【答案】There are two things I can count on my dad asking

There are two things I can count on my dad asking every time he calls me: “Is there anything I can do for you?” and “How’s the car?” I guess he asks what he can do for me because his dad (an air force officer) was never really there for him, and he’s determined to provide me with the support he lacked. During my youth he never missed a school play or softball game. In fact, he was so supportive that I sometimes longed for one of those dads who dressed better and cared less. But my dad would forever be the guy wearing shorts with dress shoes and black socks, cheering me on, expecting greatness.

His other standard question—How’s the car? -- used to strike me as a waste of long-distance dollars from a man who once suggested making a list of what you want to talk about before calling someone out of state. What I now realize is that “How’s the car?” is not about the car. It’s a father’s way of asking his adult daughter how she is doing. The advantage is that if there’s something wrong with the car, he knows what to do about it and how much it will cost, whereas if you’re having problems about marriage or doubting a career choice, he might have to act Mom on the line.

At age thirty I finally took the plunge(跳进) into adulthood by renting a car without my dad’s help or advice. I’m sure my dad was hurt rather than proud. Though a daughter’s independence is evidence of a job well done, it still implies the job’s done, and many fathers are unwilling to retire. Even when my dad was overworked, he’d happily jump on a plane if I said I needed help. His frequent question “Is there anything I can do for you?” underlines the fact that he wishes there was still something he could provide. It’s interesting: Even though we’re tied by blood and I love him no matter what, he still seems to need a concrete function -- suggesting stocks, finding the cheapest plane fare -- to feel he has a role in my life.

小题1:In the author’s opinion, her father always attended her school plays or softball games to_____.

A．satisfy any demand she made to him

B．show his interest and watch them for fun

C．make up what he was previously short of

D．expect his daughter would be great in games

小题2:The author has learned that by asking “How is the car?”, her father is actually_____.

A．reminding her not to waste money

B．asking how his daughter is getting along

C．expressing his concern for her daughter’s safety

D．asking his daughter if the car breaks down or not

小题3:According to the author, her father, like many other fathers, is unwilling to retire probably because_____.

A．he wants to continue to earn money

B．he is doubtful of children’s independence

C．he won’t put an end to caring for his children

D．he is afraid of losing connection with children

小题4:We can safely draw a conclusion from the story that in the author’s eye her father_____.

A．has a strong passion for his work

B．has the deepest love for his children

C．has great interest in his daughter’s car

D．has too much control over his children
答案
小题1:C

小题2:B

小题3:C

小题4:B
解析
小题1:C 细节理解题。根据第一段提到I guess he asks what he can do for me because his dad (an air force officer) was never really there for him, and he’s determined to provide me with the support he lacked. During my youth he never missed a school play or softball game我认为他所做的是因为他的爸爸没有为他做的，所以才来参加与我有关任何的活动，所以选C项。

小题2:B 细节理解题。根据第二段所提到What I now realize is that “How’s the car?” is not about the car. It’s a father’s way of asking his adult daughter how she is doing这句话不是问车怎么样，而是一种父亲式的关怀，问女儿情况如何，所以选B项。

小题3:C 细节理解题。根据第三段提到Though a daughter’s independence is evidence of a job well done, it still implies the job’s done, and many fathers are unwilling to retire.尽管女儿的独立是工作很好的证据，但它也表示工作的结束，许多父亲不愿意退休，所以选C项这意味着他要停止关心女儿 ，孩子已经长大了，所以选C项。

小题4:B 细节推断题。根据最后一段提到Even when my dad was overworked, he’d happily jump on a plane if I said I needed help即使当他非常忙时，如果我说我需要帮助，他会十分开心，Even though we’re tied by blood and I love him no matter what, he still seems to need a concrete function -- suggesting stocks, finding the cheapest plane fare -- to feel he has a role in my life.虽然我们有血缘关系，他仍然需要一个具体的作用来感觉他在我的生活中仍然起着重要的作用，所以体现父亲对女儿常常的爱，所以选B项。