other leading to a deep dark cave which was endless. He looked towards the sky and cried painfully, “Oh youth, return! Oh, my father, place me once more at the entrance to life.” But both his father and the days of his youth had passed away.
He saw the lights flowing away in the darkness, and these were the days of his wasted life; he saw a star fall from the sky and disappear, and this was the symbol of himself. Then he remembered his friends in his childhood, who entered life together with him. But they had made their way to success and were then honored and happy on that New Year’s night.
The clock in the high church tower struck and the sound made him remember his parents. They had taught him and prayed to God for his good. But he chose the wrong way with shame and grief. He dared no longer to look towards the heaven where his parents lived. He burst out a cry: “Come back, my early days!” And his youth did return, for all this was only a dream on New Year’s night. He was still young though his faults were real. He had not yet entered the deep dark cave, and he was still free to walk on the road which leads to the peaceful and sunny land.
【小题1】Which of the following words can best describe the aged man?| A．Merciful. | B．Foolish. |
| C．Regretful. | D．Fortunate. |
| A．The man wasted his life at one time. |
| B．The man’s friends missed their youth. |
| C．The man’s friends suffered failure finally. |
| D．The man was lonely in his childhood. |
| A．A Hopeless New Year’s Night | B．Two Roads to Take |
| C．Youth Coming Back | D．An Old Man’s Decision |
