五、阅读与回答问题
Old John has worked as a school keeper in Hill Ford School. After walking into the
school building every day,he cleans rubbish bins and bathrooms.
LastFriday，after hearrivedattheschoolinsteadof findingrubbishtoclean up,
he found almost 50O students lining in the hallway with handmade cards and singing a
happy birthday song to him. It was his 8Oth birthday. As he walked in the long hallway,
someone rushed to him and gave him a hug. They handed him many cards as well and
the cards filled several large boxes. Old John was touched by their expression of affection
（喜爱). He thanked them all.“It's my sixteenth year in this school. They're like my
children,”Old John said.
On a regular day， students sometimes come up to find him and say they're not
feeling well or to tell him about something that happened at break time. He knows most
of the students at the school, but can't name each one. Some of them make him know
them, like Faith, who often leaves her schoolbag in the canteen, and Lucy, who just
wants a hug.
Carrie,a reading teacher, said,“He won't brag(吹嘘). But whatever he's doing
or wherever he is,he will stop what he's doing at any time to give all his attention and
take care of a child if that child is having a bad day.”
He works around all the students,cleaning up the mess others don't want to touch.
He doesn't expect a lot.Old John said he hadn't planned to do much for his birthday,so
he was touched as the students had prepared the surprise celebration.
Over the weekend,he worked through the handmade cards at his house. One card
from a student stood out. It read, “Old John, you are the most loved one in our
school...”
1. How long has Old John worked in Hill Ford School?
Sixteen years.
2. What did the students do to celebrate Old John's 80th birthday besides sending cards?
Sang a happy birthday song.
3. How did Old John feel when he received so many birthday cards?
He was touched.
4. What does a child get from Old John if the child is having a bad day?
Attention and care.
5. Why is Old John considered the most loved one in the school?
Because he is always ready to help students and works hard without expecting much.
