It's a Saturday morning，and I am eager to fly away．My husband and I will meet up with our son on the other side of the country to learn and explore together．Sitting now at the airport gate，my husband wanders away to stretch his legs．Moments later，he returns and whispers in my ear．I rise and follow him around the corner toward a large window facing the landing area．

On the road，Marines stand straight and the plane door is open．A white hearse （灵车） is parked nearby．A man and a soldier stand on either side of a woman，supporting her and waiting for what is to come．Airport personnel stand in reverent stillness．A few people place their hands over their hearts，as I have done．We're joined in witness，sending respect to an honorable soldier whose name we'll never know．

The woman looks heartbroken．She cries，knowing she will never hear"Mom"from her son．She'll never feel his tender embrace or enjoy his sweet peck on her cheeks．Another man's face is twisted because of the grief．His son，the tiny boy he no doubt wrestled playfully，the teen he probably taught to drive，and the son he stood so proudly by，now lives only in his memory．

Those behind the glass stay silent，reflecting on this loss，as the family and soldiers leave．Some of us women，with sorrowful expressions，move slowly away，sharing a mother's profound grief．Soon，each of us will fly off in planes and return to an ordinary life made extraordinary by this soldier's courage，by this family's sacrifice and by this love shared by all that look out of the window．

24．Why did the author's husband leave when she was sitting at the gate？___

A．Because he wanted to meet his son．

B．Because there was something unusual happening．

C．Because he wanted to feel more comfortable by walking around．

D．Because he wanted to enjoy beautiful scenery．

25．How did the author feel about the scene of the landing area？___

A．Surprised and interested．