Question

    What is a family? Why does it matter? What does it teach us that we can’t learn on our own? These questions seem especially relevant in the holiday season when it is often our tradition to gather as families and celebrate together.

My mother was one of twelve children. As they grew up, married and had children of their own, most of them lived near enough to gather for holidays at my grandparents’ home in a small town in the mountains of North Carolina.

I don’t recall getting many gifts from them .I remember the sense of belonging, of being part of something that assured me I was loved and not alone.

I delighted in the laughing, playing and fighting with my crazy cousins. I watched my granddad and uncles sit on the porch, rain or shine, smoking and joking, arguing about politics and trying to solve the problems of the world. I listened to my grandmother, mother and aunts stir (搅拌) pots on the stove and talk about their lives, hopes, dreams and disappointments, and gossip about any sister who failed to show up.

The food was always plentiful and delicious-country ham, sweet potatoes, green beans, biscuits and my grandmother’s banana pudding. But for me, the food was never the highlight. The highlight was simply being together. A family.

However, they’re all gone now. My parents and grandparents, my aunts and uncles have left this world for the next. My cousins are scattered here and there. And yet the memories linger, along with the love that we shared.

I treasure those memories and the things they taught me. They told me that families aren’t perfect, but they prepare us to find our way in an imperfect world. They made me realize that all families are crazy in their own particular ways.

My husband and I are growing a new family, while keeping close to the surviving members of the families. It’s a beautiful blend (混合) of kindness, traditions, nurturing (养育) and friendships, which grows year after year.

I hope this holiday season will fill you with lovely memories of the family that raised you, and surround you with all the people who mean “family” to you now.

1.What do we know about the author’s family according to the article?

A.She didn’t get on well with her cousins.

B.Her grandpa and uncles were politicians.

C.Her family delighted in their gatherings.

D.The female members liked to show off.

2.The author appreciated the gatherings mainly because _______.

A.there was a lot of inviting food

B.special gifts were selected thoughtfully

C.they brought the family closer together

D.she got to see relatives who seldom visited

3.What does the underlined word “linger” in paragraph 6 probably mean?

A.Disappear. B.Remain.

C.Increase. D.Fade.

4.What did the author learn from her family?

A.Good families should live together.

B.Imperfect families may help us adjust to the world.

C.Memories of perfect families deserve treasuring.

D.It’s necessary to create crazy family traditions.

Answer

1.C

2.C

3.B

4.B

【解析】

这是一篇记叙文。作者通过叙述亲人在一起的快乐，以及对离世亲人的回忆说明了家的重要性。

1.

细节理解题。根据第四段中“I delighted in the laughing, playing and fighting with my crazy cousins.”我很高兴与堂兄弟们一起大笑，玩耍和打闹。“my granddad and uncles sit on the porch, rain or shine, smoking and joking, arguing about politics and trying to solve the problems of the world.”我的祖父和叔叔坐在门廊上，不论风雨无阻，抽烟和开玩笑，争论政治并试图解决世界问题。以及“my grandmother, mother and aunts stir (搅拌) pots on the stove and talk about their lives, hopes, dreams and disappointments, and gossip about any sister who failed to show up.” 我的祖母，母亲和阿姨在炉子上搅拌锅里的东西，谈论他们的生活，希望，梦想和失望，并八卦未能露面的姐姐。可知家庭聚会是其乐融融的景象，家人们都很开心。故选C项。

2.

推理判断题。根据第五段中“But for me, the food was never the highlight. The highlight was simply being together. A family.” 但是对我来说，食物从来都不是重点。最重要的是家人们在一起。意在表明作者喜欢聚会主要是因为聚会让家人们更亲近了。故选C项。

3.

词义猜测题。根据前句中“However, they’re all gone now. My parents and grandparents, my aunts and uncles have left this world for the next.”但是，他们现在都离开了。我的父母和祖父母，阿姨和叔叔都离开了这个世界。划线词前yet使前后句形成转折关系，然而，记忆和我们分享的爱一起挥之不去，因此划线的词的意思是“保持不变”切合语境。故选B项。

4.

推理判断题。根据倒数第三段中“They told me that families aren’t perfect, but they prepare us to find our way in an imperfect world.”他们告诉我，家庭并不完美，但是家庭可以让我们在不完美世界中找到自己的生活方式。由此判断出，作者从家庭中明白了一个道理：不完美的家庭可能会帮助我们适应世界。故选B项。