I had the meanest mother in the whole world.While other kids ate candy for breakfast, I had to have cereal, eggs or toast.When others had cokes and candy for lunch, I had to eat a sandwich.As you can guess, my supper was different from the other kids' also.But at least, I wasn't alone in my sufferings.My sister and two brothers had the same mean mother as I did.
My mother insisted upon knowing where we were at all times.She had to know who our friends were and where we were going.We had to wear clean clothes and take a bath everyday.
The worst is yet to come.We had to be in bed by nine each night and up at eight the next morning.We couldn't sleep till noon like our friends.So while they slept --- my mother actually had the nerve to break the Child Labor Law.She made us work.We had to wash dishes, make beds, learn to cook and all sorts of cruel things.I believe she lay awake at night thinking up mean things to do to us.
Through the years, things didn't improve a bit.We could not lie in bed, "sick" like our friends did, and miss school.Our marks in school had to be up to par.Our friends' report cards had beautiful colors on them, black for passing, red for failing.My mother, being as different as she was, would settle for nothing less than ugly black marks.With our mother behind us, talking, hitting and demanding respect, none of us was allowed the pleasure of being a drop-out.
My mother was a complete failure as a mother.Out of four children, a couple of us attained some higher education.None of us have ever been arrested or divorced.Each of my brothers served his time in the service of this country.She forced us to grow up into God-fearing, educated, honest adults.Using this as a background, I am now trying to raise my three children.I am filled with pride when my children call me mean.Why? Because now I thank God every day for giving me the meanest mother in the whole world.
1.What can we infer from the passage?
A.The author is not happy to have such a mean mother.
B.The author's mother broke the Child Labor Law to make money.
C.The author's mother failed to educate her children to be honest adults.
D.The author is strict with her children.
2.Why couldn’t the author eat candy for breakfast?
A.Because she preferred cereal, eggs or toast to candy.
B.Because her mother couldn’t afford for candy.
C.Because her mother thought it not good to eat candy for breakfast.
D.Because her mother had to give candy to the author’s sister and two brothers.
3.The author’s mother made her children work because _________ .
A.she had trouble falling into sleep.
B.she could not keep such a big family without her children’s help.
C.she was teaching her children to live by themselves.
D.she had no time to do the housework.
It was 4 o'clock in the morning when I received the phone call.
“This is the emergency room calling and your son was just 41 in with severe burns on his face,neck and arms.We have called for a(n) 42 and are going to fly him to the burn unit in Seattle.” Seattle was 350 miles from his college,so we knew immediately this was 43 .
The doctor described the 44 ,which caused the burns.At 6 am,our son and his friends decided to barbecue hamburgers in the courtyard of their apartment.When they 45 the charcoal(木炭),it burst into flames because they had sprayed too much gasoline(petrol).The flames 46 my son’s shirt tail and shot from his waist to well over his head.
47 ,one of the boys was quick-minded,grasped my son,and 48 him on the grass.While it saved his life,it was not in 49 to save him from severe burns and the terrible scars(伤疤).
After he 50 from the treatments,the doctors told him they would not do plastic surgery(整容)for 6 months 51 it takes that long for the skin to stop shrinking and wrinkling.So,he had to return to college with scars typical of severe burns.
When I was a child, my mother told my sister,who had a 10-inch, very 52__ scar on her arm,“Nancy,if you ignore the scar,other people will ignore it.It does not mean they will not 53 it,but it means it will not matter to them if it doesn’t matter to you.’’
I 54 this wisdom on to my son.He took my advice to 55 and returned to school with his head held high--glad he was alive.
By the end of the six-month waiting period,he decided that the scars did not 56 , so he made the 57 to give up any plastic surgery.
We all have “scars” that we believe 58 people to keep away from us.And we spend a lot of time thinking that if only we looked different,or dressed differently,people would like us better.
But you see,people will only judge you by your looks,or your clothes,if you are judging yourself by these same 59 standards.Put your imperfections out of your mind and concentrate on what you value 60 yourself,and your beauty will shine through.
1.A.brought B.given C.turned D.showed
2.A.doctor B.hospital C.aircraft D.ambulance
3.A.serious B.terrible C.painful D.important
4.A.event B.process C.reason D.accident
5.A.got B.lit C.burned D.moved
6.A.took B.held C.caught D.attracted
7.A.Fortunately B.Surprisingly C.Happily D.Slowly
8.A.pushed B.threw C.dropped D.rolled
9.A.shape B.place C.fact D.time
10.A.benefited B.recovered C.suffered D.relaxed
11.A.if B.while C.because D.although
12.A.normal B.violent C.obvious D.popular
13.A.mention B.notice C.laugh D.hide
14.A.sent B.kept C.handed D.passed
15.A.heart B.life C.practice D.consideration
16.A.grow B.matter C.exist D.appear
17.A.mistake B.effort C.decision D.request
18.A.invite B.cause C.allow D.remind
19.A.false B.strict C.moral D.general
20.A.by B.over C.beyond D.within
“We can’t go out in such weather.” said the father, _____ out of the window, and left his daughter disappointed.
A.looking B.looked C.to look D.having looked
The discovery of gold in Australia led thousands to believe that a fortune __.
A.was made B.would make C.was to be made D.had made
John was given the same suitcase his father and grandfather ____ with them to school.
A.took B.had taken C.were taking D.would take
The journey around the world took the old sailor nine months, ____ the sailing time was 226 days.
A.of which B.during which C.from which D.for which