阅读下面短文在空格处填入一个适当的词或使用括号中词语的正确形式填空。

　　When I’m growing up, I don’t hear the words “I love you” from my father. If your father never says them (16) ____ you when you are a child, it’ll get harder and harder for him to say those words as he gets (17) _____ (old). I can’t remember when I last (18) ____ (say) those words to him either. I decided (19) ____ (make) the first move. In the next phone conversation I Said, “Dad … I love you!” There was a silence(沉默)at the other end and Dad was (20) ______ (surprise) to answer, “Well, the same back to you!” “Dad, I know you love me; you will say what you want to say,” I cried. Fifteen (21) ____ (minute) later my mother called and nervously asked, “Paul, (22) ____ (be) everything OK?” A few weeks later, on the phone my father said, “Paul, I love you.” I was at work (23) ____ the tears were running in my eyes as I (24) _____ (final) “heard” the love. As we both sat there in tears we knew that this special moment took our relationship to (25) _____ new way. Both of us were glad to see that.

　　参考答案：

　　16. to 17. older 18. said 19. to make 20. surprised　21. minutes 22. is 23. and 24. finally 25. a