Question

    When I was growing up, we were not an “I love you” family. We certainly found such affection lovely. We just didn’t do it.

I was thinking about all of this on Saturday at my daughter Katie’s recital (演奏会). I had never insisted she do anything in her free time except learn how to play the piano. I carried this from childhood. My parents couldn’t afford these lessons. My daughter mostly accepted this demand with good humor. This has meant, through the years, that our house has been filled with a few muddled (混乱的) complaints mixed with versions of songs.

The day of the recital, I was listening to Katie practice The Entertainer, and one note was not good. I don’t know how to play the piano, but I did say, “Hey, Katie, maybe you should hold that note just a bit longer.” Then she played it again and again. I realized that I had done something unintended — I was making her think too much just a few hours before her recital.

So I told her not to worry about it, but it was too late. She kept at it for a little while longer until finally I said that she’d played it perfectly. I didn’t think we ever isolated that note; I felt pretty bad for even bringing it up.

Then it was time for recital. Katie was the first one to perform. She was dressed well. As I watched her play The Entertainer, all I could think was how grown-up she had become, and that I had already missed the four-, five-, six-year-old versions of her.

She got to the end of the song, and she reached the note we had talked about. And she held it. She held it so long that for an instant it broke her timing on the rest of the song. Then she finished the song, and she looked right at me. Then I hugged her. My parents are right. You don’t have to say the words “I love you”. Sometimes one note will do.

1.How did Katie react to the author’s request for learning piano?

A.She refused to practice it at first.

B.She practiced the piano unwillingly.

C.She paid little attention to practicing.

D.She felt delighted at the very beginning.

2.According to the passage, the author’s advice          .

A.was quite professional B.had no practical effects

C.made his daughter happy D.brought trouble to his daughter

3.What can we infer about the author’s parents?

A.They were strict with the author.

B.They wanted the author to be perfect.

C.They didn’t care about the author’s growth.

D.They weren’t good at expressing love in words.

4.What’s the best title of this passage?

A.It’s Not Necessary to Be Perfect

B.One Note Will Express Your Love

C.What Is Love

D.My Daughter Experienced Learning Piano

Answer

1.B

2.D

3.D

4.B

【解析】

这是一篇记叙文。主要讲述了一家人不善于表达“我爱你”，作者通过在演奏会前为女儿指出缺点以及女儿给出反馈的经历说明“我爱你”不一定要说出口，也可以用行动表示。

1.细节理解题。根据第二段中“This has meant, through the years, that our house has been filled with a few muddled (混乱的) complaints mixed with versions of songs.”可知，这些年我们家里充满了混乱的抱怨，与曲子混合着。表明作者要求女儿练习钢琴时，女儿的反应是不情愿的。故选B项。

2.推理判断题。根据最后一段中“She held it so long that for an instant it broke her timing on the rest of the song.”可知，女儿按这个音符时间过久以至于导致影响了曲子剩余部分时间。意在表明作者的建议给女儿带来了麻烦。故选D项。

3.推理判断题。根据第一段中“When I was growing up, we were not an “I love you” family.”可知在作者成长过程中，作者一家人并不是一个会说“我爱你”的家庭。表明作者的父母不善于表达“我爱你”。故选D项。

4.标题归纳题。根据文章第一段“When I was growing up, we were not an “I love you” family.”可知作者一家人并不是一个会说“我爱你”的家庭。结合最后一段中“You don’t have to say the words “I love you”. Sometimes one note will do.”可知你不必说“我爱你”，有时用一个音符就表达了。B项“一个音符就表达了爱”切合题意。故选B项。