All of this was about more than convenience. There existed a close relationship between families and their milkmen. Mr. Basille even had a key to our house, for those times when it was so cold outside that we put the box indoors, so that the milk wouldn't freeze. And I remember Mr.Basille from time to time taking a break at our kitchen table, having a cup of tea and telling stories about his delivery.

　　There is sadly no home milk delivery today. Big companies allowed the production of cheaper milk, thus making it difficult for milkmen to compete. Besides, milk is for sale everywhere, and it may just not have been practical to have a delivery service.

　　Recently, an old milk box in the countryside I saw brought back my childhood memories. I took it home and planted it on the back porch (門廊). Every so often my son's friends will ask what it is. So I start telling stories of my boyhood, and of the milkman who brought us friendship along with his milk.

　　課標全國閱讀真題練習題目：

　　1.Mr. Basille gave the boy a quarter out of his coin changer________.

　　A.to show his magical power

　　B.to pay for the delivery

　　C.to satisfy his curiosity

　　D.to please his mother

　　2.What can be inferred from the fact that the milkman had the key to the boy's house?

　　A.He wanted to have tea there.

　　B.He was treated as a family member.

　　C.He was a respectable person.

　　D.He was fully trusted by the family.

　　3.Why does home milk delivery no longer exist?

　　A.Nobody wants to be a milkman now.

　　B.It has been driven out of the market.

　　C.Its service is getting poor.

　　D.It is forbidden by law.

　　4.Why did the author bring back home an old milk box?

　　A.He missed the good old days.

　　B.He wanted to tell interesting stories.

　　C.He needed it for his milk bottles.

　　D.He planted flowers in it.

　　課標全國閱讀真題練習答案：

　　1.C　推理判斷題。根據第一段最后可以看出，當時作者只是一個5歲的孩子，對送奶人腰帶上的投幣器很好奇，善良的送奶人把一枚硬幣送給作者，是為了滿足其好奇心，所以應選C項。

　　2.D　推理判斷題。根據第三段第二句可知，家里人與送奶人之間關系很密切，送奶人甚至有家里的鑰匙，由此推斷送奶人得到了充分的信任，故選D項。

　　3.B　細節理解題。根據第四段可知，激烈的競爭和購買的便利使得送奶上門退出了市場，無法存在下去，故選B項。

　　4.A　推理判斷題。由最后一段可以看出，作者有一種懷舊的心理，想念兒時的時光，感覺送奶人送來牛奶的同時，也帶來了友誼，故選A項。