Myfatherhadalwaysbeenanalertobserverofhumancharacter.Withinsecondsofmeetingsomeonehecouldsumuptheirstrengthsandweaknesses.ItwasalwaysachallengetoseeifanyofmyboyfriendscouldpassDad’stest.Nonedid.Dadwasalwaysright--theydidn’tpassmytesteither.AfterDaddiedIwonderedhowI’dfigureitoutonmyown.

That’swhenJackarrivedonthescene.HewasdifferentfromanyotherguyI’ddated.Hecouldsitforhoursonthepianobenchwithmymotherdiscussingsomecomposers.MybrotherRickloudlyannouncedthatJackwasn’taturkeyliketheotherguysI’dbroughthome.Jackpassedmyfamily’stest.ButwhataboutDad’s?

Thencamemymother’sbirthday.ThedayhewassupposedtodriveIgotacall.“Don’tworry”hesaid“butI’vebeeninanaccident.I’mfinebutIneedyoutopickmeup.”

WhenIgottherewerushedtoaflowershopforsomethingforMom.“Howaboutgardenias?”Jacksaidpointingatabeautifulwhitecorsage(胸花).Thefloristputthecorsageinabox.

TheentirerideJackwasunusuallyquiet.“Areyouallright?”Iasked.“I’vebeendoingalotofthinking”hesaid.“Imightbemoving.”Moving?Thenheadded“Movinginwithyou.”Inearlyputthecaronthesidewalk.“What?”Iasked.“Ithinkweshouldgetmarried”hesaid.Hetoldmehe’dplannedhisproposal(求婚)inafancyrestaurantbutaftertheaccidenthedecidedtodoitrightaway.

“Yes”Iwhispered.Webothsatdumbfoundedtearsrunningdownourcheeks.I’dneverknownsuchatendermoment.IfonlyDadwereheretogivehisfinalapproval.

“Ohlet’sjustgoinside.”Jacklaughed.Mymotheropenedthedoor.“Happybirthday!”Weshouted.Jackhandedtheboxtoher.Sheopeneditup.Suddenlyhereyeswerefilledwithtears. “Momwhat’swrong?”Iasked.“I’msorry”shesaidwipinghereyes.“ThisisonlythesecondgardeniacorsageI’veeverreceived.Iwasgivenoneyearsagolongbeforeyoukidswereborn.”“Fromwhom?”Iasked.“Yourfather”Momsaid.“Hegavemeonerightbeforewewereengaged.”MyeyeslockedonJack’sasIblinkedaway(眨掉)tears.Dad’stest?IknewJackhadpassed.

39.WhatcanwelearnaboutJackfromParagraph2?

A.Jackgotthefamily’sapprovalexceptRick’s. B.Jackwasdifferentfromanyotherboy.

C.JackwasgettingonwellwithMother.