There is much more to growing up in a bilingual(双语的) family than learning two languages, and the cultural influences from both cultures are just as important.

In July we had a curious incident that shows the slight differences between cultures. My son has already changed a few of his baby teeth and since we lived in Italy we decided to go with the Italian version(版本) of the Tooth Fairy, which is not a fairy(仙女) but a little mouse. So last year when he lost his first tooth we had a visit from the little mouse who took the tooth away and left a rather good amount of coins --- when he lost the second tooth a few days later, however, the amount was significantly less! That in itself caused quite a few questions, but the real questions started when in July during a visit to the UK another tooth left my son’s mouth in Tooth Fairy land! The grandparents made a real problem out of it --- it was their first grandson’s tooth they got to say Goodbye to, so it was Tooth Fairy and rather generous, too!

The Qs & As

Son: Mum, how is the little mouse going to smell my tooth all this way? (as the story goes the little mouse smells a milk tooth and comes to collect it)

Me: No dear, it won’t! We are in England now so the Tooth Fairy will come.

Son: Oh, is she stronger than the little mouse? (I knew where this was going)

Me: She is very strong, and she is magic.

Son: What does the Tooth Fairy bring? (straight to the point)

Me: I am not sure. We’ll find out maybe a nice message.

Son: So is the little mouse coming too?

Me: No, it won’t make it all the way from Italy.

Son: But why don’t they have little mice in England?

Me: Because here the Tooth Fairy collects all baby teeth and she’s too fast, so the little mouse would always get there late.

Son: Oh!?

Italian kids are supposed to believe ________ will come and collect the milk teeth.

A. a little mouse

B. Tooth Fairy

C. their parents

D. the grandparents

The author thought Tooth Fairy would be rather generous because ________.

A. Italian parents often give much money for their kids’ lost baby teeth[

B. she knew Tooth Fairy was more generous than the little mouse 

C. she knew the grandparents would give her son a big gift

D. English people are usually more generous than Italians

Hearing “Oh, is she stronger than the little mouse?”, the author knew her son was actually worried about ________.

A. the tooth fairy’s health    

B. the little mouse’s coming

C. the amount of coins he could get

D. the story his grandparents know

By telling this story, the author intends to say it’s important to _________ in a bilingual family.

A. make kids know the folk stories

B. help kids choose one of the cultures

C. teach kids two languages

D. keep the balance of both cultures

There is much more to growing up in a bilingual(双语的) family than learning two languages, and the cultural influences from both cultures are just as important.
In July we had a curious incident that shows the slight differences between cultures. My son has already changed a few of his baby teeth and since we lived in Italy we decided to go with the Italian version(版本) of the Tooth Fairy, which is not a fairy(仙女) but a little mouse. So last year when he lost his first tooth we had a visit from the little mouse who took the tooth away and left a rather good amount of coins --- when he lost the second tooth a few days later, however, the amount was significantly less! That in itself caused quite a few questions, but the real questions started when in July during a visit to the UK another tooth left my son’s mouth in Tooth Fairy land! The grandparents made a real problem out of it --- it was their first grandson’s tooth they got to say Goodbye to, so it was Tooth Fairy and rather generous, too!
The Qs & As
Son: Mum, how is the little mouse going to smell my tooth all this way? (as the story goes the little mouse smells a milk tooth and comes to collect it)
Me: No dear, it won’t! We are in England now so the Tooth Fairy will come.
Son: Oh, is she stronger than the little mouse? (I knew where this was going)
Me: She is very strong, and she is magic.
Son: What does the Tooth Fairy bring? (straight to the point)
Me: I am not sure. We’ll find out maybe a nice message.
Son: So is the little mouse coming too?
Me: No, it won’t make it all the way from Italy.
Son: But why don’t they have little mice in England?
Me: Because here the Tooth Fairy collects all baby teeth and she’s too fast, so the little mouse would always get there late.
Son: Oh!?
【小题1】Italian kids are supposed to believe ________ will come and collect the milk teeth.

A.a little mouse
B.Tooth Fairy
C.their parents
D.the grandparents
【小题2】The author thought Tooth Fairy would be rather generous because ________.
A.Italian parents often give much money for their kids’ lost baby teeth[
B.she knew Tooth Fairy was more generous than the little mouse
C.she knew the grandparents would give her son a big gift
D.English people are usually more generous than Italians
【小题3】Hearing “Oh, is she stronger than the little mouse?”, the author knew her son was actually worried about ________.
A.the tooth fairy’s health
B.the little mouse’s coming
C.the amount of coins he could get
D.the story his grandparents know
【小题4】By telling this story, the author intends to say it’s important to _________ in a bilingual family.
A.make kids know the folk stories
B.help kids choose one of the cultures
C.teach kids two languages
D.keep the balance of both cultures

The morning had been a disaster.My tooth was achingand I’d been in an argument with a friend.Her words still hurt“The trouble with you is that you won’t put yourself in my place.Can’t you see things from my point of view” I shook my head stubbornly—and felt the ache in my tooth.I’d thought I could hold out till my dentist came back from holidaybut the pain was really unbearable.I started calling the dentists in the phone bookbut no one could see me immediately.Finallyat about lunchtimeI got lucky.

“If you come by right now” the receptionist said“the dentist will fit you in.”

I took my purse and keys and rushed to my car.But suddenly I began to doubt about the dentist.What kind of dentist would be so eager to treat someone at such short noticeWhy wasn’t he as busy as the others?

In the dentist’s officeI sat down and looked around.I saw nothing but the bare walls and I became even more worried.The assistant noticed my nervousness and placed her warm hand over my ice?cold one.

When I told her my fearsshe laughed and said“Don’t worry.The dentist is very good.”

“How long do I have to wait for him” I asked impatiently.

“Come onhe is coming.Just lie down and relax.And enjoy the artwork” the assistant said.

“The artwork” I was puzzled.

The chair went back.Suddenly I smiled.There was a beautiful pictureright where I could enjoy iton the ceiling.How considerate the dentist wasAt that momentI began to understand what my friend meant by her words.

What a relief(2013·重庆,A)

1.Which of the following best describes the author’s feeling that morning?

ACheerful.? BNervous.

CSatisfied.? DUpset.

2.What made the author begin to doubt about the dentist?

AThe dentist’s agreeing to treat her at very short notice.

BThe dentist’s being as busy as the other dentists.

CThe surroundings of the dentist’s office.

DThe laughing assistant of the dentist.

3. Why did the author suddenly smile?

ABecause the dentist came at last.

BBecause she saw a picture on the ceiling.

CBecause she could relax in the chair.

DBecause the assistant kept comforting her.

4. What did the author learn from her experience most probably?

AStrike while the iron is hot.

BHave a good word for one’s friend.

CPut oneself in other’s shoes.

DA friend in need is a friend indeed.

 

The morning had been a disaster. My tooth was aching. And I’d been in an argument with a friend. Her words still hurt: “The trouble with you is that you won’t put yourself in my place. Can’t you see things from my point of view?” I shook my head stubbornly—and felt the ache in my tooth. I’d thought I could hold out till my dentist came back from holiday, but the pain was really unbearable. I started calling the dentists in the phone book, but no one could see me immediately. Finally, at about lunchtime, I got lucky.

“If you come by right now,” the receptionist said, “the dentist will fit you in.”

I took my purse and keys and rushed to my car. But suddenly I began to doubt about the dentist. What kind of dentist would be so eager to treat someone at such short notice? Why wasn’t he as busy as the others?

In the dentist’s office, I sat down and looked around. I saw nothing but the bare walls and I became even more worried. The assistant noticed my nervousness and placed her warm hand over my ice-cold one.

When I told her my fears, she laughed and said, “Don’t worry. The dentist is very good.”

“How long do I have to wait for him?” I asked impatiently.

“Come on, he is coming. Just lie down and relax. And enjoy the artwork,” the assistant said.

“The artwork?” I was puzzled.

The chair went back. Suddenly I smiled. There was a beautiful picture, right where I could enjoy it: on the ceiling. How considerate the dentist was! At that moment, I began to understand what my friend meant by her words.

What a relief!

1.Which of the following best describes the author’s feeling that morning?

A.Cheerful.          B.Nervous.          C.Satisfied.          D.Upset.

2.What made the author begin to doubt about the dentist?

A.The dentist’s agreeing to treat her at very short notice.

B.The dentist’s being as busy as the other dentists.

C.The surroundings of the dentist’s office.

D.The laughing assistant of the dentist.

3.Why did the author suddenly smile?

A.Because the dentist came at last.

B.Because she saw a picture on the ceiling.

C.Because she could relax in the chair.

D.Because the assistant kept comforting her.

4.What did the author learn from her experience most probably?

A.Strike while the iron is hot.

B.Have a good word for one’s friend.

C.Put oneself in other’s shoes.

D.A friend in need is a friend indeed.

 

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