During a visit to my mother' s home, I joined her in the living room to talk, read and watch television. Facing a bookcase that has been in the same spot since I was a child, I let my eyes wander over the familiar volumes, many of which now have faded covers and frayed bindings.

　　"These books look so sad," I remarked. "Maybe we should go through them and toss some."

　　My mother stood up and went over to the shelves. She took down several books, turned a few pages and replaced them. Then she returned to her chair and quietly said, 'They are just fine. The stories are still in them.

Notes:

　　(1) bookcase n.书架

　　(2) wander v.漫游；徘徊

　　(3) faded adj.退色的

　　(4) frayed adj.磨破的

　　(5) go through检查；搜查

Exercises:

根据短文填空：

　　① I let my eyes_____ the familiar Volumes.

　　② Many of them now have_____ covers and _____bindings.

　　③ Maybe we should go them and toss some.

　　④ My mother stood up and went_____ to the shelves.

　　⑤ She took _____several books, turned a few pages and replaced them.

故事还在里面

　　我回娘家期间，我和母亲一起在起居室里交谈、读书、看电视。对面是一个从我孩童时代就原地未动的书架。我的眼睛看着那些熟悉的卷册，其中许多都已封面褪色、书脊磨破了。

　　“这些书看起来真惨，”我说，“或许我们应该翻检一下，扔掉一些。”

　　母亲站起来，走到书架处。她拿下几本书，翻了几页又重新放了回去。然后她坐回到椅子上，平静地说：“很好，故事还都在里面。”

练习参考答案：

① wander; over ② faded; frayed ③ through ④ over ⑤ down