When the phone finally stopped ringing and the house lay still with grief, I filled my home with the sweet smell of peach pie to mask the scent of worry that still lingered.

The weekend after Dad’s diagnosis (诊断), Mom had sent the same text to each concerned relative and friend: Jay was diagnosed with Pick’s disease. We are going back to the doctor for more information. Then Mom put down the phone, rubbed her forehead, and suggested that we go for a drive. On the interstate, we passed a board with clear red letters: “Fredericksburg peaches, the best fruit you can find in Central Texas.” Mom went to negotiate with the stand owner.

Now in our kitchen, the sweet smell of peach juice drifted into the living room and pulled Dad away from the football game on TV.

“Oh! You got peaches?” He eyed the fruit with childish glee (欢快).

“Here,” I handed him a knife. “We’re making peach pie.”

I showed him how to peel the skin off. As I made pie dough, he asked questions: How long does it take to bake? Are you adding sugar? How many peaches? What should I do with the seeds? Showing him how to slice and measure and mix in a calm, firm voice, I suddenly felt grown up.

The summer had reversed our roles; now, I was the adult. I stayed home all summer and cooked his dinner, washed his T-shirts and helped him make phone calls. I stayed up late thinking about him and monitored him like an anxious caretaker.

The same day, before the afternoon drive and peach pie, I had held my tears as I read the diagnosis for Pick’s disease: four to ten years, depending on how fast the damaged proteins overpower Dad’s brain. I decided then that I would be grateful for just four more years with Dad, enough for him to see me become an adult for real.

【小题1】Why did Mom propose a ride?

A．To purchase fruits.	B．To enjoy a trip.
C．To release sorrow.	D．To consult the doctor.

【小题2】What can we learn about the family from the passage?

A．It takes years for Dad to recover.

B．The author enjoys the time with Dad.

C．Dad shows little interest in football games.

D．The author gets annoyed by Dad’s questions.

【小题3】Which of the following best describes this summer for the author?

A．Tough and confusing.	B．Boring but rewarding.
C．Annoying and struggling.	D．Painstaking but meaningful.

【小题4】Which of the following can be a suitable title for the passage?

A．Peach Pie	B．Diagnosis for Dad
C．Father And Daughter	D．A Plain Summer Day