I grew up in a small town. My father raised chickens and ran a construction company. I was barely 10 years old when my dad gave me the responsibility (责任) of feeding the chickens and cleaning up the stable. He believed it was important for me to have those jobs to learn responsibility. Then, when I was 22, I found a job in Natchbill at a country music club called the Natchbill Palace, I washed dishes and cooked from 4: 00 pm to 9: 00 pm and then went on stage and sang until 2:00 in the morning. It wasn’t long before I became known as a singing cook. I had been rejected so many times by record companies that it was hard not to be discouraged. One night, a woman executive (懂事) from a company named Warner Brothers Records came to hear me sing. When the show was over, we sat down and talked and after she left, I said to myself it was one more rejection. A few weeks later, my manager received a phone call — Warner Brothers wanted to sign me to a record deal. Soon after, I released my first record in June 1986. It sold over 2 million copies. My best efforts had gone into every job I’ve ever held. It was the sense of responsibility that made me feel like a man. Knowing that I had done my best filled me with pride. I still feel that way today, even though I have become a well-known singer.

　　 Why was the writer once known as the singing cook?

　　A. Because he was a cook at a country-music club.

　　B. Because he sang for guests while he worked as a cook.

　　C. Because he often sang while cooking.

　　D. Because he liked singing better than cooking.

　　 Who first recognized his talents and helped make his career successful?

　　A. Wamer Brothers.                        B. His manager.

　　C. His father.                                 D. A businesswoman.

　  What made the writer proud of himself?

　　A. His ability to live independently.

　　B. His sense of responsibility in whatever he did.

　　C. His courage in the face of rejections.

D. His hard work in his early days.

When I was growing up in America, I was ashamed of my mother’s Chinese English. Because of her English, she was often treated unfairly. People in department stores, at banks, and at restaurants did not take her seriously, did not give her good service, pretended not to understand her, or even acted as if they did not hear her.

　　My mother has long realized the limitations of her English as well. When I was fifteen, she used to have me call people on the phone to pretend I was she. I was forced to ask for information or even to yell at people who had been rude to her. One time I had to call her stockbroker (股票经纪人). I said in an adolescent voice that was not very convincing, "This is Mrs. Tan.”

　　And my mother was standing beside me, whispering loudly, "Why he don’t send me check, already two week late.”

　　And then, in perfect English I said, "I’m getting rather concerned. You agreed to send the check two weeks ago, but it hasn’t arrived. "

　　Then she talked more loudly.  "What he want? I come to New York tell him front of his boss. "And so I turned to the stockbroker again, "I can’t tolerate any more excuse. If I don’t receive the check immediately, I am going to have to speak to your manager when I am in New York next week. "

　　The next week we ended up in New York. While I was sitting there red-faced, my mother, the real Mrs. Tan, was shouting to his boss in her broken English.

　　When I was a teenager, my mother’s broken English embarrassed me. But now, I see it differently. To me, my mother’s English is perfectly clear, perfectly natural. It is my mother tongue. Her language, as I hear it, is vivid, direct, and full of observation and wisdom. It was the language that helped shape the way I saw things, expressed ideas, and made sense of the world.

1.Why was the author’s mother poorly served?

A．She was unable to speak good English.       B．She was often misunderstood.

C．She was not clearly heard.                 D．She was not very polite.

2.From Paragraph 2,we know that the author was        .

A．good at pretending                      B．rude to the stockbroker

C．ready to help her mother                 D．unwilling to phone for her mother

3.After the author made the phone call,       .

A．they forgave the stockbroker              B．they failed to get the check

C．they went to New York at once             D．they spoke to their boss at once

4.What does the author think of her mother’s English now?

A．It confuses her.                         B．It makes her ashamed

C．It helps her understand the world.          D．It helps her bear rude people.

5.We can infer from the passage that Chinese English       .

A．is clear and natural to non-native speakers

B．is interesting and straight to non-native speakers

C．leaves a very bad impression on America

D．may bring inconvenience in America

完形填空

　　When I was growing up，I was embarrassed（局促不安）to be seen with my father．He was severely crippled（破的）and very short，and when we 　1　 walk together，his hand on my arm for 　2　，people would 　3　．I would inwardly squirm（局促不安）at the unwanted attention．But as we started out，he always said，“You set the pace．I will try to adjust to（适应）you．”

　　Our usual walk was 　4　 the subway，　5　 was how he got to work．He went to work，and，　6　 bad weather，he always never 　7　 a day．

　　When snow or ice was on the ground，it was impossible for him to walk，even with help．　8　 my sister or would 　9　 him through the streets on a child's sleigh（雪撬）to the subway entrance．

　　He never talked about himself as an object of pity，　10　 did he show any envy of the more fortunate or able．What He 　11　 in others was a“ good heart，”and if he found one，the owner was good enough for him．Now that I am older，I believe that is a 　12　 standard by which to judge people，　13　 I still don't know exactly what a“good heart”is．But know the times don't have 　14　 myself．

　　Unable to engage in many activities，my father still tried to take part in some may．

　　When a local sandlot baseball team found itself without a manager，he 　15　 it going．I now know he 　16　 some things indirectly through me．When I played ball，he“ played”too．

　　He had been 　17　 many years now，but I think of him often． I wonder if he sensed my un-willingness 　18　 with him during our walks．If he did，I am sorry I never told him how sorry I was，how I regretted it．I think of him when I get unhappy with something unimportant，when I am envious of another's good 　19　，when I don't have“good heart．”At such times I put

my hand on his arm to 　20　 my balance，and say，“You set the pace．I'll try to adjust to you．

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When I was growing up in America, I was ashamed of my mother’s Chinese English. Because of her English, she was often treated unfairly. People in department stores, at banks, and at restaurants did not take her seriously, did not give her good service, pretended not to understand her, or even acted as if they did not hear her.
　　My mother has long realized the limitations of her English as well. When I was fifteen, she used to have me call people on the phone to pretend I was she. I was forced to ask for information or even to yell at people who had been rude to her. One time I had to call her stockbroker (股票经纪人). I said in an adolescent voice that was not very convincing, "This is Mrs. Tan.”
　　And my mother was standing beside me, whispering loudly, "Why he don’t send me check, already two week late.”
　　And then, in perfect English I said, "I’m getting rather concerned. You agreed to send the check two weeks ago, but it hasn’t arrived. "
　　Then she talked more loudly.  "What he want? I come to New York tell him front of his boss. "And so I turned to the stockbroker again, "I can’t tolerate any more excuse. If I don’t receive the check immediately, I am going to have to speak to your manager when I am in New York next week. "
　　The next week we ended up in New York. While I was sitting there red-faced, my mother, the real Mrs. Tan, was shouting to his boss in her broken English.
　　When I was a teenager, my mother’s broken English embarrassed me. But now, I see it differently. To me, my mother’s English is perfectly clear, perfectly natural. It is my mother tongue. Her language, as I hear it, is vivid, direct, and full of observation and wisdom. It was the language that helped shape the way I saw things, expressed ideas, and made sense of the world.
【小题1】Why was the author’s mother poorly served?