It's said that you don't know a man until you walk a mile in his shoes. And you also don't know what it's like for old people to travel until you accompany（陪伴）one on a trip.
After flying with my elderly father from Washington, D.C.to L.A.in July, I began to realize that a companion has important tasks that can make a journey easier for old people. I booked nonstop tickets on JetBlue to avoid tiring, confusing connections, and we flew directly into Long Beach Airport. Even though my father could walk, I arranged with the airline for wheelchair assistance, which meant we got on board first.
When I took him back to the airport for his return flight to Washington, I got permission from JetBlue to wait with him at the gate instead of saying goodbye at the security checkpoint. I wished he'd had a first-class seat and access to a comfortable airline club. Better yet, I wished I had flown with him on both ways. As I watched the attendant wheel him to the lift that would take him from the tarmac（停机坪）to the plane, I felt like an anxious mom sending her child to school for the first time.
Things can go awry on a plane trip. And then there is a horrifying story about Joe and Margie. When they landed at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, a wheelchair attendant met them to help with a connection. But somehow Margie, who had Alzheimer's disease, disappeared.
I didn't need to worry about my father's wandering away；at 82, his mind was sharper than mine. But his hearing was poor, so I worried about what would happen if he missed an important announcement.
Fortunately, everything went just fine. A good arrangement（安排）made the trip successful.
Next time I travel with a senior, I'll know better. I hope there will be a next time.
【小题1】Why did the author buy nonstop tickets？
| A．His father was tired of flights. |
| B．He had important tasks to do. |
| C．He cared about his father. |
| D．His schedule was tight. |
【小题2】How did the author feel when seeing his father off？
| A．Disappointed. | B．Worried. |
| C．Delighted. | D．Sad. |
【小题3】Which of the following can replace the underlined part "go awry" in Paragraph 4？
| A．Be amused. |
| B．Carry on as usual. |
| C．Live up to one's expectation. |
| D．Be away from the correct course. |
【小题4】What can we learn from Paragraph 5？
| A．Taking a trip does great good to seniors. |
| B．It is a pleasant experience to travel with seniors. |
| C．To have a long journey with seniors is unpractical. |
| D．Careful planning ensures seniors to take a nice trip. |
