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. |