The Scholarship Jacket （1）The small Texas school that I went to had a tradition carried out every year during the eighth-grade graduation: a beautiful gold and green jacket（the school colors）was awarded to the class valedictorian, the student who had maintained the highest grades for eight years. The scholarship jacket had a big gold "S" on the left front side and your name written in gold letters on the pocket. （2）I had been a straight A student since the first grade and this last year had looked forward very much to owning that jacket. My father was a farm laborer who couldn't earn enough money to feed eight children, so when I was six I was given to my grandparents to raise. I couldn't participate in sports at school because there were registration fees, uniform costs, and trips out of town; so, even though our family was quite agile and athletic, there would never be a school sports jacket for us. This one, the scholarship jacket, was my only chance. （3）In May, close to graduation, I was absent-mindedly wandering from my history class to the gym when I remembered my P.E. Shorts were still in a bag under my desk where I'd forgotten them. I was almost back at my classroom door when I heard voices raised in anger as if in some sort of argument. I stopped. I didn't mean to eavesdrop, and didn't want to interrupt an argument between my teachers. I recognized the voices: Mr. Schmidt, my history teacher, and Mr. Boone, my math teacher. They seemed to be arguing about me. （4）"I refuse to do it! I don't care who her father is, her grades don't even begin to compare to Martha's. I won't lie or falsify records. Martha has a straight A-plus average and you know it." That was Mr. Schmidt and he sounded very angry. Mr. Boone's voice sounded calm and quiet. "Look. Joann's father is not only on the Board（董事会）, but it was also a close tie…" （5）The pounding in my ears drowned out the rest of the words, only a word here and there filtered through. "…Martha is Mexican…immigrants from Mexico…resign…won't do it…" Mr. Schmidt came rushing out and luckily for me went down the opposite way toward the auditorium, so he didn't see me. Shaking, I waited a few minutes and then went in and grabbed my bag and fled from the room. To this day I don't remember how I made it through the rest of the afternoon. I went home very sad and cried into my pillow that night, so Grandmother wouldn't hear me. （6）The next day when the principal called me into his office I knew what it would be about. He looked uncomfortable. I decided I wasn't going to make it any easier for him, so I looked him straight in the eyes. He looked away and fidgeted（烦躁） with the papers on his desk. （7）"Martha, " he said, "I am terribly sorry that there's been a change in policy this year about the scholarship jacket. As you know, it has always been free." He cleared his throat and continued. "This year the Board has decided to charge fifteen dollars, which still won't cover the complete cost of the jacket." I stared at him in shock, and a small sound of dismay escaped my throat. I hadn't expected this. He still avoided looking in my eyes. "So if you are unable to pay the fifteen dollars for the jacket it will be given to the next one in line." I didn't need to ask who that was. （8）Standing with all the dignity（尊严） I could muster, I said, "I'll speak to my grandfather about it, sir, and let you know tomorrow." I cried on the walk home from the bus stop. The dirt road was a quarter mile from the highway, so by the time I got home, my eyes were red and puffy. （9）I went to the bean fields. There Grandpa was. I could see him walking between the rows, his body bent over the little plants, hoe in hand. I walked slowly out to him, trying to think how I could best ask him for the money. I knew I had to be honest with Grandpa; it was my only chance. He saw my shadow and looked up. I cleared my throat nervously and clasped my hands behind my back so he wouldn't see them shaking. "Grandpa, I have a big favor to ask you, " I said in Spanish, the only language he knew. He still waited silently. I tried again. "Grandpa, this year the principal said the scholarship jacket is not going to be free. It's going to cost fifteen dollars, and I have to take the money in tomorrow, otherwise it'll be given to someone else." The last words came out in an eager rush. Grandpa straightened up tiredly and leaned his chin on the hoe handle. I waited, desperately hoping he'd say I could have the money. He turned to me and asked quietly, "What does a scholarship jacket mean? " I answered quickly; maybe there was a chance. "It means you've earned it by having the highest grades for eight years and that's why they're giving it to you." Too late I realized the significance of my words. Grandpa knew that I understood it was not a matter of money. It wasn't that. He went back to hoeing the weeds that sprang up between the delicate little bean plants. As I turned to leave, crying, he spoke again, "Then if you pay for it, Marta, it's not a scholarship jacket, is it? Tell your principal I will not pay the fifteen dollars." I walked back to the house and locked myself in the bathroom for a long time. I was angry with Grandfather even though I knew he was right, and I was angry with the Board, whoever they were. Why did they have to change the rules just when it was my turn to win the jacket? It was a very sad and withdrawn girl who dragged into the principal's office the next day. This time he did look me in the eyes. "What did your grandfather say? " I sat very straight in my chair. "He said he won't pay the fifteen dollars." The principal muttered something I couldn't understand under his breath and walked over to the window. He stood looking out at something outside. He looked bigger than usual when he stood up; he was a tall, gaunt man with gray hair, and I watched the back of his head while I waited for him to speak. "Why? " he finally asked. "Your grandfather has the money. He owns a two-hundred-acre farm." I looked at him, forcing my eyes to stay dry. "I know, sir, but he said if I had to pay for it, then it wouldn't be a scholarship jacket." I stood up to leave. I was almost to the door when he stopped me. "Martha—wait." I turned and looked at him, waiting. What did he want now? I could feel my heart pounding loudly in my chest. Something bitter and vile tasting was coming up in my mouth; I was afraid I was going to be sick. He sighed loudly and went back to his big desk. He watched me, biting his lip. "Martha, I must apologize that if we offended you. But…we didn't mean to…I'll tell the Board that we'll make an exception in your case this year…you'll get your jacket." I could hardly believe my ears. I spoke in a trembling rush. "Oh, thank you, sir!" Suddenly I felt great, feeling as tall as the sky. I wanted to yell, jump, run the mile, do something. In the corridor, Mr. Schmidt winked at me and said, "We believe that you're getting the scholarship jacket this year." Without answering, I gave him a quick hug and ran to the bus. I cried on the walk home again, but this time because I was so happy. I couldn't wait to tell Grandpa and ran straight to the field. I joined him in the row where he was working, and without saying anything I crouched down and started pulling up the weeds with my hands. After I had a little pile of weeds between the rows, I stood up and faced him. "The principal said he's making an exception for me, Grandpa, and I'm getting the jacket after all. That's after I told him what you said." Grandpa didn't say anything; he just gave me a pat on the shoulder and a smile. He pulled out the crumpled red handkerchief that he always carried in his back pocket and wiped the sweat off his forehead. "Better go see if your grandmother needs any help with supper." I gave him a big grin. He didn't fool me. I skipped and ran back to the house whistling some silly tune. 根据文章内容，判断下列句子的正误，正确的填A，错误的填B。 Martha was born poor, having to do part-time job when at high school. Martha has got the best results in all examinations since Grade One. Joann grew up in a rich family, but she wasn't an excellent learner. Mr. Schmidt thought no one but Martha deserved the scholarship. Grandpa owned a big farm, but he didn't pay for Martha's education. 请找出下列五个单词的正确英文释义，其中有两个是多余选项。 ① valedictorian（Para 1） ② agile（Para 2） ③ eavesdrop（Para 3） ④ puffy（Para 8） ⑤ crumpled（Para 18） A. pleasantly hard B. to listen secretly C. to breathe heavily D. having a lot of lines or folds E. the most successful graduate F. able to move quickly and easily G. looking larger, rounder, etc. than usual Where did Martha's grandparents most probably come from? Why was the scholarship jacket important for Martha? （List 2 reasons） What helped Martha win the free scholarship jacket? （List 2 reasons）