As I sat beside the window of our classroom that afternoon, my heart sank further with each passing car. This was a day I’d looked forward to for weeks: Miss Pace’s fourth-grade, end-of-the-year party.
I had happily volunteered my mother when Miss Pace looked for cookie volunteers. Mom’s chocolate chips were well-known, and I knew they’d be a hit with my classmates. But two o’clock passed, and there was no sign of her. Most of the other mothers had already come and gone, dropping off their sweet offerings.
The three o’clock bell soon took me away from my thoughts and I took my book bag from my desk.
I decided I would slam the front door, and refuse to return her hug. But when I arrived, she wasn’t at home.
I was lying face-down on my bed upstairs when I heard her come through the front door.
“Robbie,” she called out a bit urgently. “Where are you?”
I could then hear her rushing anxiously from room to room, wondering where I could be. I remained silent.
Coming through the door, she said: “I’m so sorry, honey,” she said. “I just forgot. I got busy and forgot.”
Then my mother did something completely unexpected. She began to laugh! How could she laugh at a time like this? I rolled over and faced her, ready to let her see my rage (愤怒).
But my mother wasn’t laughing at all. She was crying. “I’m so sorry,” she said. “I let you down. I let my little boy down.”
I was moved by her tears.
I tried to remember her kind words from times past when I’d skinned knees or cut myself, times when she knew just the right thing to say.
“It’s okay, Mom. We didn’t even need those cookies. There was plenty of stuff to eat. Don’t cry. It’s all right. Really.”
We didn’t say another word. We just held each other. When we came to the point where I would usually pull away, I decided that, this time, I could hold on, perhaps, just a little bit longer.
【小题1】. The author was pretty down because ______.

A．the mother didn’t get to the party because of the traffic jam

B．the mother was sorry for her absence and laughed at herself

C．the author was a caring and thoughtful boy

D．the author was overcome with anger

As I sat beside the window of our classroom that afternoon, my heart sank further with each passing car. This was a day I’d looked forward to for weeks: Miss Pace’s fourth-grade, end-of-the-year party.

I had happily volunteered my mother when Miss Pace looked for cookie volunteers. Mom’s chocolate chips were well-known, and I knew they’d be a hit with my classmates. But two o’clock passed, and there was no sign of her. Most of the other mothers had already come and gone, dropping off their sweet offerings.

The three o’clock bell soon took me away from my thoughts and I took my book bag from my desk.

I decided I would slam the front door, and refuse to return her hug. But when I arrived, she wasn’t at home.

I was lying face-down on my bed upstairs when I heard her come through the front door.

“Robbie,” she called out a bit urgently. “Where are you?”

I could then hear her rushing anxiously from room to room, wondering where I could be. I remained silent.

Coming through the door, she said: “I’m so sorry, honey,” she said. “I just forgot. I got busy and forgot.”

Then my mother did something completely unexpected. She began to laugh! How could she laugh at a time like this? I rolled over and faced her, ready to let her see my rage (愤怒).

But my mother wasn’t laughing at all. She was crying. “I’m so sorry,” she said. “I let you down. I let my little boy down.”

I was moved by her tears.

I tried to remember her kind words from times past when I’d skinned knees or cut myself, times when she knew just the right thing to say.

“It’s okay, Mom. We didn’t even need those cookies. There was plenty of stuff to eat. Don’t cry. It’s all right. Really.”

We didn’t say another word. We just held each other. When we came to the point where I would usually pull away, I decided that, this time, I could hold on, perhaps, just a little bit longer.

1.. The author was pretty down because ______.

A. he couldn’t go to the party he had been looking forward to

B. his mother didn’t turn up at the party as she had promised

C. his mother had refused to make chocolate chips for the party

D. the cookies his mom made was not popular at the party

As I sat beside the window of our classroom that afternoon, my heart sank further with each passing car. This was a day I’d looked forward to for weeks: Miss Pace’s fourth-grade, end-of-the-year party. I had happily volunteered my mother when Miss Pace looked for cookie volunteers. Mom’s chocolate chips were well-known, and I knew they’d be a hit with my classmates. But two o’clock passed, and there was no sign of her. Most of the other mothers had already come and gone, dropping off their sweet offerings. The three o’clock bell soon took me away from my thoughts and I took my book bag from my desk. I decided I would slam the front door, and refuse to return her hug.

But when I arrived, she wasn’t at home. I was lying face-down on my bed upstairs when I heard her come through the front door. “Robbie,” she called out a bit urgently. “Where are you?” I could then hear her rushing anxiously from room to room, wondering where I could be. I remained silent. Coming through the door, she said: “I’m so sorry, honey,” she said. “I just forgot. I got busy and forgot.” Then my mother did something completely unexpected. She began to laugh! How could she laugh at a time like this? I rolled over and faced her, ready to let her see my rage (愤怒). But my mother wasn’t laughing at all. She was crying. “I’m so sorry,” she said. “I let you down. I let my little boy down.”

I was moved by her tears. I tried to remember her kind words from times past when I’d skinned knees or cut myself, times when she knew just the right thing to say. “It’s okay, Mom. We didn’t even need those cookies. There was plenty of stuff to eat. Don’t cry. It’s all right. Really.” We didn’t say another word. We just held each other. When we came to the point where I would usually pull away, I decided that, this time, I could hold on, perhaps, just a little bit longer.

1.The author was pretty down because ________.

A．he couldn’t go to the party he had been looking forward to

B．his mother didn’t turn up at the party as she had promised

C．his mother had refused to make chocolate chips for the party

D．the cookies his mom made was not popular at the party

2.When the author returned home, ________.

A．he was so angry that he slammed the front door.

B．he was silent and refused to return his mother’s hug.

C．he rushed from room to room looking for his mother.

D．he was so disappointed that he couldn’t express his anger to his mother.

3.We can tell from the story that _______.

A．the mother didn’t get to the party because of the traffic jam

B．the mother was sorry for her absence and laughed at herself

C．the author was a caring and thoughtful boy

D．the author was overcome with anger

4.The article conveys the message that _______.

A．it is silly to be angry with your family

B．everybody should keep his or her promises

C．true love is based on understanding

D．understanding how to comfort people in low spirits is a true skill

As I sat beside the window of our classroom that afternoon, my heart sank further with each passing car. This was a day I’d looked forward to for weeks: Miss Pace’s fourth-grade, end-of-the-year party. I had happily volunteered my mother when Miss Pace looked for cookie volunteers. Mom’s chocolate chips were well-known, and I knew they’d be a hit with my classmates. But two o’clock passed, and there was no sign of her. Most of the other mothers had already come and gone, dropping off their sweet offerings. The three o’clock bell soon took me away from my thoughts and I took my book bag from my desk. I decided I would slam the front door, and refuse to return her hug.
But when I arrived, she wasn’t at home. I was lying face-down on my bed upstairs when I heard her come through the front door. “Robbie,” she called out a bit urgently. “Where are you?” I could then hear her rushing anxiously from room to room, wondering where I could be. I remained silent. Coming through the door, she said: “I’m so sorry, honey,” she said. “I just forgot. I got busy and forgot.” Then my mother did something completely unexpected. She began to laugh! How could she laugh at a time like this? I rolled over and faced her, ready to let her see my rage (愤怒). But my mother wasn’t laughing at all. She was crying. “I’m so sorry,” she said. “I let you down. I let my little boy down.”
I was moved by her tears. I tried to remember her kind words from times past when I’d skinned knees or cut myself, times when she knew just the right thing to say. “It’s okay, Mom. We didn’t even need those cookies. There was plenty of stuff to eat. Don’t cry. It’s all right. Really.” We didn’t say another word. We just held each other. When we came to the point where I would usually pull away, I decided that, this time, I could hold on, perhaps, just a little bit longer.
【小题1】The author was pretty down because ________.

Bill Trew worked on the night shift（夜班） in an old coal mine called Park Deep．Day and night 180 miners worked underground there, more than 6,00 feet   21  ．They all took their   22   of night work, but Bill always worked at night．he said he   23   it．

       One day he came home as usual at half past seven in the morning．He had his ‘Supper’,   24   he called it, and went to bed．An   25    dream troubled his sleep．  26  , the only thing he remembered about it was— a throbbing（跳动） blue light．

       Bill got up in the afternoon as usual．It was a   27    getting up—because he could still see the blue light in front of his eyes．As the evening   28   darker, the light grew stronger．Bill got ready for the night shift．But by 8 o'clock the blue light was so bright that he could   29    see anything else．He and his wife were very puzzled．Bill had never been    30   before．

       “Don't go to work,”Mrs．Trew said．“If it isn't better   31    tomorrow, I'll have to send for the doctor．”

       Bill didn't go to work．He sat in an armchair,    32    but with closed eyes．  33   then the blueness was like a living thing．It surrounded him, silent, throbbing．The family went to bed but Bill wasn't   34  : he stayed in his armchair．

       At 11 o'clock a long, loud explosion(爆炸)   35   the ground．Bill opened his eyes and   36 to his feet．The blue light was   37   ! He rushed outside．Someone shouted, “Gas! gas in Park Deep! Oh pity the night shift!”

       The gas explosion killed 179 men in Park Deep．The mine was destroyed   38   ．Bill Trew has never  39   wondering. The blue light: why did it make him the only man   40   for work that night?

21．A．down                     B．around                    C．off                         D．away

22．A．order                      B．time                        C．share                      D．list

23．A．decided                   B．preferred                 C．suited                     D．needed

24．A．what                      B．because                  C．when                     D．as

25．A．uneasy                    B．unusual                   C．extra                      D．ordinary

26．A．Afterwards             B．However                 C．Therefore               D．Meanwhile

27．A．regular                    B．fresh                      C．late                        D．strange

28．A．turned                    B．developed                C．grew                      D．fell

29．A．possibly                  B．hardly                     C．probably                 D．immediately

30．A．fearful                    B．calm                       C．safe                       D．sick

31．A．for                         B．within                     C．by                          D．on

32．A．awake                    B．frightened               C．clear                      D．relaxed

33．A．Just                        B．Till                         C．From                     D．Even

34．A．serious                   B．tired                       C．free                        D．troubled

35．A．shook                     B．destroyed                C．attacked                 D．broke

36．A．struggled                B．rose                        C．jumped                   D．bent

37．A．gone                       B．left                         C．frozen                    D．lost

38．A．at last                     B．at all                       C．for ever                  D．for all

39．A．stood                      B．stopped                   C．kept                       D．delayed

40．A．unfair                     B．unreasonable           C．unfit                       D．unacceptable