It was early in 1981 when I first met George. I was in my early 30s, seeking a creative outlet unrelated to the boredom of housework and raising little kids. At 65, George had recently retired and was seeking a rewarding hobby for his golden years. For both of us, painting was “it” and we met at a local TAFE painting class. Thus began a friendship that was to last for 25 years- -until the day he died.
George was a man who lived life to the full. He worked hard, played hard and had an opinion about everything. As a slim and energetic man, he took pride in his fitness and walked more than three kilometers every day. “I'd no more go without my walk than without changing my underwear. “He’d say.
As the only male in a painting class full of women, George ruled the roost and we were his hens. He adored his singular role and looked after his brood with the same attention he gave to everything.
He took to painting with passion and commitment, even changing the spare bedroom of his home into a studio. His painting equipment was comprehensive- an easel, quality paints, linseed oil, turpentine, brushes, palette, canvases, charcoal pencils, fixative, palette knives- even a rolling pin for removing air bubbles when gluing.
For about six years George and I studied together through various units until the completion of the course and other commitments drew us apart, though we always maintained personal contact as we lived within a couple of kilometers of each other. I'd sometimes see him on his daily walk or at the local shops and occasionally we' d touch base with a“proper”afternoon tea.
Fast-forward some years and George was now about 80 years old. He rang one day and asked me to come to his house, saying he needed to ask me something. George explained that he was giving up painting and giving away all his “stuff". Everything- -paints, boards, canvases, completed works and rolling pin! “I can't paint, Bev.” He declared in the manner of a child who had to say farewell to his favorite toy.“ You have the best talent and are most likely to use it," he said.
After considerable persuasion, I accepted this precious gift on condition that he could reclaim it at any time. He never did, of course, and I still use much of his equipment today, more than 20 years later. As I paint, I often remember George and his big personality.
7. The friendship between George and the writer started because_________
A.they thought painting was characterized by creativity |
B.they appreciated each other for their painting ability |
C.they thought painting was a great way of killing time |
D.they shared happiness in their local painting class |
8. The underlined sentence in Paragraph 2 indicates that_________
A.George walked too hard to change his underwear |
B.George viewed his walk as a great way to keep fit |
C.George had his opinion of changing his underwear |
D.George had to walk hard daily to live life to the full |
9. The rolling pin is mentioned in Paragraph 4 to show that_________
A.George was passionate about painting |
B.George was cautious about his painting |
C.George was skilled with his painting |
D.George was fond of its use in painting |
10. Which of the following can NOT reflect George’s “big personality “in the last paragraph?
A.“He worked hard, played hard and had an opinion about everything" (Paragraph 2) |
B.“As the only male ... George ruled the roost and we were his hens." (Paragraph 3) |
C.“I’d sometimes see him on his daily walk .... afternoon tea." (Paragraph 5) |
D.“He declared in the manner of a child who ... his favorite toy." (Paragraph 6) |