Part B Reading
Salty Coffee
He met her at a party. She was outstanding; many guys were after her, but nobody paid any attention to him. After the party, he invited her for coffee. She was surprised. So as not to appear rude, she went along.
As they sat in a nice coffee shop, he was too nervous to say anything and she felt uncomfortable. Suddenly, he asked the waiter,“Could you please give me some salt? I’d like to put it in my coffee. ”
They stared at him. He turned red, but when the salt came, he put it in his coffee and drank. Curious, she asked, “Why put salt in the coffee?” He explained, “When I was a little boy, I lived near the sea.I liked playing on the seaside ... I could feel its taste salty, like salty coffee. Now every time I drink it, I think of my childhood and my hometown. I miss it and my parents, who are still there. ”
She was deeply touched. A man who can admit that he’s homesick must love his home and care about his family. He must be responsible.
She talked too, about her faraway hometown, her childhood, her family. That was the start to their love story.
They continued to date. She found that he met all her requirements.He was tolerant, kind, warm and careful. And to think she would have missed the catch if not for the salty coffee!
So they married and lived happily together. And every time she made coffee for him, she put in some salt, the way he liked it.
After 40 years, he passed away and left her a letter which said:
My dearest, please forgive my life-long lie. Remember the first time we dated? I was so nervous I asked for salt instead of sugar.
It was hard for me to ask for a change, so I just went ahead. I never thought that we would hit it off. Many times, I tried to tell you the truth,but I was afraid that it would ruin everything.
Sweetheart, I don’t exactly like salty coffee. But as it mattered so much to you, I’ve learnt to enjoy it. Having you with me was my greatest happiness. If I could live a second time, I hope we can be together again, even if it means that I have to drink salty coffee for the rest of my life.
(405 words)
Exercises
Task One Answer the following questions according to the text.
1. Were the man and the woman familiar with each other before the party?
2. What did the man ordered instead of sugar?
3. Did they have common things to share? What is it?
4. What did the woman put in every time she made coffee for her husband?
5. Did the man really like salty coffee? Why he didn’t tell the truth to his wife?
Task Two Match the words.
1. curious A. to recognize or acknowledge sth. as true
2. tolerant B. eager to know or learn
3. forgive C. to take (sb.) as a husband or wife(https://www.daowen.com)
4. ruin D. having or showing tolerance
5. homesick E. to cause the destruction of (sth./sb.)
6. outstanding F. to stop blaming or wanting to punish sb.
7. requirement G. taking care of sb./sth. or to carry out a duty
8. admit H. exceptionally good; excellent
9. responsible I . thing depended on or needed
10. marry J. sad because one is away home
Task Three Complete the sentences by using the words from Task Two.Change the word forms if necessary.
1. She has become a lot more_______________and communicative.
2. We knew that concentration was the first_______________for learning.
3. I feel partly_______________for the problems we’re in.
4. If you are_______________, you will feel unhappy because you are away from home.
5. In many societies, children still_______________someone of their parents’ choice.
6. She_______________having done wrong.
7. Many villages have been washed away. Roads and bridges have been destroyed and crop_______________.
8. She’d find a way to_______________him for the theft of the money.
9. Patrick Devlin was a(n)_______________judge and brilliant jurist.
10. Steve was intensely_______________about the world I came from.
Task Four Fill in the blanks with the words given below.
Task Five Order the words to make a sentence.
Task Six Translate the following sentences into English and use the given words or phrases.
