One summer during high school, my mom volunteered me to help Grandpa research our family tree. Great, I thought, imagining hours spent pawing through dusty, rotting boxes and listening to boring stories about people I didn't know. "You'll be surprised," my mom promised, "Family histories can be very interesting."
In truth, Grandpa didn't want to limit my work to just research, hoping to also preserve our family memories. He'd discovered a computer program that helps digitally scan old pictures and letters to preserve their contents before they crumble from old age. Grandpa wanted me to help him connect the scanner and set up the computer program. He could type documents and send emails, but had never used a scanner.
Soon after, I became fascinated with my relatives' lives. I asked Grandpa to tell the story behind every picture and letter we scanned. The stories, which turned out not to be boring at all, helped me not only understand but also relate to my relatives. I became so hungry for more information that Grandpa needed additional props to keep me satisfied. He showed me a chest filled with random stuff, all covered in dust.
Perusing through their belongings, I felt I was opening a window into the world of my relatives, a world long since gone. Grandpa showed me a bundle of letters he had sent to Grandma from the front lines of World War II and I could almost smell the gunpowder. I turned the pages of my great-grandmother's recipe book and could picture her cooking in her kitchen. All of the people who had been merely names to me now had faces to match.
Later, Grandpa admitted, "I probably could have done this project myself. I just wanted someone to share it with." I can't thank him enough for sharing the experience and making me appreciate the family members who have made me the person I am. I will cherish family memories and hope that someday will be able to pass them down to my own grandchildren.
11. Which of the following can best describe the author's first impression of research?
A.Delightful. | B.Tiresome. |
C.Surprising. | D.Interesting |
12. What does the underlined word "crumble" in paragraph 2 probably mean?
A.Come to life. | B.Tear apart. |
C.Fall to pieces. | D.Break through. |
13. Why did Grandpa give the author a chest?
A.To show him a bundle of letters. | B.To keep him away from boredom. |
C.To give him something to sort out. | D.To fulfill his desire to know more. |
14. What can we learn about Grandpa from the passage?
A.He used to serve in the army. | B.He knew nothing about computer. |
C.He buried the letters under gunpowder. | D.He loved sharing what he had with others. |
15. The best title of the passage is _______.
A.Precious family memories | B.My grandpa and his belongings |
C.My grandpa and his family tree | D.Helping my grandpa in summer |