I had the meanest mother in the world.While other kids ate candy for breakfast.I had to have cereal, eggs and toast.Others had cakes and candy for lunch, while we had to eat a sandwich.As you can guess, my supper was different from the other kids'.But at least I was not alone in my suffering.My sister and two brothers had the same mean mother as I did.
My mother insisted on knowing where we were at all times.She had to know who our friends were and what we were doing.We had to wear clean clothes every day.Other kids always wore their clothes for days. We reached the height of disgrace (耻辱) because she made our clothes herself, just to save money.
The worst is yet to come.We had to be in bed by 9:00 each night and up at 7:45 the next morning.So while my friends slept, my mother actually had the courage to break Child Labor Law.She made us work I
believed she lay awake all night thinking up mean things to do to us.Through the years, our friends' report cards had beautiful colors on them, black for passing, red for failing.My mother, however, would only be satisfied with black marks.None of us was allowed the pleasure of being a dropout (辍学者).
She forced us to grow up into educated and honest adults.Using this as a background, I'm now trying to bring up my three children.I'm filled with pride when my children think I am mean because now I thank God every day for giving me the meanest mother in the world.
1.From the passage we can learn that the writer's mother was____.
A.not generous at all B.very cruel to her children
C.very mean with money matters D.very strict with her children
2.Which of the following things did the writer hate to do most?
A.Eating differently from other kids. B.Letting mother know where they were.
C.Going to bed early and getting up early. D.Wearing clean clothes made by mother.
3.It can be inferred from the passage that____.
A.the writer's family lived a miserable life
B.all the other kids studied better than the writer
C.Mother was punished for breaking the Labor Law
D.the writer worked hard and usually got good grades in studies
4.Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
A.The writer is very thankful to her mother.
B.The writer has a deep hatred for her mother.
C.Mother practiced economy in running her home.
D.The writer is strict with her children when bringing them up.
5.The passage was written in a way of__ __tone.
A.humorous B.hateful C.ridiculous D.impatient
IF and WHEN often had lunch together.Their conversation always focused 36 the things they hoped to achieve and they loved to talk about them.
This particular Saturaday when they met for lunch, WHEN 37 IF wasn’t in a great mood (心情). After they sat at the usual table_ 38 _ for them, WHEN asked IF, "You don't seem your usual 39 _self(样子)?" IF replied, "Yesterday I saw a course I wanted to take.If only I 40 the time."
WHEN knew exactly how IF felt and said, "I too saw a 41 _and I' m going to register when I get 42 money." WHEN then questioned IF, "What about the new job you were going to apply for?" IF answered, "I would have applied, but my 43 broke down.I couldn't type my resume(简历)."
"Don't worry.I've been thinking about looking for another job also, 44 _I'll wait and when the weather gets 45 _.I will look then.I hate this awful weather."
The man sitting nearby heard them talking about when this and if that.When he couldn't 46 __it any more, he went to them and said, "I think I know 47 _ you could solve your problems."
IF smiled and thought that even if he knew the 48 __they faced, there was no way he could help! 49 _, IF asked the man for advice.The man said, "Your conversation reminds me of an old 50 _ .IF and WHEN were planted, and nothing 51 _."
IF and WHEN both looked surprised and began to feel 52 of living their life for the "ifs" and "whens".Finally, they came to a(n)_ 53 _: next time they met, there would be no "ifs" or "whens"; they would 54 _ talk about what they had 55 _ !
1.A.in B.on C.at D.against
2.A.sensed B.insisted C.declared D.promised
3.A.cleaned B.made C.used D.reserved
4.A.sensitive B.honest C.cheerful D.clumsy
5.A.had B.spent C.seized D.valued
6.A.notice B.job C.course D.chance
7.A.lucky B.pocket C.enough D.paper
8.A.computer B.fridge C.camera D.recorder
9.A.or B.but C.for D.after
10.A.drier B.colder C.wilder D.nicer
11.A.take B.decline C.support D.watch
12.A.if B.where C.why D.how
13.A.changes B.expenses C.challenges D.possibilities
14.A.Sadly B.Curiously C.Calmly D.Stubbornly
15.A.saying B.story C.habit D.fiction
16.A.rose B.grew C.removed D.remained
17.A.tired B.proud C.ashamed D.aware
18.A.ambition B.conclusion C.description D.agreement
19.A.even B.only C.still D.thus
20.A.discussed B.promised C.arranged D.achieved
There are several plans here. Which one do you like best?
A.alternative B.conservative C.passive D.primitive
—How much shall I pay for the food?
—You .This is free of charge.
A.mustn’t B.needn’t C.shouldn’t D.couldn’t
The couple some money every month for their children even though their income can only make ends meet.
A.put off B.put up C.set down D.set aside
—Do you think the weather will be all right in the coming summer vacation?
—No, we’re lucky. The newspaper says it’ll be very hot anyway.
A.if B.though C.unless D.as