199102 (追試)

199102 (追試)

People have trouble deciding what I am. Mexicans mistake me for Mexican; in Chinese restaurants I am usually given a menu written in Chinese; and once a Japanese boy asked me if I was Korean.

Take the man I met at a barber’s in Chicago, for instance. He was last in line waiting for a haircut, and he stared at me through his thick glasses as I walked in and sat next to him. Then he smiled and said in an accent that convinced me he was from Alabama, “You’re Indian, aren’t you?”
“No,” I told him, “I’m not.”

Alabama shook his head and said, “You can’t fool me. I’ve met all kinds of American Indians. I know you’re some kind of Indian.”
I took a deep breath. “No.”
“Cherokee?”
“No, not Cherokee.”
“Not Apache, are you?”
“No. I’ve never even been in Apache country.”
There was a brief pause. He seemed to be trying to think of another Indian name.
“Winnebago?”

As it happened, I knew quite a lot about the Winnebagos. In the army I’d been friendly with a Winnebago Indian. He often talked to me about his home in Wisconsin. “That’s wonderful country where the Winnebagos live.” I said. “Plenty of fishing. Have you ever heard of muskellunge? Most people call them ‘muskies’. They’re really good to eat – salted, fried or broiled.”

Alabama looked impressed. “So you’re a Winnebago,’ he said happily.
“I never said that,” I answered, and turned away.
He lowered his voice. “Are you running away from there? Maybe from the police?”
“No, I am not,” I responded sharply.
“OK, Chief,” he said quickly. “I didn’t mean any harm.”

For a long time Alabama said nothing.
Then he began again. “Are you Comanche?”
“No, I’m not Comanche,” I said rather crossly, although I had nothing against the tribe.
He thought hard. “Hopi, then?”

I smiled. The Hopis were a bribe I’d be proud to belong to. I’d once gone to art school in Los Angeles with a Hopi. He was a fine artist. I started thinking about some of the great times we’d had together, and began to laugh.

Alabama slapped his knee and said, “You’re a Hopi! From Arizona.”
“Well.” I sighed, “I was in Hopi country.”
I really had been there. I’d been sent to a special camp in Arizona for Japanese-Americans during World War II, before I joined the army.
Alabama’s eyes lit up. “I knew it! What tribe was it, Chief?”
“Nipponese. We were scattered a bit until the government gathered us up and put us all together again.”

Alabama nodded. “That must be a very small tribe. I’ve never heard of it.”
I had enjoyed my joke, but I wasn’t going to be anyone else but myself. “A Nipponese is a Japanese,” I said slowly and somewhat self-consciously.

Alabama looked puzzled. “Japanese, eh? You could pass as Indian any day.”
“Japanese,” I repeated.
“Sure, sure. But you were born in the USA, weren’t you?”
“I was born in Hawaii.”
“Well, you’re American like me, then. A man should be proud of what he is. Aren’t you?”
“I’m pleased that I am who I am, Alabama,” I told him. “It’s good to be alive.”
“Of course it is,” he answered. “But you’re wrong about me. I’m not from Alabama.”
“No?”
“No!” He stood up because it was finally his turn for a haircut. “I’m from Georgia,” he said in a loud voice, “and proud of it.”
“Sorry I made the mistake,” I told him, though I just couldn’t see what difference it made whether he came from Georgia or Alabama.

  1. What was the man with glasses doing at the barber’s when the writer met him?
    ① He was cutting his hair.
    ② He was standing in line outside.
    ③ He was talking with other people.
    ④ He was waiting for a haircut.
  2. Why did the writer know so much about Winnebago Indians?
    ① Because he had lots of Winnebago Indian friends in Wisconsin.
    ② Because he once lived with Winnebago Indians in Wisconsin.
    ③ Because he used to go fishing in Wisconsin while in the army.
    ④ Because he’d had an Indian friend from Wisconsin in the army.
  3. How did the writer become friends with a Hopi Indian?
    ① They had a great time fishing together.
    ② They met in the army during the war.
    ③ They were both students at the same school.
    ④ They were sent to a special camp together.
  4. Why was the writer in Arizona during World War II?
    ① He was living with Hopi Indians in their camp.
    ② He was staying in a special camp for Japanese-Americans.
    ③ He was studying the life and culture of Hopi Indians.
    ④ He was teaching Indian art at an art school there.
  5. What was the joke the writer told to the man with glasses?
    ① He made the man believe he was a police officer.
    ② He pretended that he was a very important government official.
    ③ He said that he was the chief of an Indian tribe.
    ④ He used Nipponese’ as if it were the name of an Indian tribe.
  6. What mistake did the writer make about the man with glasses?
    ① He thought the man came from Georgia.
    ② He thought the man was running away from the police.
    ③ He thought the man was trying to get a haircut before his turn.
    ④ He thought the man’s home state was Alabama.
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