Education from My Father
My memories of my father are slim because he was so sick in the last years of his life. But there are 32 that I am often reminded of and which may have had some bearing on my love of 33 .
When I was small I was somewhat 34 of lightning and thunder. My father explained it. The explanation was in 35 that a child could understand but was basically correct. I gained a better 36 later, but I didn’t have to unlearn anything.
What he said was that there was electricity in the clouds 37 it traveled to the ground like a spark. When it traveled 38 the air it made the air so hot that it 39 . Then there was nothing where the air had been and the air all around rushed in to 40 the space. He clapped his hands together very loud, 41 to be the air rushing in, and said that makes the thunder. When I hear thunder, I can still hear that 42 .
He explained why if it was cloudy in the winter the night was warmer than if it was 43 . It was one of those nights when the sky was full of stars: no moon, no town lights. But there were more stars than you could 44 and they had color too. He said that if there were no clouds, we had no blankets and were 45 to the universe. Our warmth was going to 46 the whole universe. When there were clouds, they were like blankets and we were not exposed to the universe. I 47 feel on the edge of space on a very clear night.
I am sure there were many other lessons that I 48 but no longer remember. What I did 49 , in general, was that there were explanations and that the more I understood them, the more comfortable the world was to live in. I was not taught that there were 50 but that there was understanding if you looked for it. This may be why I have always been 51 in science.
A.others B.few C.some D.all
A.science B.nature C.weather D.universe
A.sure B.fond C.tired D.afraid
A.depth B.words C.gestures D.data
A.understanding B.knowledge C.command D.confidence
A.but B.and C.for D.or
A.above B.to C.along D.through
A.shone B.burned C.expanded D.broke
A.fill B.make C.avoid D.break
A.trying B.proving C.hoping D.pretending
A.clap B.remark C.voice D.crash
A.cold B.bright C.clear D.foggy
A.explore B.foresee C.imagine D.identify
A.committed B.exposed C.related D.led
A.heat B.protect C.extend D.light
A.ever B.also C.even D.still
A.selected B.arranged C.absorbed D.delivered
A.consider B.promise C.explain D.learn
A.memories B.blankets C.mysteries D.thunders
A.engaged B.interested C.successful D.skillful