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The drug store was closing for the night. Young Alfred Higgins, the shop-assistant, was ready to go
home. Mr. Carr, the boss, stared at him and said:"Hold on, Alfred. Maybe you'd be good enough to take
the things out of your pockets and leave them here before you go." Alfred's face got red. After a little
hesitation, he took out what he had stolen. Mr. Carr said,"Maybe I should call your mother and let her
know I'm going to have to put you in prison."
Alfred thought his mother would come rushing in, eyes burning with anger. But, to his surprise, she
arrived wearing a smile. "Hello, I'm Alfred's mother. Is he in trouble?" she said. Mr. Carr was surprised,
too. He had expected Alfred's mother to come in nervously, shaking with fear, asking with wet eyes for
a mercy for her son. But no, she was most calm, quiet and pleasant and was making Mr. Carr feel
guilty…. Soon Mr. Carr was shaking his head in agreement with what she was saying."Of course", he
said, "I don't want to be cruel. You are right. Sometimes, a little good advice is the best thing for a boy at
certain times in his life and it often takes the youths long time to get sense into their heads." And he warmly
shook Mrs. Higgins's hand.
Back home, without even looking at Alfred, she said,"You are a bad luck. It is one thing after another,
always has been. Why do you stand there so stupidly? Go to bed." In his bedroom, Alfred heard his mother
in the kitchen. There was no shame in him, just pride inhis mother's strength. He felt he must tell her how
great she was. As he got to the kitchen, he saw his mother drinking a cup of tea. He was shocked by what
he saw. His mother's face was a frightened, broken one. It was not the same cool, bright face he saw
earlier in the drug store. As she lifted the tea cup, her hand shook. And some of the tea splashed on the table.
Her lips moved nervously. She looked very old. He watched his mother without making a sound. The picture
of his mother made him want to cry. He felt his youth coming to an end. He saw all the troubles he brought
his mother in her shaking hand and the deep lines of worry in her grey face. It seemed to him that this was
the first time he had ever really seen his mother.
1. The reason why Mr. Carr felt guilty was that _____.
A. he found Alfred was in fact innocent
B. he should have called a policeman in first
C. Alfred's mother appeared polite and gentle
D. he thought he was partly responsible for it
2. Which of the following is probably said by Mrs. Higgins while talking to Mr. Carr?
A. "Please, for God's sake, you know, he is just a kid."
B. "I can't believe it! You are treating my son like that!"
C. "You know, it takes time for a youth to truly grow up."
D. "Punishment makes sense because it teaches about the law."
3. What does the underlined phrase "his mother's strength"(Para. 3) refer to?
A. Mrs. Higgins's calmness and communicating skills.
B. Mrs. Higgins's attitude towards parental sufferings.
C. Mrs. Higgins's love and care for her son Alfred.
D. Mrs. Higgins's greatness as a woman.
4. After the incident, young Alfred would probably _____.
A. feel ashamed of his mother
B. change his attitude towards life
C. learn to live an independent life
D. hate Mr. Carr for hurting his mother

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