My House
My mother moved a lot when she was growing up on account of Grandpa being in the army. She hated having to adjust to new schools and make new friends. That’s why I thought she was joking when she put forward the idea of moving. But she was completely serious. “For just the two of us,” my mother said, “an apartment in the city will suit our needs much better.” Personally, I think she’s lost her mind. I guess I can understand why she would want to move, but what about me and what this house means to me?
I suppose if you looked at my house, you might think it was just another country house. But to me it is anything but standard. I moved into this house with my parents ten years ago. I can still remember that first day like it was yesterday. The first thing I noticed was the big front yard. To me it seemed like an ocean of grass—I couldn’t wait to dive in. The backyard was full of gnarled (扭曲的, 粗糙的) and scary trees that talk on windy nights. But I grew to like them and the shadows they cast in my room. My father and I even built a small tree house, where I often go to remember all the wonderful times we had before Father’s death.
This house is special—maybe only to me—but special nevertheless. It’s the little seemingly insignificant things that make this house so special to me: the ice-cold tile floors that make me tremble on midnight snack runs; the smell of my father’s pipe that still exists; the towering bookcases of my mother; the view outside my bedroom window.
This house holds too many memories, memories which would be lost if we gave it up.
1.Why did the author’s mother decide to move?
A. Because she hated the countryside.
B. Because Grandpa was on constant move.
C. Because Dad’s death made her lose her mind.
D. Because she thought a city flat more fit for them.
2.What impressed the author when she first moved into the house?
A. The tree house. B. The big trees. C. The cold floors. D. The green grass.
3.How did the author let us feel that the house was special to her?
A. By arguing whether the house was standard.
B. By explaining why the house suited their needs.
C. By describing the small things related to her house.
D. By comparing the differences between country and city life.
4. My mother moved a lot when she was growing up because of ________.
A. Grandpa being in the army. B.their family’s liking moving
C. the life’s need D. Mother’s work
My parents operated a small restaurant in Seattle．It was open twenty-four hours a day, six days a week．And my first real job，when I was six years old，was 36 the diners’ shoes．My father had done it when he was young，so he taught me 37 to do it efficiently，telling me to 38 to reshine the shoes if the customer wasn’t 39 .
Working in the restaurant was a cause of great 40 because I was also working for the good of the family．But my father 41 that I had to meet certain standards to be part of the team．I 42 to be punctual，hard-working，and polite to the 43 ．
I was 44 paid for the work I did at the restaurant．One day I made the mistake of advising Dad that he 45 give me $10 a week．He said，“OK．How about you paying me for three meals a day you have here? And 46 the times you bring in your friends for free soft drinks?” He 47 I owed him about $40 a week．
I remember returning to Seattle after being 48 in the US Army for about two years．I had just been promoted to Captain at that time．And full of pride，I walked into my parents’ restaurant，but the 49 thing Dad said was，“How about your 50 up tonight?” I couldn’t 51 my ears! I am an officer in the Army! But it didn’t 52 as far as Dad was concerned，I was just 53 member of the team．I reached for the mop(拖把)．Working for Dad has taught me the devotion to a 54 is above all．It has nothing to do with 55 that team is involved in a family restaurant or the US Army．
1.A. cleaning B. shining C. removing D. keeping
2.A. why B. what C. when D. how
3.A. offer B. refuse C. love D. learn
4.A. interested B. annoyed C. relaxed D. satisfied
5.A. fun B. pride C. trouble D. effort
6.A. got it right B. kept it a rule C. made it clear D. took it for granted
7.A. had B. tended C. hated D. managed
8.A. family B. workers C. customers D. friends
9.A. never B. always C. seldom D. ever
10.A. must B. should C. might D. could
11.A. at B. before C. around D. for
12.A. worked out B. found out C. put out D. thought out
13.A. alone B. away C. outside D. off
14.A. usual B. last C. next D. first
15.A. washing B. taking C. cleaning D. moving
16.A. ignore B. follow C. believe D. understand
17.A. happen B. care C. go D. matter
18.A. no B. other C. some D. another
19.A. team B. family C. leader D. restaurant
20.A. why B. whether C. when D. How
The captain commanded that the mission ______ before dark.
A. must be finished B. be finished C. ought to be finished D. was finished
The room is too small and it is not fit_________.
A. to be worked in B. to work in C. to work D. to be worked
It’s her first time that she_______ by the school to participate in the contest.
A. was chosen B. has chosen C. chose D. has been chosen
It is the test system, ______ the teachers,that is to blame for the heavy burden of middle school students nowadays.
A.other than B.or rather C.rather than D.more than
