A
It was New Year's Night .An aged man was standing at a window. He raised his sad eyes towards the deep blue sky, where the stars were floating like white lilies(百合花)on the surface of a clear calm lake. Then he cast them on the earth, where few more hopeless people than himself now moved towards their certain goal ---the tomb. He had already passed sixty of the stages leading to it, and he had brought from his journey nothing but errors and regrets.
The days of his youth appeared like dreams before him, and he remembered the serious moment when his father placed him at the entrance of the two roads----one leading to a peaceful, sunny place, covered with flowers, fruits and resounding with soft, sweet songs;the other leading to a deep, dark cave, which was endless, where poison flowed instead of water and where devils (魔鬼) and poisonous snakes hissed and crawled.
He saw a star fall from the sky and disappear, and this was the symbol of himself. His regret, which as like a sharp arrow, struck deeply into his heart. Then he remembered his friends in his hildhood, who entered on life together with him. But they had made their way to suceess and were now honored and happy on this New Year's night. With shame and grief he dared no longer look towards that heaven where his father lived. His darkened eyes were full of tears, and with a despairing effort, he burst out a cry: "Come back, my early days! Come back”.
And his youth did return ,for all this was only a dream which he had on New Year’s Night. He was still young though his faults were real; he had not yet entered the deep, dark cave, and he was still free to walk on the road which leads to the peaceful and sunny land.
Those who still remain at the entrance of life, hesitating to choose the bright road, remember that when years have passed and your feet fall on the dark mountains, you will cry bitterly, but in vain: "Oh youth, return! Oh give me back my early days!"
21. What does the underlined word"them"in the first paragraph refer to?
A. Eyes. B. Stars C. Lilies D People
22. What do we know about his friends from Paragraph 3?
A. They had made major achievements. B They were friends with him.
C. They had also made many mistakes D. They looked down upon him
23. What can we say for sure about the young man’s father from the passage?
A. His father returned home B. His father died
C. His father gave him two choices D. His father lived far away
24. What does the writer want to remind the readers in the last paragraph?
A. It's no use crying for help B. It's vital to value your childhood
C. They should be careful at the entrance of life D. They should not wait to choose the right wav
