Tom is the son of a farm owner. One New Year’s Day, when he was 15 ,his father   16 him to work on the farm for one year when he was free. Tom was   17  with his father’s idea. “That isn't my job. I have  18   school work to do. ” Hearing this, his father said, “I promise (许诺) to give you the best present(礼物） if you  19  finish one year’s work. ” Tom thought for a while and  20 .

Starting one Saturday, the boy got up early and worked   21  until evening, just like any other farmer. Time passed quickly. Tom’s crops (庄稼) grew well.  22 the last day of the year, the father said, “I’m happy to see that you have worked very hard the whole year. Now, tell me  23  you want. ”

The boy smiled and showed his father a big piece of bread made from his wheat(小麦). “I’ve already got the  24  present. No pains, no gains（不劳无获）. I think this is what you wanted   25  to know. ” His father was quite pleased to hear that.

When are you an adult (成年人)？
When do you think you are an adult ? Maybe different __31_ have different ideas.
Now let’s see what some American teenagers(青少年)say .
Sam: In  32 idea ,you are an adult at the  33  of 18. That’s when you can vote(投票)。You can help to   34  who rules(统治)the whole country .That’s also a grown-up does! My grandfather couldn’ t vote   35 he was 21.They changed（改变） it to 18 in 1971.
Jenny：I don’t 36  it’s hard to say . I can drive a car at 16, can’t I ?When you have a driver’s licence , you can 37 it to people to tell them your age for all kinds of things .  38    sixteen must be the age when you change from a  39  person to an adult.Because you can tell others you are not a  40   any more .
Suzie : Well , I think there is  41   wrong with American laws for when young people can  42  things . I can vote at 18 and drive at 16. So you would think 18 is a grown-up,  43  16 isn’t .But then I can’t drink wine（酒）until I’m 21 ! If I’m 44   an adult at 18, how can people stop me from  45   a cup of beer in a bar ?

 My mum only had one eye. She cooked for students and teachers to    16    the family when I was young.

   One day my mum came to 　17  hello to me in primary school. I was so embarrassed（尴尬的） that I threw her a hateful  18  and ran out.

   The next day at school, one of my classmates said, “Your mum only has one eye!” and   19     at me.

   I hated my mum and decided to leave her, so I studied very hard. Later I got a chance to go abroad to study and I left my mother.　20　graduation I worked, bought a house and got    21  there. Then I had kids of my own. I was happy with my wife and my kids. But one day someone knocked at my door. It was my  22   !When she stood by the door, my children laughed at her, and I   23   at her, “How dare you come to my house and scare my children! GET OUT OF HERE NOW!” And to this, my mum 　24   answered, “Oh, I’m so sorry. I may have got the wrong   25   ,”and she disappeared.

   One day, a letter regarding a school reunion（聚会） came to my house. So I 　26   to my wife that I was going on a business trip. After the reunion, I went to the old house.

   My neighbors said that she    27    . I did not have a single tear. They handed me a letter that she had wanted me to have.

   My dearest son,

    I am thinking 　28　 you all the time. I’m sorry that I came to your house and scared your 　29　 .

     I was so glad when I heard you were coming for the reunion. But I may not be able to even get out of bed to see you. I’m sorry that I was still an embarrassment to you when you were growing up.

   You see…when you were very little, you got into an accident, and lost your eye. As a mother, I couldn’t stand watching you grow up with one eye. So I gave you    30    .

   …  With all my love to you!

                                                                Your mother

1.A. support     B. provide       C. offer          D. prefer

2.A. speak              B. talk             C. say              D. tell

3.A. cry                B. look       C. laugh              D. smell

4.A. smiled         B. shouted          C. knocked          D. laughed

5.A. After    B. Since     C. Before           D. Until

6.A. worried   B. excited      C. married      D. satisfied

7.A. Dad                B. friend               C. son              D. Mum

8.A. said               B. screamed         C. talked           D. added

9.A. quietly    B. happily      C. loudly               D. angrily

10.A. name              B. address     C. number               D. city

11.A. laid    B. told           C. lied                 D. lay

12.A. returned   B. moved       C. hurt                 D. died

13.A. over                  B. of       C. out             D. about

14.A. wife              B. son    C. family             D. daughter

15.A. his               B. yours        C. hers                 D. mine

Monday morning is an important time at our school. All of the students go to the playground. We listen to music, and we   16  the national flag go up.
　  Usually, one student gives a talk on Monday mornings. One Monday last year, a boy gave the talk. He was   17  and excited! When I saw him, I wanted to have a try, too.
　  Can I really do it?
　  Last week, our teacher said our class should give the talk. My teacher   18  me, “I know you want to have a try. Next Monday, you can give the talk. Go and write something down.   19  for it, I’m sure you’ll do well.”
“Thank you,” I answered. It was such a great   20  for me! When I got home, I was excited. I wrote two pages for the talk. I read them again and again. When I read, I asked my parents  21 . I wanted to make my teacher happy.
　  Monday morning came. I began to feel   22 . When did I last give a talk to   23  many people? Never! This was my first time. Could I really   24  it ? Maybe I couldn’t finish the talk.
When I got to school, we all went out to playground. I  25 in front of everyone. I opened my mouth, but I couldn’t say anything.
“Take it easy,” I said to   26 . “Don’t be nervous. You can do it.”
Just then, I looked down at everyone. I saw about 1,000 eyes. They were all looking at me ! I couldn’t   27  stand up.
I looked at their eyes more carefully. Their eyes were saying, “You can do it! Don’t be afraid, just talk!”
I   28  a big breath. Then I began to talk. It wasn’t hard. It was easy.
I don’t know   29  I finished my talk. But I did it. I felt so good that day. I showed myself 30  everyone what I can do.