2005/02（追試）
I met Susan when I was a first-year student in college. We were put together as roommates, and I found that we had completely opposite personalities. I was never neat. and Susan was extremely organized. Everything she owned was labeled, and she carefully returned each item to its own place after she had used it. Both of us had cute little pencil cases; hers was full of labeled pencils, but mine was always empty.
Over time Susan got neater and I got messier. A messy environment was comfortable enough for me but not for her. Because of our different habits, we began to dislike each other. Day after day she would complain about my dirty clothes thrown all over the floor, and I would complain about the heavy smell of her air freshener.
One October evening Susan came into our room while I was on my bed reading, and she glanced at the top of her desk.
“What’s this, Mary?” she asked.
“Oh, that’s my T-shirt from gym class,” I responded casually and turned my attention back to my book.
“Why is your dirty, smelly T-shirt on my desk? Get it off and keel) it off,” she exploded with anger.
I always left my clothes all over the room, so I did not know why she was so concerned about that one particular shirt, but it really made her mad. She picked it up and threw it toward my side of the room, knocking my lamp off my desk and onto the floor. I leapt off the bed in shock and screamed at her. She yelled back and we probably would have argued all evening and not shared the room another day if the phone had not rung.
Susan answered it. Since it was for her, I angrily threw myself on my bed. The room was thick with unspoken words, and I thought I simply could not remain her roommate: I had to move out. I probably would have, but as I lay there, I could tell that Susan’s phone call was not good news. I knew she had a boyfriend back home. From what I could hear her say, I guessed he had found a new girlfriend. It surprised me that tender feelings began to fill my heart. Not long before I left for college, my boyfriend had done the same thing and that painful memory was still fresh. I sat up on the edge of my bed and looked across the room at her.
When she had hung up the phone, she quickly crawled under her bedcovers and turned toward the wall. I could hear her sobbing quietly. I was still upset, so I did not want to just walk over and talk to her. But I did not want to leave her alone, either. I sat on my bed for a moment, wondering what I should do. Then I got an idea and smiled to myself.
Slowly I began to clean up my side of the room. I returned my lamp to the desk. I picked up my socks and shirts. I put the pencils in my pencil case and made my bed. Then I took the books I had left on her desk and put them in the bookcase. I swept the floor, even on her side. I got so involved in my work that I did not know that she had turned away from the wall and come out from under the covers.
When I was fully done, I looked at her and saw that her tears had stopped and she was watching me in complete surprise. I went and sat on her bed, not saying anything. I did not know what to say. After a moment, I took her hand. Unexpectedly, it was warm. I had thought it would be cold, probably because I always thought organized people were heartless. But no, 11cr hand was warm as it held mine. I looked down into Susan’s eyes, and she smiled at me.
Susan and I stayed roommates for the rest of that year. We still did not always agree on things, but we came to understand the key to living together: giving in, cleaning up, and getting along.
- How was Mary different from Susan?
① Her belongings were clearly identified.
② She enjoyed the smell of air freshener.
③ She left dirty clothes lying on the floor.
④ She was quite neat and organized. - Why did Susan shout at Mary angrily one evening?
① Mary tried to borrow Susan’s T-shirt for gym class.
② Mary had left a T-shirt that needed washing on Susan’s desk.
③ Susan thought that Mary had stolen her boyfriend.
④ Susan had accidentally knocked Mary’s lamp on the floor. - Why was Susan so upset by the phone call?
① Mary’s boyfriend had found a new girlfriend.
② The call interrupted her argument.
③ Her boyfriend had lost interest in her.
④ The caller did not want to talk to Mary. - What did Mary do to show her sympathy for Susan?
① She told Susan about losing her boyfriend.
② She held Susan’s hand and warmed it.
③ She watched Susan crying alone.
④ She began to clean the room. - What happened after that evening?
① Susan and Mary had no problem getting along.
② Susan thanked Mary for the phone call.
③ Susan and Mary became better roommates.
④ Susan learned how to keep her side of the room clean.
