When a tornado touched down in a small town nearby, many families were left completely destroyed. Afterward all the local newspapers carried many human-interest stories featuring some of the families who suffered the hardest.
One Sunday, a particular picture especially touched me. A young woman stood in front of an entirely shattered mobile home, a depressed expression twisting her features. A young boy, seven or eight years old, stood at her side, eyes downcast. Clutching  (紧握)  at her skirt was a tiny girl who stared into the camera, eyes wide with confusion and fear.
The article that went with the picture gave the clothing sizes of each family member. With growing interest, I noticed that their sizes closely matched ours. This would be a good opportunity to teach my children to help those less fortunate than themselves. I taped the picture of the young family to our refrigerator, explaining their difficulty to my seven-year-old twins, Brad and Brett, and to three- year-old Meghan.
“ We have so much. And these poor people now have nothing,” I said.“We’ll share what we have with them.”
I brought three large boxes down from the room upstairs and placed them on the living room floor. Meghan watched seriously, as the boys and I filled one of the boxes with canned goods and foods.
While I sorted through our clothes, I encouraged the boys to go through their toys and donate some of their less favorite things. Meghan watched quietly as the boys piled up discarded toys and games.
“I’ll help you find something for the little girl when I’m done with this,” I said.
The boys placed the toys they had chosen to donate into one of the boxes while I filled the third box with clothes. Meghan walked up with Lucy, her worn, faded, much-loved rag doll hugged tightly to her chest. She paused in front of the box that held the toys, pressed her round little face into Lucy’s flat, painted-on-face, gave her a final kiss, then laid her gently on top of the other toys.
“Oh, Honey,” I said.“You don’t have to give Lucy. You love her so much.”
Meghan nodded seriously, eyes glistening with held-back tears. ‘”Lucy makes me happy, Mommy. Maybe she’ll make that other little girl happy, too．”
Swallowing hard, I stared at Meghan for a long moment, wondering how I could teach the boys the lesson she had just taught me. For I suddenly realized that anyone can give their cast-offs away. True generosity is giving that which you value most.
Honest benevolence  (善行)  is a three-year-old offering a valuable, though shabby, doll to a little girl she doesn’t know with the hope that it will bring this child as much pleasure as it brought her. I, who had wanted to teach, had been taught.
The boys had watched, open-mouthed, as their baby sister placed her favorite doll in the box. Without a word, Brad rose and went to his room. He came back carrying one of his favorite action figures. He hesitated briefly, clutching the toy, then looked over at Meghan and placed it in the box next to Lucy.
A slow smile spread across Brett’s face. Then he jumped up, eyes twinkling as he ran to fetch some of his prized Matchbox cars.
Astonished, I realized that the boys had also recognized what little Meghan’s gesture meant. Swallowing back tears, I pulled all three of them into my arms.
Taking the cue from my little one, I removed my old jacket from the box of clothes. I replaced it with the new hunter green jacket that I had found on sale last week. I hoped the young woman in the picture would love it as much as I did.
It’s easy to give that which we don’t want any more, but harder to let go of things we cherish, isn’t it? However, the true spirit of giving is to give with your heart..
【小题1】Why does the author give a detailed description of a particular picture in the Sunday newspaper?

When a tornado touched down in a small town nearby, many families were left completely destroyed. Afterward all the local newspapers carried many human-interest stories featuring some of the families who suffered the hardest.
One Sunday, a particular picture especially touched me. A young woman stood in front of an entirely shattered mobile home, a depressed expression twisting her features. A young boy, seven or eight years old, stood at her side, eyes downcast. Clutching  (紧握)  at her skirt was a tiny girl who stared into the camera, eyes wide with confusion and fear.
The article that went with the picture gave the clothing sizes of each family member. With growing interest, I noticed that their sizes closely matched ours. This would be a good opportunity to teach my children to help those less fortunate than themselves. I taped the picture of the young family to our refrigerator, explaining their difficulty to my seven-year-old twins, Brad and Brett, and to three- year-old Meghan.
“ We have so much. And these poor people now have nothing,” I said.“We’ll share what we have with them.”
I brought three large boxes down from the room upstairs and placed them on the living room floor. Meghan watched seriously, as the boys and I filled one of the boxes with canned goods and foods.
While I sorted through our clothes, I encouraged the boys to go through their toys and donate some of their less favorite things. Meghan watched quietly as the boys piled up discarded toys and games.
“I’ll help you find something for the little girl when I’m done with this,” I said.
The boys placed the toys they had chosen to donate into one of the boxes while I filled the third box with clothes. Meghan walked up with Lucy, her worn, faded, much-loved rag doll hugged tightly to her chest. She paused in front of the box that held the toys, pressed her round little face into Lucy’s flat, painted-on-face, gave her a final kiss, then laid her gently on top of the other toys.
“Oh, Honey,” I said.“You don’t have to give Lucy. You love her so much.”
Meghan nodded seriously, eyes glistening with held-back tears. ‘”Lucy makes me happy, Mommy. Maybe she’ll make that other little girl happy, too.”
Swallowing hard, I stared at Meghan for a long moment, wondering how I could teach the boys the lesson she had just taught me. For I suddenly realized that anyone can give their cast-offs away. True generosity is giving that which you value most.
Honest benevolence  (善行)  is a three-year-old offering a valuable, though shabby, doll to a little girl she doesn’t know with the hope that it will bring this child as much pleasure as it brought her. I, who had wanted to teach, had been taught.
The boys had watched, open-mouthed, as their baby sister placed her favorite doll in the box. Without a word, Brad rose and went to his room. He came back carrying one of his favorite action figures. He hesitated briefly, clutching the toy, then looked over at Meghan and placed it in the box next to Lucy.
A slow smile spread across Brett’s face. Then he jumped up, eyes twinkling as he ran to fetch some of his prized Matchbox cars.
Astonished, I realized that the boys had also recognized what little Meghan’s gesture meant. Swallowing back tears, I pulled all three of them into my arms.
Taking the cue from my little one, I removed my old jacket from the box of clothes. I replaced it with the new hunter green jacket that I had found on sale last week. I hoped the young woman in the picture would love it as much as I did.
It’s easy to give that which we don’t want any more, but harder to let go of things we cherish, isn’t it? However, the true spirit of giving is to give with your heart..

1. 1.

   Why does the author give a detailed description of a particular picture in the Sunday newspaper?

   1. A.
      To create an atmosphere of fear and depression brought by the tornado.
   2. B.
      To appeal to unconcerned people to donate for the poor families.
   3. C.
      To show the helplessness and hopelessness of the family mentioned in the paper.
   4. D.
      To stress what touched her and made her decide to help the hopeless family.
2. 2.

   Why did Brad and Brett also donate their favorite things finally?

   1. A.
      They were encouraged to donate some valuable things by the mother.
   2. B.
      Meghan’s decision inspired them to donate their favorite things.
   3. C.
      They also wanted to show generosity by giving away their valuable things.
   4. D.
      Meghan’s gesture reminded them to replace their favorite things with new ones.
3. 3.

   By “ swallowing hard”, the writer means that   _   _ .

   1. A.
      she was deeply puzzled by what the little girl did
   2. B.
      she had trouble persuading Meghan not to give away Lucy
   3. C.
      she was greatly moved by Meghan’s unexpected decision
   4. D.
      she was uncertain what consequences Meghan’s action would bring about
4. 4.

   It is suggested in the sentence “the true spirit of giving is to give with your heart” that ______.

   1. A.
      sincere donation means offering help to others whole-heartedly
   2. B.
      true giving means giving others what you treasure most
   3. C.
      true generosity means helping others at the cost of your own benefit
   4. D.
      honest benevolence means devoting yourself to the career of donation
5. 5.

   What’s the best title for this passage?

   1. A.
      The Greatest Love
   2. B.
      A Beautiful Heart
   3. C.
      True Generosity
   4. D.
      A Precious Gift

I stopped to watch my little girl busy playing in her room. In one hand was a plastic    36 ; in the other a toy broom. I listened as she was speaking to her make-believe(假装) little friend and I’ll never forget the words she said, even though it was imagined.

She said, “Suzie’s in the corner because she’s not been very   37 . She didn’t listen to a   38  I said or do the things she should.” In the   39  I saw her baby doll all dressed in lace and pink. It was   40  she’d been put to sit alone and   41 .

My daughter   42  her “conversation”, as I sat down on the floor. She said, “I’m all fed up. I just don’t know   43  to do with her any more. She cries whenever I have to work and wants to play games, too. She never   44  me do the things that I just have to do. She tries to help me with the dishes, but her arms just cannot   45 . And she doesn’t know how to fold towels. I don’t have the   46  to teach. I have a lot of work to do and a big house to keep clean. I don’t have the time to sit and play —   47  what I mean?”

And that day I thought a lot about making some   48  in my life, as I listened to her words that   49  me like a knife. I hadn’t been paying enough attention to what I hold most   50 . I’d been caught up in responsibilities that increased   51  years.

But now my   52  has changed, because, in my heart, I realize that I’ve seen the world in a different light through my little darling’s eyes. So, let the cobwebs（蜘蛛网）  53  the corners and the dust bunny rabbit rule the floor. I’m not going to worry about keeping up with them   54 .

I’m going to fill the house with   55  of a child and her mother, for we are granted only one childhood, and we will never get another.

1.                A．table           B．camera         C．hammer  D．phone

2.                A．gentle          B．happy          C．good D．helpful

3.                A．story           B．word           C．joke D．sentence

4.                A．corner         B．bed            C．room D．box

5.                A．possible        B．clear           C．common  D．unusual

6.                A．recover        B．pretend        C．think D．regret

7.                A．continued       B．stopped        C．repeated D．interrupted

8.                A．what           B．whether        C．why D．how

9.                A．has            B．helps           C．makes    D．lets

10.               A．reach          B．settle          C．arrive D．handle

11.               A．ability          B．duty           C．energy    D．reason

12.               A．mind          B．see            C．feel  D．learn

13.               A．influences      B．changes        C．plans D．troubles

14.               A．cut            B．hurt           C．broke D．harmed

15.               A．clever         B．heavy          C．dear  D．lovely

16.               A．over           B．after           C．for   D．during

17.               A．purpose        B．principle        C．destination D．attitude

18.               A．have           B．manage        C．make D．stop

19.               A．either          B．any more       C．neither    D．anywhere

20.               A．conversations    B．messages       C．imaginations    D．memories

I stopped to watch my little girl busy playing in her room. In one hand was a plastic    21  ; in the other a toy broom. I listened as she was speaking to her make-believe little friend and I’ll never forget the words she said, even    22  it was a pretense.

She said, “Suzie’s in the corner because she’s not been very    23   . She didn’t listen to a    24  I said or do the things she should.” In the corner I saw her baby doll all dressed in lace and pink. It was   25   she’d been put there to sit alone and    26  .

My daughter  27  her “conversation”, as I sat down on the floor. She said, “I’m all fed up. I just don’t know what to do with her any more. She cries whenever I have to work and wants to play games, too. She never    28  me do the things that I just have to do.

She tries to help me with the dishes, but her arms just cannot   29 . And she doesn’t know  30  to fold towels. I don’t have the   31 to teach. I have a lot of work to do and a big house to keep clean. I don’t have the time to sit and play—  32  what I mean?”

And that day I thought a lot about making some   33 in my life, as I listened to her   34 words that cut me like a knife. I hadn’t been paying enough attention to what I hold most   35   . I’d been caught up in responsibilities that increased throughout the year.

But now my  36   has changed, because, in my heart, I realize that I’ve seen the world in a different  37   through my little darling’s eyes. So, let the cobwebs（蜘蛛网）  38   the corners and the dust bunny rabbit rule the floor. I’m not going to worry about keeping up with them  39  .

I’m going to fill the house with   40  of a child and her mother, for we are granted only one childhood, and we will never get another.

21．A．lamp          B．camera         C．hammer        D．phone

22．A．then         B．as             C．though       D．so

23．A．gentle        B．good          C．happy         D．helpful

24．A．word                B．story          C．joke           D．sentence

25．A．possible      B．obvious              C．common               D．unusual

26．A．recover              B．pretend       C．think                  D．regret

27．A．continued            B．stopped        C．repeated        D．interrupted

28．A．has                 B．helps          C．makes         D．lets

29．A．reach                B．settle          C．arrive        D．handle

30．A．what                B．whether      C．why         D．how

31．A．ability        B．duty         C．energy       D．reason

32．A．mind                B．see          C．feel          D．learn

33．A．influences            B．changes              C．plans           D．troubles

34．A．innocent      B．casual               C．generous       D．humorous

35．A．clever               B．heavy               C．dear         D．lovely

36．A．purpose              B．principle      C．destination    D．attitude

37．A．glance               B．light           C．focus        D．impression

38．A．have                B．manage              C．make          D．stop

39．A．either                B．any more             C．neither       D．anywhere

40．A．conversations        B．messages            C．imaginations    D．Memories

I stopped to watch my little girl busy playing in her room. In one hand was a plastic 　 1 ; in the other a toy broom. I listened as she was speaking to her make-believe little friend and I’ll never forget the words she said, even　 2 it was a pretense.

She said, “Suzie’s in the corner because she’s not been very　 3　 . She didn’t listen to a 　 4 I said or do the things she should.” In the corner I saw her baby doll all dressed in lace and pink. It was 5　 she’d been put there to sit alone and　 6 .

My daughter 7 her “conversation”, as I sat down on the floor. She said, “I’m all fed up. I just don’t know what to do with her any more. She cries whenever I have to work and wants to play games, too. She never　 8 me do the things that I just have to do.

She tries to help me with the dishes, but her arms just cannot 9 . And she doesn’t know　10 to fold towels. I don’t have the　 11 to teach. I have a lot of work to do and a big house to keep clean. I don’t have the time to sit and play— 12 what I mean?”

And that day I thought a lot about making some 13 in my life, as I listened to her 14 words that cut me like a knife. I hadn’t been paying enough attention to what I hold most 15　 . I’d been caught up in responsibilities that increased throughout the year.

But now my 16　 has changed, because, in my heart, I realize that I’ve seen the world in a different 17　 through my little darling’s eyes. So, let the cobwebs（蜘蛛网） 18　 the corners and the dust bunny rabbit rule the floor. I’m not going to worry about keeping up with them 19 .

I’m going to fill the house with　 20 of a child and her mother, for we are granted only one childhood, and we will never get another.

1．A．lamp　　　 　 B．camera 　　 　 C．hammer　　 　 D．phone

2．A．then　　　　 　 B．as　　　　 　 C．though　　　 D．so

3．A．gentle　　　 　 B．good　　　 C．happy　　　 D．helpful

4．A．word　　　　 B．story　　　 C．joke　　　 　 D．sentence

5．A．possible　　 　 B．obvious　　　 　　　 C．common　 　　　　　 D．unusual

6．A．recover　　　 B．pretend　　　 C．think　　　 　　　　　 D．regret

7．A．continued　　 B．stopped　　 C．repeated　　 　 D．interrupted

8．A．has　　　　　 B．helps　　　 C．makes　　　 D．lets

9．A．reach　　　　 B．settle　　　 C．arrive　　　 D．handle

10．A．what　　　　 　　　 B．whether　　 C．why　　　　 D．how

11．A．ability　　　 B．duty　　　　 C．energy　　　 D．reason

12．A．mind　　　　 　　　 B．see　　　　 C．feel　　　　 D．learn

13．A．influences　 B．changes　　　 　 C．plans　　　 　 D．troubles

14．A．innocent　 B．casual　　　　 　　 C．generous 　 D．humorous

15．A．clever　　　　 　　 B．heavy　　　　 　　 C．dear　　　　 D．lovely

16．A．purpose　 　　 B．principle　　 C．destination 　 D．attitude

17．A．glance　　　 　　　 B．light　　　　 C．focus　　　 D．impression

18．A．have　　　　 　　 B．manage　　　 　　　 C．make　　　 D．stop

19．A．either　　 　　　 B．any more　　 　　　 C．neither　　　 D．anywhere

20．A．conversations　 　　 B．messages　　 　　 C．imaginations D．Memories