“Mom, can I bake some bread?” We were 15, my best friend, Hanna, and I, determined to try our hands at creating some beautiful bread.
“It’s not worth the trouble,” my mother said. “It takes lots of time and makes a big mess. Our bakery bread is delicious without all that effort.”
Begging was useless. Mom’s “no” meant “No!”
But several weeks later, opportunity knocked: My parents were going out for the evening. I immediately invited Hanna to be my partner in bread-baking crime.
We studied the recipe. That was easy. “Mix oil into flour then beat in four of the eggs, one at a time, with remaining sugar and salt.”
We were not good at breaking eggs. I tried to learn from my mother.
“Gradually add eight cups of flour. When dough (面团) holds together, squeeze it.”
We took turns working like that. “Is the dough ‘holding together’?” we asked each other.
I remembered my neighbor’s instructions: “If it’s too sticky, add some flour; if too dry, add water.”
We added water. Then more flour. Then more water. By then, the mass of our dough had grown very much.
“Place dough on floured surface and squeeze till smooth,” the recipe instructed.
We took turns burying our hands in the damp dough, pinching, squeezing, and feeling it leak between fingers.
“Clean and oil bowl, then return dough to bowl. Cover and let dough rise in warm place for 1 hour.”
This was good news --- we’d have a break. On dirtied kitchen chairs, we dreamed about our beautiful bread. “See?” we would tell my mom. “Isn’t it worth the work?”
Hanna and I couldn’t help glancing at the rising process every few minutes. But nothing was happening.
“Maybe something will happen in the hot oven,” I said.
Unfortunately, when we removed the loaves from the oven, they were like hard stones.
Mom was right; it takes time and effort. It sometimes makes a mess. But still it feels good, somehow, to be part of that long, ongoing chain of bread bakers. Since that night, both Hanna and I have learned to do it right.
1.To the writer, what her mother said was __________.
A.law |
B.rubbish |
C.advice |
D.warning |
2.Which of the following can best describe the children’s feelings while making their first bread?
A.Confident; hopeful; disappointed. |
B.Curious; hopeful; disappointed. |
C.Interested; excited; satisfied. |
D.Worried; satisfied; proud. |
3.Which of the following did the writer do without instructions?
A.Placed dough on floured surface. |
B.Added eight cups of flour to eggs. |
C.Returned dough to a cleaned bowl. |
D.Placed the dough into the hot oven. |
4.The passage mainly tells us ______________.
A.the process of making bread |
B.the conflict between mother and daughter |
C.the first experience of making bread |
D.the way of doing housework |
Mike had been delivering (送) newspaper for a week, but he was still not quite sure 36 he was going to like his first job. Today he was to 37 the month's money from his customers (顾客). At the first house, Mike walked past the Pierces' barking dog, 38 was tied up in the front yard. When he 39 the door he got up enough 40 to ring the bell. He told the man what he 41 . Mr Pierce didn't smile or say anything , but he handed Mike a bill. Mike 42 counted out the man's change.
43 the time he got to the 44 house, Mike felt a little more at ease. Mr Simon was repairing his 45 . He, too, gave Mike a 46 . but he smiled and talked 47 Mike gave him his 48 .
As Mike walked to the third house, he 49 a bit uneasy, Mr Swenson was just 50 home from the store, and he stopped 51 he saw Mike. Mr Swenson paid Mike the exact amount in change. They stood 52 in front of the house 53 . This wasn't 54 to be such a difficult job 55 , thought Mike as he continued on his way.
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He always works hard, but__________, he didn't pass the exam.
A.much to our surprise |
B.to our great surprising |
C.to our surprise much |
D.to surprise |
The book_______well.
A.is sold |
B.has been sold |
C.selled |
D.sells |
On _______ side of the river there are a lot of trees.
A.both |
B.any |
C.either |
D.neither |
At last she made herself ______ by drawing a picture.
A.understand |
B.to understand |
C.understood |
D.understanding |