A
I was very excited on the first day of high school! I had P．E. for the first period. We hurriedly gathered in the locker room (衣帽间) when the headmaster began to speak, “Good morning, boys and girls! Welcome to the first day of the great new school year. We will begin with the pledge (誓言) of loyalty.”
I pulled my shirt over my head and my right hand immediately rested over my heart. A few tears came to my eyes as every time I pledged. I thought of my grandpa. He had died almost a year before, but I still missed him every day. Grandpa served in World WarⅡ and the flag had a very special meaning for him.
The next morning in the locker room, I noticed something strange. Some girls talked through the pledge. In the morning after that, even fewer did the pledge, including the teachers. By the second week of school, I was the only girl in the whole locker room that did the pledge.
The next morning, I hid in the bathroom to change clothes and pledge. There I couldn't see the flag and felt guilty to be hiding like that. I kept hiding for the next week and felt worse.
I spent a weekend gathering up my nerve. On Monday, I changed into my gym clothes right away and was standing by my locker when the headmaster began morning announcements. The pledge started and I put my hand over my heart.
A girl nearby locked her locker and asked, “Why are you doing that？” She looked confused.
“My grandpa fought in World War Ⅱ and he died last year，” I said. “I'm doing it for him.”
She felt embarrassed and looked away. “Oh，” she said.
Over the next few weeks, more girls questioned me about the pledge. I gave them all that same answer.
I never inspired other girls to do the pledge along with me. They made a choice; I made mine. I was doing it for Grandpa, but more than that, I was doing it for myself. Grandpa raised me to be proud of my country and that pride didn't stop.
语篇解读：这篇文章主要是围绕在学校进行忠诚宣誓这一事情展开的。作者对这件事非常虔诚，因为这表达了她对已过世的祖父的思念，而周围其他学生却很不理解，让作者为此苦恼。通过解释，作者也对宣誓有了更正确的理解。
1．How did other students behave during later pledge periods?
A．They gradually quit the pledge.
B．They continued to show curiosity.
C．They did the pledge with sincerity.
D．They made fun of those who did the pledge.
解析：选A 细节理解题。根据第三段的内容可知，其他学生逐渐不再进行宣誓。故选A项。
2．How did I feel about hiding in the bathroom for the pledge?
A．Happy. B．Excited.
C．Guilty. D．Nervous.
解析：选C 细节理解题。根据第四段的“There I couldn't see the flag and felt guilty to be hiding like that.”可知，作者对自己躲起来进行宣誓有种罪恶感。因此选C项。
3．The author did the pledge every day because ________.
A．the flag had a special meaning for her
B．the headmaster required her to do so
C．all the teachers and students did that
D．it was a way to show love for her grandpa
解析：选D 细节理解题。根据第七段中作者回答其他同学的疑问时提到“‘My grandpa fought in World War Ⅱ and he died last year.’ I said. ‘I'm doing it for him.’”可知，她进行宣誓是纪念自己过世的祖父。因此选D项。
4．What would be the best title for the passage?
A．The first day at school
B．My grandpa
C．The secret in the locker room
D．The pledge of loyalty
解析：选D 标题归纳题。文章主要是围绕在学校行忠诚宣誓这一事情展开的。文章第一段的最后一句“We will begin with the pledge (誓言) of loyalty”也可作为提示。因此选D项。
