Even before my father left us, my mother had to go back to work to support our family.Once I came out of the kitchen, complaining,“Mom, I can't peel potatoes.I have only one hand.”
Mom never looked up from sewing.“You get yourself into that kitchen and peel those potatoes,”she told me.“And don't ever use that as an excuse for anything again!”
In the second grade, our teacher lined up my class on the playground and had each of us race across the monkey bars, swinging from one high steel bar to the next.When it was my turn, I shook my head.Some kids behind me laughed, and I went home crying.
That night I told Mom about it.She hugged me, and I saw her“we'll see about that”look.The next afternoon, she took me back to school.At the deserted playground, Mom looked carefully at the bars.
“Now, pull up with your right arm,”she advised.She stood by as I struggled to lift myself with my right hand until I could hook the bar with my other arm.Day after day we practiced, and she praised me for every rung(横档)I reached.I'd never forget the next time, crossing the rungs.I looked down at the kids who were standing with their mouths open.
One night, after a dance at my new junior high, I lay in bed sobbing.I could hear Mom come into my room.“Mom,”I said, weeping,“none of the girls would dance with me.”
For a long time, I didn't hear anything.Then she said,“Oh, honey, someday you'll be beating those boys off with a bat.”Her voice was soft and weak.I glanced at her to see tears running down her cheeks.Then I knew how much she suffered on my behalf.She had never let me see her tears.
(1)
Which of the following expressions can be used most suitably to describe Mom's attitude when she made the child peel potatoes?
[ ]
A.
Cruel.
B.
Serious.
C.
Strict.
D.
Cold.
(2)
From the passage, we know monkey bars can help a child train ________.
[ ]
A.
the skill to circle round a bar
B.
the skill to throw and catch things
C.
the speed of one's hand movement
D.
the strength and skill to hang and swing
(3)
What does the sentence“I saw her‘we'll see about that’look”imply?
[ ]
A.
Mom believed every aim could be achieved if you stuck to it.
B.
What the child had said brought Mom great attraction and curiosity.
C.
Mom was determined to prove she herself was better than the teacher.
D.
The race across monkey bars was not difficult enough for a child to give up.
(4)
The most probable conclusion we can draw after reading the passage is ________.
[ ]
A.
the last incident was sad enough to make Mom weep
B.
the child's experience reminded Mom of that of her own
C.
Mom could solve any problem except the one in the last paragraph
D.
in fact Mom suffered more in the process of the child's growth
The China National Opera(CNO)will give a concert to celebrate its 50th birthday.
Different generations of CNO vocalists, like Li Guangxi, Yao Hong and Ma Mei, will present the concert which will feature both songs from famous Chinese operas like “The White-haired Girl” and “The Hundredth Bride”, as well as, arias of such Western opera classics as “Madame Butterfly”, “La Traviata” and “Rigoletto”.
Time/date:7∶30 pm, September 7, 8
Location:Tianqiao Theatre
Tel:6551-4787, 8315-6170
Tickets:60-500 yuan(US $7.2-60.2)
Folk music
A concert will be held to feature some recently composed traditional Chinese music works.
The concert, given by the Folk Orchestra of the China Opera and Ballet Theatre, will include such pieces as “Memory of Childhood ”, “Memorial Ceremony for God ”and “Wine Song”.
Time/date:7∶30pm, September 13
Location:Concert hall at the National Library of China
Tel:6848 –5462, 6841-9220
Tickets:30-200 yuan(US$3.6-24.1)
Moon music
A concert of traditional Chinese music will be given on the eve of the Moon Festival which falls on September 21st this year.
The concert will feature a number of famous pieces centred on the theme of the moon, such as “Moonlight”, “Spring night on a Moonlit River” and “Lofty Mountain and Flowing River.”
A number of established traditional Chinese music performers like Zhou Yaokun and Fan Weiqing, will play solos as well as collaborate with the folk music orchestra.
Time/date:7∶30 pm, September 21st
Location:Grand Theatre of the Cultural Palace of Nationalities
Tel:6606-8888, 6606-9999
(1)
If you want to buy tickets for listening to the music “Memory of Childhood”, you will dial _________.
[ ]
A.
6551-4787
B.
6848-5462
C.
8315-6170
D.
6606-9999
(2)
Which statement is right according to the passage?
[ ]
A.
Li Guangxi, Yao Hong and Ma Mei stand for the same generation of CNO vocalists.
B.
“Rigoletto” is a famous piece on the theme of the moon.
C.
“Lofty Mountain and Flowing River” is a traditional Chinese music.
D.
Zhou Yaokun will play solos and Fan Weiqing will collaborate with the folk music orchestra.
(3)
“Madame Butterfly” is ________.
[ ]
A.
a Chinese opera
B.
a Western opera
C.
a piece of music
D.
a song
(4)
In which column of a newspaper will the article be published?