I find it pleasant to be alone the greater part of the time; to be in company, even with the best, is soon tiresome and wasteful, and I never found a companion so companionable as solitude (独处).
We are for the most part more lonely when we go abroad than when we stay in the meeting-rooms, for solitude is not measured by the miles of space between a man and his fellows.
The farmer, who can work alone all day without feeling lonesome, but must do something with others to get pleasure at night, wonders how the student can sit alone at night; he does not realize that the student, though in the house, is actually at work in his field and cutting his wood as the farmer was in his.
Society is commonly too cheap：We meet at very short intervals (间隔) ,not having had time to get any new value for each other; we meet at meals three times a day and give each other a new taste of that unpleasant old cheese; we live thick and are in each other’s way, and I think that we thus lose some respect for one another.
We have had to agree on a certain set of rules, called etiquette and politeness, to make this frequent meeting tolerable (可忍受的); certainly less frequency would be enough for all important and hearty communications between men.
It would be better if there were but one to live within a square mile, as where I live ,for as the value of a man is not in his skin, we need not touch him.

1. 1.

   The writer uses the example of the farmer and the student to show that _____.

   1. A.
      men need to do something for pleasure after their work.
   2. B.
      men are not lonely when they are working.
   3. C.
      solitude is necessary for a student.
   4. D.
      people have different ideas of solitude.
2. 2.

   When the writer says：“Society is commonly too cheap” he means that ______.

   1. A.
      we meet not frequently enough so we don’t understand each other well.
   2. B.
      we eat cheap food and live a simple life so we don’t feel very happy.
   3. C.
      our lives are too regular for us to find any happiness in them.
   4. D.
      people don’t have enough hearty communication to realize the value in others
3. 3.

   The writer’s opinion on the value of a man is that _____.

   1. A.
      it is made too low by the rules of etiquette and politeness.
   2. B.
      it can be discovered through frequent physical touch.
   3. C.
      it can be found in a man’s appearance.
   4. D.
      it doesn’t lie in physical touch.
4. 4.

   The writer almost believes that ______.

   1. A.
      a student and a farmer have no idea of solitude.
   2. B.
      the same life we live every day is the cause of man’s loneliness.
   3. C.
      etiquette and politeness are rules that make frequent meetings tolerable.
   4. D.
      less frequent meetings can make us more clear about the value of men.

Dear Michelle,

My mother is not a good example for me and my sister. She smokes, stays out late, and she curses. I love her but I am ashamed of her. I do not want to bring home my friends because she does not act like any of the other mothers. She says I am a loser because I sit at home and I study. I wish I could live in another family that is normal, but that will not be for another 5 years when I am 18 and legal. What am I supposed to do until then?

                                                    Prisoner of a Crazy House

Dear 7^th Grade,

   I am glad that you love your mother because the rest of your feelings about her may change as you mature and get older.

   While it is true that your mother’s smoking, partying and cursing bring you shame, the fact that you want to stay separate from her doing is notable and very smart. It shows that you are a winner, not a loser.

   I am guessing, therefore, that you do not bring shame to yourself, and that is a good thing. So, keep it that way and keep away from your mother’s habits.

   In the meantime, get the best grades as possible and join clubs and after-school activities. Offer social service on weekends and visit with your friends at their homes.

   Unfortunately, you are not alone. Many teens live in homes with immature, misguided, selfish parents. Those kids often feel lonely and separate from the rest of their friends because of their parents’ terrible deeds.

   Yet, despite this, some of these very teens grow up to be just fine. They develop good friendships with nice kids, do well in school, and often find a teacher of guidance advisor who makes all the difference!

   Do it, Miss Winning 13-year-old, and keep looking forward to your own fine future. Maybe by then your mother may even see the light and realize how surprising you really are.

   Best luck!

                                                             Michelle

The kids asks for advice on how to _________.

A. make her mother change          B. grow up in her present situation

C. get along well with her mother     D. start a new family with her sister

Michelle doesn’t call her letter receiver a “Prisoner of a Crazy House” possibly because she ________.

A. tries to be polite                 B. doesn’t write to that kid alone

C. knows that’s a girl in Grade 7       D. wants to cheer up the kid

Michelle advises the girl to ___________.

A. try talking to her mother                 B. get used to the habits of her mother

C. stick to her attitude towards her mother     D. improve her relationship with her mother

What does Michelle express by the paragraphs beginning with “Unfortunately” and “Yet”?

A. Many parents act terribly                B. You’re not speaking for yourself

C. Parents’ manners make little difference     D. Don’t worry too much about your problem

Dear Michelle,
My mother is not a good example for me and my sister. She smokes, stays out late, and she curses. I love her but I am ashamed of her. I do not want to bring home my friends because she does not act like any of the other mothers. She says I am a loser because I sit at home and I study. I wish I could live in another family that is normal, but that will not be for another 5 years when I am 18 and legal. What am I supposed to do until then?
Prisoner of a Crazy House
Dear 7th Grade,
I am glad that you love your mother because the rest of your feelings about her may change as you mature and get older.
While it is true that your mother’s smoking, partying and cursing bring you shame, the fact that you want to stay separate from her doing is notable and very smart. It shows that you are a winner, not a loser.
I am guessing, therefore, that you do not bring shame to yourself, and that is a good thing. So, keep it that way and keep away from your mother’s habits.
In the meantime, get the best grades as possible and join clubs and after-school activities. Offer social service on weekends and visit with your friends at their homes.
Unfortunately, you are not alone. Many teens live in homes with immature, misguided, selfish parents. Those kids often feel lonely and separate from the rest of their friends because of their parents’ terrible deeds.
Yet, despite this, some of these very teens grow up to be just fine. They develop good friendships with nice kids, do well in school, and often find a teacher of guidance advisor who makes all the difference!
Do it, Miss Winning 13-year-old, and keep looking forward to your own fine future. Maybe by then your mother may even see the light and realize how surprising you really are.
Best luck!
Michelle
【小题1】The kids asks for advice on how to _________.

Dear Michelle,

My mother is not a good example for me and my sister. She smokes, stays out late, and she curses. I love her but I am ashamed of her. I do not want to bring home my friends because she does not act like any of the other mothers. She says I am a loser because I sit at home and I study. I wish I could live in another family that is normal, but that will not be for another 5 years when I am 18 and legal. What am I supposed to do until then?

Prisoner of a Crazy House

Dear 7^th Grade,

I am glad that you love your mother because the rest of your feelings about her may change as you mature and get older.

While it is true that your mother’s smoking, partying and cursing bring you shame, the fact that you want to stay separate from her doing is notable and very smart. It shows that you are a winner, not a loser.

I am guessing, therefore, that you do not bring shame to yourself, and that is a good thing. So, keep it that way and keep away from your mother’s habits.

In the meantime, get the best grades as possible and join clubs and after-school activities. Offer social service on weekends and visit with your friends at their homes.

Unfortunately, you are not alone. Many teens live in homes with immature, misguided, selfish parents. Those kids often feel lonely and separate from the rest of their friends because of their parents’ terrible deeds.

Yet, despite this, some of these very teens grow up to be just fine. They develop good friendships with nice kids, do well in school, and often find a teacher of guidance advisor who makes all the difference!

Do it, Miss Winning 13-year-old, and keep looking forward to your own fine future. Maybe by then your mother may even see the light and realize how surprising you really are.

Best luck!

Michelle

1.The kids asks for advice on how to _________.

2. Michelle doesn’t call her letter receiver a “Prisoner of a Crazy House” possibly because she ________.

3. Michelle advises the girl to ___________.

4.What does Michelle express by the paragraphs beginning with “Unfortunately” and “Yet”?