2001/01（本試）
Going to the shore on the first morning of the vacation, Jerry stopped and looked at a wild and rocky bay, and then over to the crowded beach he knew so well from other years. His mother looked back at him.
“Are you tired of the usual beach, Jerry?”
“Oh, no!” he said quickly, but then said, “I’d like to look at those rocks down there.”
“Of course, if you like.”
Jerry watched his mother go, then ran straight into the water and began swimming, He was a good swimmer. He swam out over the gleaming sand and then he was in the real sea.
He saw some older, local boys ? men, to him ? sitting on the rocks. One smiled and waved. It was enough to make him feel welcome. In a minute, he had swum over and was on the rocks beside them. Then, as he watched, the biggest of the boys dived into the water, and did not come up. Jerry gave a cry of alarm, but after a long time the boy came up on the other side of a big dark rock, letting out a shout of victory. Immediately the rest of them dived and Jerry was alone. He counted the seconds they were under water: one, two, three … fifty … one hundred. At one hundred and sixty, one, then another, of the boys came up on the far side of the rock and Jerry understood that they had swum through some gap or hole in it. He knew then that he wanted to be like them. He watched as they swain away and then swam to shore himself.
Next day he swam back to the rocks. There was nobody else there. He looked at the great rock the boys had swum through. He could see no gap in it. He dived down to its base, again aid again. It took a long time, but finally, while he was holding on to the base of the rock, he shot his feet out forward and they met no obstacle. He had found the hole.
In the days that followed. Jerry hurried to the rocks every morning and exercised his lungs as if everything, the whole of his life, depended on it. He counted how long he could hold his breath. Each day he improved his time. Even back at home he timed himself by the clock, and was proud to find he could hold his breath for two minutes. The authority of the clock brought close the adventure that was so important to him.
The day after tomorrow, his mother reminded him casually one morning, they must go home. He swam straight out to the rock and looked down into the water. This was the moment when he would try. If he did not do it now, he never would. He filled his lungs, started to count, and dived to the bottom.
He was soon inside the dark, narrow hole. The water pushed him up against the roof. The roof was sharp and hurt his back. He pulled himself along with his hands ? fast, fast. His head knocked against something; a sharp pain dizzied him. He counted: one hundred
one hundred and fifteen. The hole had widened! He gave himself a kick forward and swam as fast as he could. He lost track of time and said one hundred and fifteen to himself again. Then he saw light. Victory filled him. His hands, reaching forward, met nothing; and his feet propelled him out into the open sea. He floated to the surface, pulled himself up onto the rock and lay face down, catching his breath. After a time he felt better and sat up. Then he swam to shore and climbed slowly up the path to the house.
His mother came to meet him, smiling.
“Have a nice time?” she asked.
“Oh, yes, thank you,” he said.
“How did you cut your head?”
“Oh, I just cut it.”
They sat down to lunch together.
“Mom,” he said, l can hold my breath for two minutes ? three minutes.”
“Can you, darling?” she said. “Well, you shouldn’t overdo it. You look a bit pale. I don’t think you ought to swim any more today.”
She was ready for a battle of wills, but he gave in at once. It was no longer of the least importance to go to the bay.
- Why did Jerry want to go to the rocky bay?
① He wanted to make friends with the local boys.
② He was tired and wanted to rest on the rock.
③ His mother suggested that it would be fun to go there.
④ The beach appeared less attractive than before. - What was in Jerry’s mind while the local boys were under water?
① He wanted to give the alarm to the people on the shore.
② He wanted to know how deep the water was.
③ He was impressed at how long they stayed down.
④ He was planning to compete against them. - What made Jerry decide to carry out his plan when he did?
① He could count to one hundred and fifteen.
② He had permission from the local authority.
③ He thought he might not try if he put it off.
④ He wanted his mother to he proud of him. - Why did Jerry lose track of time for a moment at one hundred and fifteen?
① He became confused when he saw light at the end of the hole.
② He forgot the time when he hit his head against the rock.
③ He was excited because he thought he was near the end of the hole.
④ He was surprised at counting to one hundred and fifteen, which he had never done before. - What made Jerry give in so easily when his mother told him not to go swimming?
① He had achieved his goal already.
② He was too tired to argue any more.
③ It is too dangerous to swim after lunch.
④ It was important to obey his mother.
