I had the meanest mother in the whole world．While other kids ate candy for breakfast, I had to have cereal, eggs or toast．When others had cokes and candy for lunch, I had to eat a sandwich．As you can guess, my supper was different from the other kids' also．But at least, I wasn't alone in my sufferings．My sister and two brothers had the same mean mother as I did．

My mother insisted upon knowing where we were at all times．She had to know who our friends were and where we were going．We had to wear clean clothes and take a bath everyday．

The worst is yet to come．We had to be in bed by nine each night and up at eight the next morning．We couldn't sleep till noon like our friends．So while they slept --- my mother actually had the nerve to break the Child Labor Law．She made us work．We had to wash dishes, make beds, learn to cook and all sorts of cruel things．I believe she lay awake at night thinking up mean things to do to us．

Through the years, things didn't improve a bit．We could not lie in bed, "sick" like our friends did, and miss school．Our marks in school had to be up to par．Our friends' report cards had beautiful colors on them, black for passing, red for failing．My mother, being as different as she was, would settle for nothing less than ugly black marks．With our mother behind us, talking, hitting and demanding respect, none of us was allowed the pleasure of being a drop-out．

My mother was a complete failure as a mother．Out of four children, a couple of us attained some higher education．None of us have ever been arrested or divorced．Each of my brothers served his time in the service of this country．She forced us to grow up into God-fearing, educated, honest adults．Using this as a background, I am now trying to raise my three children．I am filled with pride when my children call me mean．Why? Because now I thank God every day for giving me the meanest mother in the whole world．

What can we infer from the passage?

       A．The author is not happy to have such a mean mother．      

       B．The author's mother broke the Child Labor Law to make money．

       C．The author's mother failed to educate her children to be honest adults．

       D．The author is strict with her children．

Why couldn’t the author eat candy for breakfast?

     A．Because she preferred cereal, eggs or toast to candy．

     B．Because her mother couldn’t afford for candy．

     C．Because her mother thought it not good to eat candy for breakfast．

     D．Because her mother had to give candy to the author’s sister and two brothers．

The author’s mother made her children work because _________ ．

     A．she had trouble falling into sleep．

     B．she could not keep such a big family without her children’s help．

     C．she was teaching her children to live by themselves．

     D．she had no time to do the housework．

Ⅲ．完形填空（共20小题；每小题1分，满分20分）
阅读下面短文，从短文后所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该选项涂黑。
One day at the day care centre（日间托儿所）I watched a mother try to pick up her daughter. The girl wanted to go to McDonald’s. The mother replied, “Susie, not tonight. Maybe we can go tomorrow.”. Susie  36 dropped to the floor, kicking and screaming. “I want to …”
Her mother tried to  37  Susie’s tantrum（发脾气）. Finally her mother  38  . I was surprised that we could have almost anything we wanted by throwing a tantrum.
That day my mother 39  me up early because we were going to a department to do the shopping for 40  Day. I was excited to see a toy telephone. Looking lovingly 41 at my mother, I asked, “Can I have that telephone?”
She replied, “Baby, not now, but  42 you are a good girl, maybe Santa Clause will 43 you.” “But Mama, I want that telephone right now,” I said. My mother’s eyes   44  and her hand tightened（紧握）on mine. “Becky, you   45  have that telephone today, and if you  46  you can have a spanking（打屁股）.”
We were standing in the long   47  ,and I knew from my experience that it was now or   48  . So I lay down on the ground and began screaming, “I want that telephone.” Tired Christmas   49 looked as my mother calmly said, “Becky, you’d better get up by the   50  of three or else.” “One…Two…Three.” But I was   51  in full tantrum. Then she lay down beside me on the   52
and began screaming, “I want a new car, I want some jewellery, I want…”
53  , I stood up. “Mama, stop, Mama, get up,” I tearfully 54  .
She stood up. The others waiting began to laugh. The next thirty minutes was complete  55 for me. Then on parent said to me with a smile, “I bet you’ll never try that again”.     
36．A．heavily     B．immediately     C．directly     D．hopelessly
37．A．cover       B．free   C．resist D．stop
38．A．gave in    B．dropped    C．moved on D．walked away
39．A．carried     B．picked      C．held  D．sent
40．A．Mother’s  B．Children’s C．Christmas D．National
41．A．down       B．up     C．over  D．out
42．A．if      B．unless       C．until  D．while
43．A．praise       B．believe     C．love  D．help
44．A．opened     B．closed       C．narrowed  D．shone
45．A．won’t       B．daren’t     C．mustn’t     D．can’t
46．A．lie     B．risk   C．scream      D．steal
47．A．line   B．street C．row   D．passage
48．A．never       B．ever  C．later  D．then
49．A．managers  B．sellers       C．families    D．shoppers
50．A．noise B．count C．voice D．word
51．A．again B．even  C．still   D．more
52．A．bench       B．mat   C．counter     D．floor
53．A．Frightened       B．Satisfied   C．Embarrassed    D．Amused
54．A．begged     B．ordered     C．explained  D．promised
55．A．luck  B．discomfort       C．complaint D．anger

I had the meanest mother in the world. While other kids ate candy for breakfast, I had to have cereal, eggs and toast. Others had cokes and candy for lunch, while we had to eat a sandwich. As you can guess, my supper was different than the other kids’. But at least I was not alone in my suffering. My sister and two brothers had the same mean mother as I did.
My mother insisted on knowing where we were at all times. She had to know who our friends were and what we were doing. We had to wear clean clothes every day. Other kids always wore their clothes for days. We reached the height of disgrace because she made our clothes herself, just to save money.
The worst is yet to come. We had to be in bed by 9:00 each night and up at 7:45 the next morning. So while my friends slept, my mother actually had the courage to break Child Labor Law. She made us work. I believed she lay awake all night thinking up mean things to do to us. Through the years, our friends’ report cards had beautiful colors on them, black for passing, red for failing. My mother, however, would merely be content with black marks. None of us was allowed the pleasure of being a dropout.
She forced us to grow up into educated and honest adults. Using this as a background, I’m now trying to bring up my three children. I’m filled with pride when my children think I am mean because now I thank God every day for giving me the meanest mother in the world.
【小题1】Which of the following things did the writer hate to do most?

I had the meanest mother in the world. While other kids ate candy for breakfast, I had to have cereal, eggs and toast. Others had cokes and candy for lunch, while we had to eat a sandwich. As you can guess, my supper was different than the other kids’. But at least I was not alone in my suffering. My sister and two brothers had the same mean mother as I did.

My mother insisted on knowing where we were at all times. She had to know who our friends were and what we were doing. We had to wear clean clothes every day. Other kids always wore their clothes for days. We reached the height of disgrace because she made our clothes herself, just to save money.

The worst is yet to come. We had to be in bed by 9:00 each night and up at 7:45 the next morning. So while my friends slept, my mother actually had the courage to break Child Labor Law. She made us work. I believed she lay awake all night thinking up mean things to do to us. Through the years, our friends’ report cards had beautiful colors on them, black for passing, red for failing. My mother, however, would merely be content with black marks. None of us was allowed the pleasure of being a dropout.

She forced us to grow up into educated and honest adults. Using this as a background, I’m now trying to bring up my three children. I’m filled with pride when my children think I am mean because now I thank God every day for giving me the meanest mother in the world.

1.Which of the following things did the writer hate to do most?

A．Eating differently from other kids.           B．Wearing clean clothes made by mother

C．Going to bed early and getting up early       D．Letting mother know where they were

2.It can be inferred from the passage that____________.

A．the writer worked hard and usually got good grades in studies

B．mother was punished for breaking the Labor Law

C．all the other kids studied better than the writer

D．the writer’s family lived a miserable life

3.Which of the following statements is Not true according to the passage ?

A．Mother practiced economy in running her home

B．The writer is very thankful for her mother

C．The writer is severe with her children when bringing them up

D．The wrier has a deep hatred for her mother

4.The passage was written in a way of _________ tone.

A．humorous         B．hateful            C．ridiculous         D．critical

完型填空（共20小题,每小题1． 5分，满分30分）
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从36—55各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上涂黑。
My mother attended college during the day while my sister was in school and I was in daycare．One day at daycare I   36  a tired mother attempt to   37  her daughter．The mother refused her little girl’s request to go to McDonalds for dinner and the daughter immediately  38 over the floor, kicking and screaming, "I want to go to McDonalds．"_39_her mother tried stopped her crying．Finally her mother gave in, the girl stopped crying and they left．To say I was amazed would be   40  ,I was delighted that 41  I wanted could be got in the same way．
That day my mother picked me up early from daycare  42  we were collecting our - Christmas shopping．As we walked through the toy section, I saw a  43  I had to have．It was a white and red telephone whose bells   44  as it was pulled along on a string．
45  lovingly at my mother, I asked, "Mama,   46  I have that telephone?" She replied, "Not now, but if you are a good girl maybe Santa will bring it to you．" As I insisted, her eyes narrowed and her hand 47  on mine．
By now we were standing in the long line, and I figured it was _48_．I lay down on the ground and began screaming．"I want that telephone．" Tired Christmas shoppers looked as my mother   49 said, "Becky, you ’d better get up by the count of three  50 ．"
Nothing happened．So then she lay   51  me on the floor, and began kicking and screaming, "I want a new car, I want a new house, I want some jewelry, I want…" _52_ , I stood up．
"Mama, stop．Mama, get up," I   53  said．
She stood, and   54  herself off．At first astonished, the others waiting in line began to clap．And as they were leaving, they said with a smile, "Your mom got your good．I bet you’ll never try that again．"
And I didn’t, because it left a lasting mental picture more effective than any   55 _ mark．