The young Mother set her foot on the path of life. “Is this a long way?” she asked. And her guide said, “Yes, and the ways are hard. And you will be old before you reach the end of it. But the end will be better than the beginning.”

The young Mother had her golden days. She played with her children and gathered flowers for them along the way and bathed them in the clear streams, and the sun shone on them.

Then the night came and the storm. The children shook with fear and cold, the Mother drew them close and covered them with blankets. The children said, “Mother, we are not afraid, for you are with us.”

When the morning came, there was a hill ahead. The children climbed and grew tired. Now and then the Mother said to the children, “A little patience and we are there.” So the children climbed. When they reached the top they said, “Mother, we would not have done it without you.” Lying down at night, the Mother looked up at the stars and said, “This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned how to face hardship. Yesterday I gave them courage. Today I have given them strength.”

The next day came strange clouds which darkened the earth－clouds of war, hate and evil, and the children got frightened and shook all over. The Mother said, “Look up. Lift your eyes to the light.” The children looked and saw above the clouds an everlasting glory, which guided them beyond the darkness. That night the Mother said, “This is the best day of all, for I have shown my children hope.”

The days went on and the Mother grew old. She was little and bent while her children were tall and strong. When the way was rough, they lifted her, for she was as light as a feather and at last they came to a hill, and beyond it they could see a shining road and a golden gate open wide.

The Mother said, “I have reached the end of my journey, now I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk alone.” The children stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gate closed after her. They said, “We cannot see her, but she is with us still. She is a living presence.”

Mother is always with you. She’s the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street, she is the smell of bleach in your freshly laundered socks and she is the cool hand on your forehead when you’re not well. Your Mother lives inside your laughter and your tear drops. She is your first home and she is the map you follow. Nothing on earth can separate you.

1．What three things does the Mother show her children?

       A．Flowers, clouds and hills                      B．Courage, strength and hope

       C．Tear drops, maps and leaves.                D．Storm, hardship and glory.

2．The underlined word “golden gate” suggests _______.

       A．a gate which is made of shining gold

       B．a gate which separate effort and hope

       C．a gate which lies between life and death

       D．a gate which stops wind and storm

3．What does the writer intend to express in the last paragraph?

       A．We can compare a mother to map in our life journey.

       B．Mother is like a good instructor in our life.

       C．Mother is always the support in our life.

       D．Mother is devoted to working as a servant in a family.

4．What feeling does the author intend to pass on you?

       A．Sadness           B．Pity          C．Sorrow            D．Beauty

The young Mother set her foot on the path of life . “ Is this a long way ? ”she asked . And her guide said “ Yes , and the ways are hard . And you will be old before you reach the end of it . But the end will be better than the beginning . ”

       The young Mother had her golden days . She played with her children , and gathered flowers for them along the way , and bathed them in the clear streams , and the sun shone on them .

       Then the night came , and the storm . The children shook with fear and cold , the Mother drew them close and covered them with blankets , the children said , “ Mother , we are not afraid , for you are with is . ”

       When the morning came ,there was a hill ahead . The children climbed and grew tired , Now and then the Mother said to the children , “ A little patience and we are there .” So the children chimbed , when they reached the top they said , “ Mother , we would not have done it without you . ” Lying down at night , the Mother looked up at the stars and said , “ This is a better day than the last , for my children have learned how to face hardship . Yesterday I gave them courage . Today I have given them strength .”

       The next day came strange clouds which darkened the earth—clouds of war , hate and evil , and the children got frightened and shook all over , the Mother said , “ Look up . Lift your eyes to the light .” The children looked and saw above the clouds an everlasting glory , it guided them beyond the darkness . That night the Mother said , “ This is the best day of all , for I have shown my children hope .”

       The days went on and the Mother grew old . She was little and bent while her children were tall and strong . When the way was rough , they lifted her , for she was as light as a feather , and at last they came to a hill , and beyond they could see a shining road and a golden gate open wide .

       The Mother said , “ I have reached the end of my journey . Now I know the end is better than the beginning , for my children can walk alone .” The children stood and watched her as she went on alone , and the gate closed after her . They said , “ We cannot see her , but she is with us still . She is a living presence . ”

       Mother is always with you . She’s the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street , she’s the smell of bleach in your freshly laundered socks , and she’s the cool hand on your forehead when you’re not well . Your Mother lives inside your laughter and your tear drops . She’s your first home and she’s the map you follow . Nothing on earth can separate you .

1．What three things does the Mother show her children ?

       A．Flowers , clouds and hills                           

B．Courage , strength and hope

C．Tear drops , maps and leaves                      

D．Storm , hardship and glory

2．The underlined word “golden gate ” suggests ________ .

       A．a gate which is made of shining gold            

B．a gate which separates effort and hope

C．a gate which stops wind and storms                   

D．a gate which lies between life and death

3．What feeling does the author intend to pass on you ?

       A．Sadness                 B．Pity                        C．Sorrow                   D．Beauty