OnSundaysmyfatheralwaysworethatblackapron—theonewiththeracecarsalloverit.AfterbreakfastDadalwaysannounced:“Goaheadeveryone.I'lltakecareofthedishes！”WiththatmymotherdisappearedintothefoldsoftheSundaypaper.Off_came_the_suit_coat_he_had_worn_to_church_that_morning._Up_went_the_shirtsleeves._On_went_that_apron.ForthenexthourDaddidthedishessingingsongslike“WhoPuttheChowinMrs.Murphy'sChowder”？

Isupposeitwasstrangeforafathertowearanapron—evenonewithracecars—butIneverthoughtmuchofituntilthatSundaywhenwewalkedhomefromchurchtogether.“Tommy”，hesaid，“Therecomesatimeineveryboy'slifewhenhemusttakeonresponsibilities．”“Responsibilities？”Iasked.“Yes.It'stimeyoutookagreaterroleinthehousehold.StartingtodayIwantyoutodothedishesonSundaymorningsoyourmotherandIcanrelax.”“Thedishes？”“Anythingwrongwithtakingoverthedishes？”Istartedtosaysomethingaboutaman'sjobbutIknewimmediatelythatmyprotestswouldfallondeafears.

Ididn'ttasteabitofbreakfastthatmorning.Myfatherannouncedtomymother“Let'sgotoreadthepaperhoney.Ouroldestsonhasgenerouslyofferedtofilltheposition.”Sothiswaswhatmylifehadcometo.

Peopleoftensaythereisaspecialchemistrybetweenafatherandason.HecamebackintothekitchenjustasIwasabouttostormout.Inhisrighthandwastheoldapron.“IwantyoutohavethisTommy.It'llkeepyourclothesfromgettingwet.”AndbeforeIcoulddoanythinghehadputthataprononme.“ThanksSon.YourmotherandIappreciatethis.”

WiththathedisappearedintotheSundaypaper.Ilookeddownattheapron.Ithadseenbetterdays.Icouldseemydadreachingforthedishes.SoonIwassingingaboutMrs.Murphy'sChowder.

16．Whatisthemainpurposeoftheunderlinedsentencesinthefirstparagraph?

A．Toshowtheunwillingnessofhisfatherwhendoingdishes.

B．Toinstructthemainstepsofhowhisfatherdoesdishes.

C．Toemphasizehisfather'sclumsywayofdoingdishes.

D．Tostresstheenjoymentandhappinessofhisfather'sdoingdishes.

17．Whatdoestheunderlinedword“responsibilities”inthesecondparagraphreferto?

A．Taki