At home during suppertime, Pete announced, “Baba Olena wants us to come for Easter dinner.” Mom shook her head, “That’s sweet, but I don’t think so.” Dad laughed, “I wouldn’t want to seem rude if I didn’t like her cooking. Can you tell her thanks but we already have plans?”
Pete sighed. His parents hardly knew Baba Olena. They didn’t know about her pastries (糕点) and funny sayings. All they saw was an Ukrainian woman with strange hair and a yard full of chickens.
On Easter Sunday, they passed Baba Olena’s house as they headed for Dixie’s Diner. When they arrived, they found the diner was dark, and no cars were in front of it. “What?” said Dad. “They’re always open!” “Not today,” Mom said. “Guess we’ll be making sandwiches.”
Across the street, Baba Olena stepped out of the house, waving to them.
Pete shouted, “Looks like Baba’s expecting us.” “We can’t go there,” Dad said, but Baba was hurrying over. “You came! I’m so happy,” she said. “This morning I saw the diner is closed and thought maybe you will come.”
Inside, Pete’s parents sat stiff (僵硬地) as yardsticks while Baba was busy with her pastries happily.
Dad looked at something red on the table. “What’s this?” “Beet (甜菜) salad. I use the juice for my hair.” Baba and Pete smiled at each other.
“And this –” She set down bowls of what looked like little half-moon pastries – “is Ukrainian stuffed dumplings. These have cabbage filling; those have potato. No crane today.”
Mum looked at her, open-mouthed.
Pete laughed and explained about the “crane” chips. Dad and Mum laughed, too.
Mum took a small bite. “Delicious!” “Oh, good you like it.” Baba said.
By the time she cut the round Easter bread, everyone was talking. “Now I see why Pete wanted to eat here,” Dad said. Mum nodded. “And why he speaks highly of you nonstop.”
Later, Baba brought out the basket of eggs. “It’s an old Ukrainian tradition to play with Easter eggs,” she said. “See, Pete, hold yours to mine, end to end, like this. The egg that doesn’t break, wins.”
Pete held his egg ready. “I already won something,” he said.
(Adapted from Easter with Baba Olena)
31. When Pete sighed, he mostly felt ________.
A.acceptable | B.regretful | C.nervous | D.guilty |
32. What does the underlined word “something” in the last paragraph refer to (指代)?
A.The Easter egg. | B.The delicious dinner. |
C.The fantastic day. | D.The traditional game. |
33. What can we infer from the passage?
A.Baba knew little about Pete and his family members. |
B.Pete’s family had dinner at Dixie’s Diner every Easter. |
C.Baba once had an interesting talk about chips with Pete. |
D.Pete always went to spend Sundays with Baba in her house. |