In my first year of teaching in Houston, I was asked to act as a batman at a birthday party.
One night,the headmaster handed me a costume and said, "Tomorrow you're going to be batman." I knew a batman with a moustache at the party was a huge red flag. I knew it was specially bad for my image,but I didn't want to change my physical appearance because that would mean I was funnier, so I chose not to shave.
The party was at a huge public park, and I had to park my car far enough away so that the children couldn't see me. Then I walked to it secretly, but unluckily,the children saw me coming from about 300 meters away.
I started to regret not to shave. When I got close enough for them to see my face clearly the entire party broke into laughter. I wanted to turn around and run back in embarrassment, but then the laughter changed into cheering and applause. I ran into the party and saw the "birthday"boy with his dad.The dad laughed,"I told you,son.A batman has a moustache."Then he showed me the huge birthday cake with a batman drawn on it,and the batman had a moustache. I just stared at it in disbelief. But it was a thick black line drawn underneath his nose, just like my moustache.
All the children said,"A batman doesn't have a moustache."Instead of admitting the cake was messed up, the parents tried to save face, saying,"No,a batman always has a moustache. He just shaves it for his movies."Naturally,the children were doubtful, but my moustache became the detail that confirmed what the parents had said. Those children of the perfect age still believed in wonders and superheroes and they were pleased to find something kept hidden from others.
That year,I struggled a lot with my identity.Was I a teacher or a clown(小丑)? But that day, I may not have been the hero they ordered,and crtainly I wasn't the hero they expected, but I was the hero they needed.
4. What does the underlined phrase"a huge red flag"in paragraph 2 mean?
A.A big loss. | B.A red sunrise. |
C.A great honor. | D.A disadvantageous thing. |
5. Why did the author have his car parked far away?
A.To buy a huge birthday cake. |
B.To take a walk before the party. |
C.To avoid being noticed by the children. |
D.To keep away from the thick black line. |
6. How did the author feel when the whole party burst out laughing?
A.Awkward. | B.Relieved. |
C.Happy. | D.Puzzled. |
7. What can be the best title for the text?
A.A Funny Father |
B.A Famous Clown |
C.A Superhero with a Secret |
D.A Perfect Age for Wonders |