Every year, I tell my sons what I'd like for Mother's Day: a letter. Something written from the heart and offered freely rather than bought from a store and wrapped neatly. I don't always get my wish, nor do I always take the time to write to my own mother.

      This year, my boys will be in two different states on Mother's Day. My mom and dad will be away together, and I'11 be driving home from a writer's workshop in Massachusetts. Thinking of the fact that many friends have already lost their mothers and that a few have lost children, I am deeply grateful that what separates us, for now at least, is merely distance. It won't always be so, and there is no way to prepare for that fact other than to appreciate the moment that is. My sons know that they can please me on Sunday with a phone call or an e-mail, and that is enough as I love their words. The very best gift they can possibly give me is their own happiness, the very fact of their busy. full and well-lived lives.

     Still, knowing that my years of staying with my sons are over, I do Feel doleful. The truth is, I miss being the center of the universe to two little boys. And this holiday can be a bit painful.

     I wonder if my own mother ever felt nostalgic ('VTIH WJ) for the passing of my childhood. I wonder if she realizes that she is still at the center of my universe and always has been. I don't often pause to think about it. but of course she is the one who has been right there, at my side from the moment I drew my very first breath. How to ever fully appreciate the woman whose presence and 1ove and example have shaped me into the adult I am? How to describe even a small part of the sharing. sacrificing. and support she has given me over the years?

1.The author mainly wants to tell us through the first paragraph that _____.

A. she hopes to get her son's letters very much

B. her sons don't often write to her on Mother's Day

C. Mother's Day is the very date that she longs for most

D. she is very sorry not to write to her mother often

2.The author is deeply grateful for the present life because ____.

A. her sons don't live far away from her home

B. her parents and children are still alive

C. her parents are coming to her house to spend Mother's Day

D. her sons can please her on Sunday with a phone call

3.According to the author ______

A. young people nowadays tend to ignore their parents

B. parents should not give their children too much freedom

C. children's happiness and success are the biggest comfort to parents

D. parents are not the center of their children's universe when children grow up

4.What does the underlined word "doleful" in paragraph 3 mean?

A. sad        B. excited             C. guilty               D. proud

5.What will the author probably tell about after the last paragraph?

A. She'll tell the reader about her mother's present situation.

B. She'll recall how her mother educated and cared for her.

C. She'll describe the reunion of her family on Mother's Day.

D. She'll tell the reader about her mother's achievements in her career.

 

Barditch High School decided to hold an All-School Reunion. Over 450 people came to the event. There were tours of the old school building and a picnic at Confederate Park. Several former teachers were on hands to tell stories about the old days. Ms. Mabel Yates, the English teacher for fifty years, was wheeled to the Park.

Some eyes rolled and there were a few low groans(嘟囔声)when Ms.Yates was about to speak. Many started looking at their watches and coming up with excuses to be anywhere instead of preparing to listen to a lecture from an old woman who had few kind words for her students and made them work harder than all the other teachers combined.

Then Ms. Yates started to speak:

“I can’t tell you how pleased I am to be here. I haven’t seen many of you since your graduation, but I have followed your careers and enjoyed your victories as well as crying for your tragedies. I have a large collection of newspaper photographs of my students. Although I haven’t appeared in person, I have attended your college graduations, weddings and even the birth your children, in my imagination.”

Ms. Yates paused and started crying a bit. Then she continued:

“It was my belief that if I pushed you as hard as I could, some of you would succeed to please me and others would succeed to annoy me. Regardless of our motives, I can see that you have all been successful in you chosen path.”

“There is no greater comfort for an educator than to see the end result of his or her years of work. You have all been a great source of pleasure and pride for me and I want you to know I love you all from the bottom of my heart.”

There was a silence over the crowd for a few seconds and then someone started clapping. The clapping turned into cheering, then into a deafening roar(呼喊). Lawyers, truck drivers, bankers and models were rubbing their eyes or crying openly with no shame all because of the words from a long forgotten English teacher from their hometown.

1.What activity was organized for the school reunion?

A.Sightseeing in the park.

B.A picnic on the school playground.

C.Telling stories about past events.

D.Graduates’ reports in the old building.

2.What can be inferred from Paragraph 2? 

A.Some graduates were too busy to listen to Ms. Yates’ speech.

B.Many graduates disliked Ms. Yates’ ways of teaching.

C.Some people got tired from the reunion activities.

D.Most people had little interest in the reunion.

3.We can learn from Ms. Yates’ speech that she _____________.

A.kept track of her students’ progress

B.gave her students advice on their careers

C.attended her students’ college graduations

D.went to her students’ wedding ceremonies

4.What was Ms.Yates’ belief in teaching teenagers?

A.Teachers’ knowledge is the key to students’ achievements.

B.Pressure on students from teachers should be reduced.

C.Hard-pushed students are more likely to succeed.

D.Students’ respect is the best reward for teachers.

 

违法和不良信息举报电话:027-86699610 举报邮箱:58377363@163.com

精英家教网