【英語】長文読解基本ゼミ③　STEP３　区切って読む２

My father went ／to America ／about ten years ago. That was his first visit ／to other countries. He worked ／there ／for six months. I was very young ／then／, so Ⅰ 　　　 　.

While he was in America／, my birthday came. My mother made me a birthday cake. But I was a little sad ／because I couldn’t eat it ／with my father. Then ／my mother showed me a box ／and said／, “Look at this box, Tomoko. It’s a birthday present ／from your father. He sent it ／to you ／from America.” I was very glad to see it. I opened it soon ／and found a nice doll ／in it. I said／, “Look, Mother! It is very pretty!” “That’s good,” she said ／and smiled. After that／, I found some English words ／on the doll. I didn’t know English ／then／, so I asked her／, “What do these words mean?” When she saw the words “MADE IN JAPAN”／, she looked very surprised. But she said ／to me／, “I’m sorry, Tomoko／, but I don’t know the meaning, too. He will come back Ⅱ 　　 month／, so let’s ask him.”

About a month later ／he came back ／to Japan. He asked me／, “I sent you a present ／from America. How did you like it?” I answered／, “I liked it very much.” “That’s good. I found it ／in New York,” he said. After that／, he talked a lot ／about his stay ／in America. He said／, “At first ／I had a hard time ／in America ／because I couldn’t speak English well. But while I stayed／, I studied English very hard. So now ／I can speak English well.” My mother said／, “Oh, really? Tomoko／, let’s ask him ／about the English words.” “English words? O.K. Ask me anything,” he said with pride. So I showed him the doll ／and asked him／, “What do these words mean?” When he saw the words／, he was very surprised. Then ／my mother started laughing ／and said／, “You should be more careful ／next time.” He only smiled ／and said nothing.

（中略）