When my father was getting ready for work, our house was ruled by knocks and words. He used to come downstairs to breakfast...

        The morning paper lay beside his plate. He always read the ‘Deaths’ first; and then he knocked once on the table. One of my sisters brought his toast( 烤面包片 ) ， already buttered for him. Usually he said nothing, but once I heard him say, ‘I love you very much, Edith. I would love you more if you buttered my toast on both sides.’ He read the paper all through breakfast.

        Two knocks on the table meant ‘I am ready for my tea’. If a single knock followed, that meant ‘More toaste, please.’

        After breakfast he said, ‘Boots.’ The paper was spread for him over the back of an armchair. Yesterday’s paper was put on the chair for his feet, and his boots were brought to him, freshly cleaned. He read standing, at the same time putting on his boots and tying the laces. With one boot finished, he said,   ‘Bus.’

        At that point one of the girls went outside to the garden gate and waited there. Her job was to stop the bus when it came. It came early sometimes, and it had to wait for my father.’ Overcoat, hat.’ One of my sisters had already brushed his overcoat. Now she held it open for him and guided his arms into it. Then she pulled his jacked down under the coat. Another girl came with his hat, nicely brushed. ‘Handkerchief, pipe.’ They were brought and put, with his tobacco, into his pockets. He looked out of the window and said either ‘Walking stick’ or ‘Umbrella’. It was handed to him. Ready now, he was still reading the paper.

       He did not put it down until he heard the shout ‘Bus coming!’ Then he kissed my mother and went out. The girls breathed freely.

       How lucky a man is to have a wife and five daughters at home!

31. When the author’s father wanted more toast, he would ______.

A. knock once on the table

B. knock twice on the table

C. say ‘More toast, please’

D. say ‘I’m ready for more toast’

32. What did the author’s father do after breakfast?

A. He spread the paper over the back of an armchair.

B. He put yesterday’s paper on the chair for his feet.

C. He put his boots on the chair to clean them.

D. He stood reading the paper while putting on his boots.

33. The author’s father looked out of the window to ______.

A. see if one of the girls was there to stop the bus

B. show that he was ready for the pipe to be put into his pocket