As a young man, Al was a skilled artist, a potter. He had a wife and two fine sons. One night, his oldest son developed a severe stomachache. Thinking it was only some common intestinal disorder, neither Al nor his wife took the condition very seriously. But the malady was actually acute appendicitis, and the boy died suddenly that night.
Knowing the death could have been prevented if he had only realized the seriousness of the situation, Al's emotional health deteriorated under the enormous burden of his guilt. To make matters worse his wife left him a short time later, leaving him alone with his six-year-old younger son. The hurt and pain of the two situations were more than Al could handle, and he turned to alcohol to help him cope. In time Al became an alcoholic.
motel room. 3. Alcohol 4.It tell us love is very
As the alcoholism progressed, Al began to lose everything he possessed — his home, his land, his art objects, everything. Eventually Al died alone in a San Francisco motel room.
When I heard of Al's death, I reacted with the same disdain the world shows for one who ends his life with nothing material to show for it. "What a complete failure!" I thought. "What a totally wasted life"
As time went by, I began to re-evaluate my earlier harsh judgment. You see, I knew Al's now adult son, Ernie. He is one of the kindest, most caring, most loving men I have ever known. I watched Ernie with his children and saw the free flow of love between them. I knew that kindness and caring had to come from somewhere.
I hadn't heard Ernie talk much
Ernie sat quietly and reflected for a few moments. Then he said, "From my earliest memories as a child until I left home at 18, Al came into my room every night, gave me a kiss and said, 'I love you, son.'"
Tears came to my eyes as I realized what a fool I had been to judge Al as a failure. He had not left any material possessions behind. But he had been a kind loving father, and he left behind one of the finest, most giving men I have ever known.
----Bobbie Gee
Questions:
1.How many children does Al have?
2.Where does Al die?
3.What does Al addict to?
4.What does this story tell us?
参考答案：
1.Two 2.In a San Francisco
相关单词：intestinal
intestinal解释：adj.肠的；肠壁；肠道细菌
intestinal例句：
A few other conditions are in high intestinal obstruction. 其它少数情况是高位肠梗阻。 来自辞典例句
This complication has occasionally occurred following the use of intestinal antiseptics. 这种并发症偶而发生在使用肠道抗菌剂上。 来自辞典例句
相关单词：disorder
disorder解释：n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调
disorder例句：
When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后，他发现屋子里乱七八糟。
It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。
相关单词：malady
malady解释：n.病，疾病(通常做比喻)
malady例句：
There is no specific remedy for the malady.没有医治这种病的特效药。
They are managing to control the malady into a small range.他们设法将疾病控制在小范围之内。
相关单词：appendicitis
appendicitis解释：n.阑尾炎，盲肠炎
appendicitis例句：
He came down with appendicitis.他得了阑尾炎。
Acute appendicitis usually develops without relation to the ingestion of food.急性阑尾炎的发生通常与饮食无关。
相关单词：deteriorated
deteriorated解释：恶化，变坏( deteriorate的过去式和过去分词 )
deteriorated例句：
Her health deteriorated rapidly, and she died shortly afterwards. 她的健康状况急剧恶化，不久便去世了。
His condition steadily deteriorated. 他的病情恶化，日甚一日。
相关单词：guilt
guilt解释：n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责
guilt例句：
She tried to cover up her guilt by lying.她企图用谎言掩饰自己的罪行。
Don't lay a guilt trip on your child
相关单词：alcoholic
alcoholic解释：adj.（含）酒精的，由酒精引起的；n.酗酒者
alcoholic例句：
The alcoholic strength of brandy far exceeds that of wine.白兰地的酒精浓度远远超过葡萄酒。
Alcoholic drinks act as a poison to a child.酒精饮料对小孩犹如毒药。
相关单词：legacy
legacy解释：n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西
legacy例句：
They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。
相关单词：possessed
possessed解释：adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的
possessed例句：
He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。
He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。
相关单词：disdain
disdain解释：n.鄙视，轻视；v.轻视，鄙视，不屑
disdain例句：
Some people disdain labour.有些人轻视劳动。
A great man should disdain flatterers.伟大的人物应鄙视献媚者。
相关单词：judgment
judgment解释：n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见
judgment例句：
The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。
相关单词：addict
addict解释：v.使沉溺；使上瘾；n.沉溺于不良嗜好的人
addict例句：
He became gambling addict,and lost all his possessions.他习染上了赌博，最终输掉了全部家产。
He assisted a drug addict to escape from drug but failed firstly.一开始他帮助一个吸毒者戒毒但失败了。
