I can honestly say it was the best of times and the worst of times. I was joyfully expecting my first child at the same time that my mother was   1  her battle with a brain tumor(瘤). For ten years, my fiercely independent and   2  mother had fought, but none of the treatments had been successful.   3 , she never lost her ability to smile. But now, finally, she became totally   4 —unable to speak, walk, eat or dress on her own.
As she grew closer and closer to death, my  5  grew closer and closer to life inside me. My biggest   6  was that their lives would never connect. I was sad not only at the   7  loss of my mother, but that she and my baby would never know each other. Her doctor did not   8  any hope; they told us her time was up.
We brought Mother   9  to her own bed in her own house. As   10  as I could, I sat beside her and talked to her about the baby moving inside me.
On February 3, 1989, at about the same time my labor(分娩)   11 , Mother opened her eyes. When they told me this at the   12 , I called her home, “Mom, listen. The baby is coming! You’re going to have a new grandchild!”
“Yes! Yes! I know!”
Four beautiful words! The first  13  words she’d spoken in months!
When I   14  again an hour later, the nurse at her house told the  15 message: Mom sat up, smiling, with her oxygen tubes removed. When I brought Jacob home. Mom was sitting in her chair and 15  to welcome him. Tears of joy blocked my vision(视野) as I  17 my son in her arms and she clucked (发出咯咯声) at him. They   18  .
Then she quietly clipped back into a coma (昏迷) and   19  peacefully. Memories of my son’s birth will always be bittersweet(甜中带苦的) for me, but it was then that I learned love has the   20   to overcome any worries and any sorrow. And love can last forever.

I can honestly say it was the best of times and the worst of times. I was joyfully expecting my first child at the same time that my mother was1her battle with a brain tumor(瘤). For ten years, my fiercely independent and2mother had fought, but none of the treatments had been successful.3, she never lost her ability to smile. But now, finally, she became totally4—unable to speak, walk, eat or dress on her own.
As she grew closer and closer to death, my5grew closer and closer to life inside me. My biggest6was that their lives would never connect. I was sad not only at the7loss of my mother, but that she and my baby would never know each other. Her doctor did not8any hope; they told us her time was up.
We brought Mother9to her own bed in her own house. As10as I could, I sat beside her and talked to her about the baby moving inside me.
On February 3, 1989, at about the same time my labor(分娩)11, Mother opened her eyes. When they told me this at the12, I called her home, “Mom, listen. The baby is coming! You’re going to have a new grandchild!”
“Yes! Yes! I know!”
Four beautiful words! The first13words she’d spoken in months!
When I14again an hour later, the nurse at her house told the15message: Mom sat up, smiling, with her oxygen tubes removed. When I brought Jacob home. Mom was sitting in her chair and16to welcome him. Tears of joy blocked my vision(视野) as I17my son in her arms and she clucked (发出咯咯声) at him. They18.
Then she quietly clipped back into a coma (昏迷) and19peacefully. Memories of my son’s birth will always be bittersweet(甜中带苦的) for me, but it was then that I learned love has the20to overcome any worries and any sorrow. And love can last forever.

1. 1.
   1. A.
      attending
   2. B.
      losing
   3. C.
      quitting
   4. D.
      defeating
2. 2.
   1. A.
      brave
   2. B.
      interesting
   3. C.
      funny
   4. D.
      lucky
3. 3.
   1. A.
      So
   2. B.
      Again
   3. C.
      Instead
   4. D.
      Still
4. 4.
   1. A.
      outstanding
   2. B.
      blind
   3. C.
      disabled
   4. D.
      troublesome
5. 5.
   1. A.
      sorrow
   2. B.
      love
   3. C.
      baby
   4. D.
      body
6. 6.
   1. A.
      problem
   2. B.
      dream
   3. C.
      surprise
   4. D.
      fear
7. 7.
   1. A.
      coming
   2. B.
      disappearing
   3. C.
      falling
   4. D.
      greeting
8. 8.
   1. A.
      admit
   2. B.
      hold
   3. C.
      drop
   4. D.
      permit
9. 9.
   1. A.
      up
   2. B.
      away
   3. C.
      about
   4. D.
      home
10. 10.
    1. A.
       soon
    2. B.
       fast
    3. C.
       early
    4. D.
       often
11. 11.
    1. A.
       started
    2. B.
       failed
    3. C.
       ended
    4. D.
       continued
12. 12.
    1. A.
       office
    2. B.
       hospital
    3. C.
       house
    4. D.
       station
13. 13.
    1. A.
       common
    2. B.
       caring
    3. C.
       clear
    4. D.
       correct
14. 14.
    1. A.
       got up
    2. B.
       woke up
    3. C.
       called up
    4. D.
       looked up
15. 15.
    1. A.
       impossible
    2. B.
       possible
    3. C.
       necessary
    4. D.
       terrible
16. 16.
    1. A.
       likely
    2. B.
       ready
    3. C.
       free
    4. D.
       nervous
17. 17.
    1. A.
       hugged
    2. B.
       threw
    3. C.
       took
    4. D.
       laid
18. 18.
    1. A.
       joined
    2. B.
       knew
    3. C.
       nodded
    4. D.
       cried
19. 19.
    1. A.
       passed away
    2. B.
       turned over
    3. C.
       settled down
    4. D.
       gave out
20. 20.
    1. A.
       depth
    2. B.
       description
    3. C.
       power
    4. D.
       mask