I grew up in a small town where the elementary school was a ten-minute walk from my house. Since it is not far away, I could go home for lunch and find my mother   36   for me.

At the time, I did not consider this a luxury(奢侈享受),    37  today it certainly would be. I took it for granted that mothers were the sandwich-makers and the   38   monitors(监督者). So I never   39  that this ambitious (雄心勃勃的) and clever woman,   40  had had a career before I was born, would spend almost every lunch hour throughout my elementary school years just with me.

I only knew that when the noon bell rang, I  41   race breathlessly home. My mother would be standing at the top of the stairs, smiling down at me with a look that suggested I was the only important thing she had on her  42  . For this, I am forever   43 .

One lunchtime when I was in the third grade will  44   me always. I had been picked to be the princess in the school play, and for weeks my mother had patiently helped me practise my  45   . But no matter how    46   I knew them at home,  47   I stepped on stage, every word  48   from my head.

Finally, my teacher took me aside and   49   that she had written a narrator's (叙述者 ) part to the play, and asked me to   50   roles.  Her words, kindly spoken,  51  hurt me, especially when I saw my part go to another girl.

I didn't tell my mother what had happened when I went home for lunch that day. But she   52   my unease（不安）, and instead of suggesting we practise my lines, she asked if I wanted to   53  in the yard.

       I watched my mother stop and bend down. "I think I'm going to  54  all these dandelions（蒲公英）," she said, pulling a flower up by its roots. "From now on, we'll have only roses in this garden."
　　"But I like dandelions," I protested（抗议）. "Yes, all flowers are beautiful—even dandelions." said mother. "Every flower gives pleasure in its own way, doesn't it?" she asked thoughtfully. I nodded, pleased that I had won her over. "And that is true of  55  too," she added. "Not everyone can be a princess, but there is no shame in that."
36. A. searching            B. preparing          C. looking                    D. waiting

37. A. although             B. if                      C. unless                      D. since

38. A. housework          B. homework         C. house                       D. garden

39. A. hoped                 B. hated                C. questioned                D. found

40. A. whom                 B. that                   C. who                         D. which

41. A. would                 B. should               C. might                       D. could

42. A. mind                  B. way                  C. life                          D. side

43. A. angry                 B. puzzled             C. interested                 D. grateful

44. A. pay off              B. refer to             C. stay with                  D. date from

45. A. dancing                     B. singing              C. papers                      D. lines

46. A. difficultly           B. slowly               C. easily                       D. lowly

47. A. immediately        B. quickly             C. unluckily                  D. actually

48. A. took                   B. got                   C. disappeared                     D. came

49. A. believed              B. wondered          C. expressed                 D. explained

50. A. join                    B. change                     C. provide                    D. improve

51. A. already               B. never                C. hardly                      D. still

52. A. watched                     B. observed           C. sensed                      D. avoided

53. A. walk                   B. read                  C. recite                       D. practice

54. A. bring in                     B. dig up               C. bring back                D. take on

55. A. life                            B. dandelions         C. roses                        D. people