My
mum is in the Philippines.
When
she first flew off，I felt __1__-at least I could play “Madden” for a couple of hours more
than __2__，or wait a few days __3__
I clean my room!
__4__
did I know that I would be __5__ for a month long struggle for
survival while she __6__ away.OK，I'm exaggerating(夸大)．She
did leave lots of food and money to __7__ I don't go __8__.But starving is
the least of my worries-I do have
__9__ reserves in my oversize belly(胃)．
My
__10__ is the everyday tasks around the house-doing the laundry，sweeping the floors and __11__ my
room-which don't seem too difficult __12__ Mum is away.
After
I did the laundry and vacuumed my room，I
got to rest.
“Wow，so
this is __13__ Mum
means when she says she's tired
after cleaning the house，”I said to myself.
And
I wasn't __14__ finished.My mum usually __15__ me to dust my room every
weekend.__16__ she's been gone，it
sort of slipped my mind.Now I'm __17__ with big piles of dust，not just in my room but around the rest
of the house.
It's
not that my mum has magical powers that
makes chores easier.It's that she knows and remembers __18__ to
do those things.
Yes，Mums can nag and Mums can embarrass.But
here's a case in which this old saying
__19__ true.“You don't know what you have until it's
gone.”
So
if your mum isn't on vacation，give her a hug right now and __20__ her for making life easier.
1．A.excited B．worried
C．disappointed D．upset
2．A.ever B．expected
C．usual
D．planned
3．A.until B．after
C．since
D．before
4．A.Never B．Little
C．Neither
D．So
5．A.on
B．in
C．off
D．away
6．A.went B．left
C．was D．flew
7．A.protect B．defend
C．believe
D．ensure
8．A.hungry B．mad
C．poor
D．bad
9．A.plenty of B．a few
C．a little
D．a couple of
10．A.question B．situation
C．headache D．emergency
11．A.vacuuming B．dusting
C．collecting D．painting
12．A.if
B．unless
C．until
D．while
13．A.which B．whatever
C．how
D．what
14．A.even B．already
C．only
D．simply
15．A.calls B．reminds
C．forces
D．persuades
16．A.Because B．Though
C．Whenever D．Once
17．A.bored B．pleased
C．left
D．filled
18．A.how B．where
C．whether D．when
19．es B．holds
C．insists
D．suggests
20．A.thank B．admire
C．hate
D．respect
答案与解析：
作者本以为在母亲度假期间可以好好地享受几天没有母亲约束的自由，可没有想到的是繁杂的家务活使得他度日如年。最后作者终于明白，正是母亲每天的辛劳才使得自己的日子过得十分轻松，因此他倡议生活在母亲身边的孩子都应好好地感激母亲。
1．A 由下句话作者提到自己可以好好地玩游戏可知妈妈不在家，他很兴奋。
2．C 至少“我”可以比平常多玩几个小时了。此处作者将母亲度假的这段时期和平时相比较。
3．D 或者我可以等几天再打扫我的屋子。
4．A 根据本段可知，事实与上文作者所预想的刚好相反，因此是作者从来没有(never)想到的。
5．B in
the struggle for“为……而奋斗/挣扎”。
6．C 连词while引导的时间状语从句谓语动词应该是延续性动词，因此只有C正确。
7．D 她给“我”留很多钱与食物的目的是确保“我”不挨饿。ensure“确保”。
8．A 根据下句话中的starving可知应选A。go
hungry“挨饿”。
9．A 根据上句话中的“我最不用担心的就是会挨饿”。可知，有充足的(plenty
of)储备，因此选A。
10．C 与上段中的worries的意思相照应。
11．B 根据下段中作者所提到的他所做的家务活did
the laundry和vacuumed my room可知，他所做的相当于上文的doing
the laundry和sweeping the floors；再根据14空和15空所在句子可以判断他还需要“dust
room”。
12．C 这些家务活直到母亲走了后才显得如此难。
13．D 本句意思是：原来这就是母亲在打扫完家后说的疲惫所包含着的意思了。此处what作means的宾语，表示“……的东西/的事情”。
14．A 根据下文可知，作者还有家务要做，所以选A。本句话的意思为“我甚至还没有做完(家务)呢。”
15．B 母亲常常提醒我清理屋里的灰尘。
16．A 因为现在母亲不在家，作者忘记了清理灰尘。
17．C 好几天没有清理灰尘，因此现在就有一堆堆的了。be
left此处表示作者所处的一种状态。
18．D 由上文可知，作者是常常忘记收拾屋子，需要母亲提醒，此处和他相对比，强调母亲知道什么时候该打扫房间。
19．B 有句古老的谚语在这个例子里很合适：只有当你失去时才知道自己拥有什么。hold
true“合适，有用”。
20．A 由上文作者的叙述可知，正是由于母亲的劳累才换来儿女们生活的轻松，我们应该为此而感谢她。