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Making a Deal
1) “Exactly what was it you wanted to ask me about,” John’s mother questioned as she continued to dust particles of sand from the blinds with a feathered duster. She loved living near the ocean, but she never would get used to all of this sand. It seeped in cracks she didn’t even see. It was a gritty kind of existence, she thought, but the ocean made up for the crunch of sand on her bare feet in the middle of the night. The sea breezes always exhilarated her, giving her energy for each new day.
2) John looked up at his mother from the sofa, where he sat reading the morning paper. It was a lazy Saturday, and he really just wanted to sit here for a very long time and daydream. “Well, Mom,” he finally answered, “I was wondering if I could borrow the car.”
3) “What do you mean by borrow , John? For an hour, an evening, a day, a week?” She had stopped dusting and was just looking over at her beautiful, first-born son. His golden hair curled and framed a face anyone would trust. Sparkling azure eyes, dimpled chin. My goodness , she thought, when did he grow up ?
4) “Actually, I was thinking for a whole day next weekend. A couple of the guys and I want to drive down to San Diego. There’s supposed to be some great Albacore fishing in the waters off of that bay.”
5) “Well, I don’t know, honey. You’ve only had your license for a few months. Do you think you’re ready to drive all the way down the coast? It’s a two-hour drive. I’ll worry the whole time you’re gone,” she answered him. Truth be known, she had complete faith that he and his friends would be fine. John had already proved himself a careful and skilled driver on the L. A. freeways. A jaunt down the coast would be no big deal
6) “My age shouldn’t preclude use of your car, Mom. You know I’m a good driver,” John pleaded.
7) Well, I promised your sister I’d take her shopping for some sandals and other summer clothes. I suppose we can use Dad’s car. He’ll be out of town for another two weeks, so the car will be available. I’m not sure, though, if I feel safe letting you do this yet.”
8) John stood up and walked across the room to his mother. Hugging her, he said, “C’mon Mom, you know I’m a good driver. If you don’t let me, I’ll start tickling you right now, and I won’t stop.”
9) “Young man, you sit down while we discuss this,” she said as she grinned and gently pushed him back toward his place on the sofa.
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10) “Whatistheretodiscuss?”heaskedher.“ colors; you know I won’t speed; and my friends and I will fill the tank up after we’ve gone and come back.”
11) “You’re right, you know. I’m proud of how responsible you really are. I suppose this trip is okay. Just promise you’ll call me from San Diego the minute you arrive and call me again the minute you head back to L. A.”
12) “That’s great, Mom. I’m really looking forward to the fishing down there. I promise I won’t do anything to damage your car.”
13) “I know you won’t. You’d have a very upset mother if you did. Now, my dear son, part of your payment for the use of the car is going to be dusting the furniture,” she said as she handed him the duster. “Get started!”
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5 The author probably wrote this story in order to —
A entertain the reader
B persuade the reader to drive
carefully
C instruct the reader about L. A. freeways
D define the dangers of driving
6 In paragraph 1, the word exhilarated means —
F energized G delighted
H denied
J understood
7 John's main problem is that his mother —
A feels he does not have enough driving experience
B does not want to share her car with him
C does not want him to go to San Diego
D makes him help her dust the blinds
8 When John's mother thinks when did he grow up? she means —
F he looked suddenly taller
G his childhood had passed quickly
H he looked older than he did yesterday
J he needed a haircut more often now