Growing up, I wanted to be just like my mom. She was kind. People always seemed to feel comfortable in her presence. For years, she was a volunteer in our community. I loved going to the local nursing home with her where she taught a ceramic class.
On one summer day, Mama told me to get changed and meet her at the car.
I had planned to spend the day at the lake with friends. Why did she have to ruin everything? I imagined the cool lake water. Irritated, I climbed into the car and slammed the door shut. We sat in silence. I was too upset to make conversation.
“Tasha, would you like to know where we are going?” Mama asked calmly.
“No,” I said.
“We are going to volunteer at a children’s shelter today. I have been there before and I think it would benefit you,” she explained.
When we reached the shelter, Mama rang the doorbell. Moments later, we were greeted by a woman. She led us to the front room where all of the children were playing. I noticed a baby whose body was scarred with iron marks. I was told it was because she wouldn’t stop crying. The majority of the children had noticeable physical scars. Others hid their emotional wounds.
As I took in my surroundings, I felt a gentle tug on my shirt. I looked down to see a little girl looking up at me. “Hi. You want to play dolls with me?” she asked. I looked over at Mama for reinforcement. She smiled and nodded. I turned back and said, “Sure.” Her tiny hand reached up and held mine, as if to comfort me.
My mom taught me a valuable lesson that summer. I returned to the shelter with her several times. During those visits, some of the children shared their troubled pasts with me and I learned to be grateful for what I had. Today as I strive to instill (逐渐灌输) these values in my own child, I reflect back to that experience. It was a time that I will never forget.
1.The author admired her mom for ________.
A．her kindness to others B．her excellent teaching
C．her quality of honesty D．her positive attitude to life
2.According to Paragraph 3, when she was asked to go out with her mom, the author was ________.
A．excited B．angry C．surprised D．worried
3.From the passage we learn most children in the shelter ________.
A．were often punished by staff B．weren’t allowed to go outside
C．were once treated badly D．all suffered from mental illness
4.The underlined word “reinforcement” in the passage is closest in meaning to “________”.
A．truth B．help C．comfort D．support
5.What lesson did the author learn from her experience?
A．To value what you take for granted. B．To play with children is fun.
C．To love others is to love yourself. D．To do as what your parents do.
Long long ago, there was a small village．This village had a 31 tradition．At the beginning of every year, any boy who had reached the age of majority (成年) was given land and money to build a home．The boy had to 32 his home before winter．If his home failed to endure the cold weather in winter, the villagers could not 33 him in any way．
One 34 , Paul and Marc reached their majority．They 35 their land and money and decided to search nearby villages for ideas on building their homes．In each village, they found the nicest 36 and talked to the owners．Each owner gladly offered 37 ．
After Marc saw several homes, he 38 the best ideas and went back to his own land．Paul, however, continued collecting more ideas．Soon he had so many great ideas that he began to 39 some of them．But he always believed he could find even better ideas in the next village．
Marc began building his home．He had several false starts, 40 his home gradually rose from his land．By fall, Marc had finished his home．It wasn't perfect，but it was strong and he could 41 it later. Paul enjoyed all the beautiful homes and 42 with home owners．The first snow came and Paul, realizing he was running out of time, 43 back to his land．He built the best home he could in the time he had, but it was weak．The first winter storm destroyed his home and he froze to 44 ．The villagers mourned for him．
Marc survived the winter．Each year, Marc searched for other good ideas he could use to make his own home look better．He became a leader in the village, 45 a family, and lived a happy, content life．
1. A．strange B．hopeful C．literary D．cultural
2. A．find B．make C．complete D．buy
3. A．help B．encourage C．scold D．persuade
4. A．winter B．summer C．autumn D．spring
5. A．exchanged B．received C．recognized D．advice
6. A．girls B．jobs C．houses D．presents
7. A．rooms B．drinks C．attention D．advice
8. A．expected B．gathered C．created D．understood
9. A．forget B．believe C．replace D．doubt
10. A．because B．although C．but D．so
11. A．repair B．rebuild C．sell D．improve
12. A．conversations B．achievements C．struggles D．arguments
13. A．drove B．rushed C．flew D．moved
14. A．blindness B．death C．sadness D．illness
15. A．brought B．earned C．contacted D．raised
Mr. Smith suggested the student ___ to be given a prize.
A．refer B．referred C．referring D．would refer
Nobody in our class but Tom and I ___ that our monitor is going abroad for further education.
A．know B．am to know C．have known D．knows
They did not find ___ to prepare for the worst conditions they might meet.
A．worth their while B．it worthwhile C．it worth D．it worthy
Why is he always forcing his daughter to practise playing the piano 3 hours a day if she is not ___ for a pianist?
A．meant B．intended C．trained D．asked
