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When I was seven years old, my family grew our first square watermelon. No one 1. (see) a square watermelon before, so it became famous instantly. People visited our garden to see 2. unusual fruit. What’s so great about square watermelons? Well, besides their 3. (usual) shape, the melons pile nicely, fit in the refrigerator, and won’t roll off the table.
Whenever people ask4. 
they can grow their own square watermelons, my dad tells them to “use square seeds”. Truthfully, though, my dad discovered the key 5. square fruit by accident.
We have a small vegetable garden 6. we plant watermelons every summer. The young melons were placed on cinder blocks (空心砖) to keep them from rotting on the wet ground. In 1996, we went to London for vacation. When we returned weeks later, we were surprised 7. (find) a young melon stuck in the centre of a cinder block. The watermelon had grown inside the block until 8. was squeezed too tightly to remove.
“We didn’t want to kill it, so we just left it there, ” my father remembers. “9. (surprise), when we broke the cinder block at harvest time, we found a perfectly healthy melon–but it was also perfectly square.” Since that summer my family has been growing square watermelons on purpose because they are always well 10. (receive).
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I learned about life from an ant farm. When I was seven years old, my family ____ an ant farm at home. First, we put clean sand in a thin glass box, and then we brought some ants from the backyard and placed them into the ____ home.
Shortly after the new ____ were dropped into the glass structure, they got to work making tunnels. I was amazed that each one knew ____what to do. After hours of staring, I realized that the ants had assigned jobs. With my mom ' s help, I kept a diary of what happened each day and ____ the ants. My favorite was the biggest , Cinderella. I drew a picture of her in my diary, which I still have .
One day a tragedy ____ the ant farm.While I was observing the ants , I had put my face so close to the structure that I accidentally ____ it over. Unfortunately, my carelessness caused all the tunnels to ____. Although the ants ____ their earthquake, one by one they began to die. I was ____ as I watched them give up their tunnel-building to carry the bodies to a corner of the farm. My mother reported that the ants were actually dying of "frustration"--- the feeling annoyed and disappointed as they couldn’t control the situation . They simply could not ____ the reality that their tunnels had been destroyed. Cinderella was the last to die ---she did so while carrying a dead ant on her back .
Although much time has passed, I still think of that ant farm. Mom had hoped it would teach me about the natural world, ____ it taught me much more.____ the years, I came to realize the ants were a study in the benefits of ____. Working together, they were able to create a(an) ____ world for themselves. I also learned that they should be____ for their hard work. Day in and day out, each labored at their task. The ant farm showed that teamwork and perseverance are indeed two key ____ for success. But there was an even larger lesson that I did not ____until recently: Disaster is a natural part of life, and must be ____. Unlike the ants, humans cannot give up when they face ____. Unlike the ants, we have to realize that if a tunnel caves in , we just have to build another.
1.A.created B.bought C.ran D.laid
2.A.empty B.new C.strange D.distant
3.A.guests B.settlers C.friends D.members
4.A.probably B.roughly C.exactly D.normally
5.A.named B.trained C.compared D.measured
6.A.affected B.struck C.kicked D.beat
7.A.split B.took C.tipped D.handed
8.A.rush out B.break in C.drop out D.cave in
9.A.experienced B.predicted C.faced D.survived
10.A.annoyed B.astonished C.moved D.thrilled
11.A.reflect B.ignore C.confirm D.stand
12.A.and B.but C.so D.or
13.A.In B.For C.From D.Over
14.A.teamwork B.devotion C.responsibility D.organization
15.A.relaxing B.amusing C.moving D.amazing
16.A.supported B.inspired C.admired D.admitted
17.A.conclusions B.solutions C.recipes D.circumstances
18.A.give B.realize C.take D.adopt
19.A.accepted B.suffered C.escaped D.managed
20.A.challenges B.barriers C.pressure D.disappointment
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I learned about life from an ant farm. When I was seven years old, my family tried to __1__ an ant farm at home. First, we put clean sand in a thin glass box, and then we brought some ants from the backyard and placed them into the __2__ home.
Shortly after the new __3__ were dropped into the glass structure, they got to work making tunnels. I was amazed that each one knew __4__ what to do. After hours of staring, I realized that the ants had particular given jobs. With my mom’s help, I kept a journal of what happened each day and __5__ the ants. My favorite was the biggest, Cinderella. I drew a picture of her in my journal, which I still have.
On day five a disaster __6__ the ant farm. While I was __7__ the ants, I had put my face so close to the structure that I accidentally tipped it over, __8__ in all the tunnels. Although the ants __9__ their earthquake, one by one they began to die. I was __10__ as I watched them give up their tunnel-building to carry the bodies to a corner of the farm. My mother reported that the ants were dying of “frustration”—feeling annoyed and impatient as they couldn’t control the situation. They simply could not __11__ the reality that their tunnels had been destroyed. Cinderella was the last to die; she did so while carrying a dead ant on her back.
Although much time has passed, I still think of that ant farm. Mom had hoped it would teach me about the natural world, __12__ it taught me much more. __13__ the years, I came to realize the ants were a study in the benefits of __14__. Working together, they were able to create a(n) __15__ world for themselves. I also learned that they should be __16__ for their hard work. Day in and day out, each labored at their task. The ant farm demonstrated that teamwork and perseverance are indeed two key __17__ to success. But there was an even larger lesson that I did not __18__ until recently: Disaster is a natural part of life, and must be __19__. Unlike the ants, humans cannot give up when they face __20__. Unlike the ants, we have to realize that if a tunnel caves in, we just have to build another.
1. A．get B．buy C．run D．find
2. A．empty B．new C．strange D．distant
3. A．guests B．settlers C．friends D．members
4. A．probably B．roughly C．exactly D．normally
5. A．named B．trained C．compared D．measured
6. A．affected B．struck C．kicked D．beat
7. A．removing B．teaching C．observing D．collecting
8. A．turning B．rushing C．filling D．caving
9. A．experienced B．predicted C．faced D．survived
10. A．annoyed B．horrified C．moved D．thrilled
11. A．reflect B．ignore C．confirm D．stand
12. A．and B．but C．so D．or
13. A．In B．For C．From D．Over
14. A．teamwork B．devotion C．responsibility D．organization
15. A．relaxing B．amusing C．moving D．amazing
16. A．supported B．inspired C．admired D．admitted
17. A．certificates B．approaches C．ingredients D．circumstances
18. A．give B．realize C．take D．adopt
19. A．accepted B．suffered C．achieved D．managed
20. A．challenges B．barriers C．pressure D．disappointment
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Alice’s mother died when Alice was five years old. Alice, who grew up to be my mother, told me that after her mother’s death her family was too poor to even afford to give her a doll.
In December 2012, I had a job at a local bank. One afternoon, we were decorating the tree in the bank lobby(大厅). One of my customers approached me with her beautiful handmade dolls. I decided to get one for my daughter, Katie, who was almost five years old. Then I had an idea. I asked my customer if she could make me a special doll for my mother—one with gray hair and spectacles(眼镜): a grandmother doll. And she gladly agreed.
A friend had told me that his dad who played Santa Claus would be willing to make a visit on Christmas morning to our home to deliver my Katie her presents, so I made some special arrangements.
Christmas Day arrived and at the planned time; so did Santa Claus. Katie was surprised that Santa had come to see her at her own house. As Santa turned to leave, he looked once more into his bag and found one more gift. As he asked who Alice was, my mother, surprised at her name being called, indicated that she in fact was Alice. Santa handed her the gift, with a message card that read:
For Alice:
I was cleaning out my sleigh(雪橇) before my trip this year and came across this package that was supposed to be delivered on December 25,1953. The present inside has aged, but I felt that you might still wish to have it. Many apologies for the lateness of the gift.
Love,
Santa Claus
My mother’s reaction was one of the most deeply emotional scenes I have ever seen. She couldn’t speak but only held the doll she had waited fifty-nine years to receive as tears of joy ran down her cheeks. That doll, given by “Santa”, made my mother the happiest “child” that Christmas.
1.The reason why the writer’s mother couldn’t have a doll when young was that_________.
A. Santa Clause forgot to deliver the doll to her
B. her daughter couldn’t make a doll by herself
C. her parents left the doll in the Santa Clause’s sleigh
D. her family was badly off when she was a child
2.It can be inferred from the passage that __________.
A. the writer’s father played the Father Christmas
B. the writer’s mother was already in her sixties when she received the doll
C. the writer asked one of her friends to make the doll for her mother
D. the Santa Clause was too careless to deliver the doll on time
3.When the writer’s mother received the doll that she had waited so long, she was __________.
A. pleased and inspired B. puzzled and angry
C. happy and excited D. curious and grateful
4.The best title for this passage could be __________.
A. A Doll from Santa B. An unforgettable Christmas
C. A considerate daughter D. A help from Santa Claus
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When I was seven my father gave me a Timex, my first watch. I loved it, wore it for years, and haven’t had another one since it stopped ticking a decade ago. Why? Because I don’t need one. I have a mobile phone and I’m always near someone with an iPod or something like that. All these devices（装置）tell the time—which is why, if you look around, you’ll see lots of empty wrists; sales of watches to young adults have been going down since 2007.
But while the wise have realized that they don’t need them, others—apparently including some distinguished men of our time—are spending total fortunes on them. Brands such as Rolex, Patek Philippe and Breitling command shocking prices, up to £250.000 for a piece.
This is ridiculous. Expensive cars go faster than cheap cars. Expensive clothes hang better than cheap clothes. But these days all watches tell the time as well as all other watches. Expensive watches come with extra functions—but who needs them? How often do you dive to 300 metres into the sea or need to find your direction in the area around the South Pole? So why pay that much of five years’ school fees for watches that allow you to do these things?
If justice were done, the Swiss watch industry should have closed down when the Japanese discovered how to make accurate watches for a five-pound note. Instead the Swiss reinvented the watch, with the aid of millions of pounds’ worth of advertising, as a message about the man wearing it. Rolexes are for those who spend their weekends climbing icy mountains; a Patek Philippe is for one from a rich or noble family; a Breitling suggests you like to pilot planes across the world.
Watches are now classified as“investments”(投资). A 1994 Philippe recently sold for nearly £350, 000, while the 1960s Rolexes have gone from £15, 000 to £30, 000 plus in a year. But a watch is not an investment. It's a toy for self-satisfaction, a matter of fashion. Prices may keep going up—they’ve been rising for 15 years. But when fashion moves on, the owner of that £350, 000 beauty will suddenly find his pride and joy is no more a good investment than my childhood Timex.
1.It seems ridiculous to the writer that_______________.
A．people dive 300 meters into the sea
B．expensive clothes sell better than cheap ones
C．cheap cars don’t run as fast as expensive ones
D．expensive watches with unnecessary functions still sell
2.What can be learned about Swiss watch industry from the passage?
A．It’s hard for the industry to beat its competitors.
B．It targets rich people as its potential customers.
C．It wastes a huge amount of money in advertising.
D．It’s easy for the industry to reinvent cheap watches.
3.Which would be the best title for the passage?
A．Watches? Not for Me! B．My Childhood Timex
C．Timex or Rolex? D．Watches—a Valuable Collection
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When I was seven my father gave me a Timex, my first watch. I loved it, wore it for years, and haven’t had another one since it stopped ticking a decade ago. Why? Because I don’t need one. I have a mobile phone and I’m always near someone with an iPod or something like that. All these devices（装置）tell the time—which is why, if you look around, you’ll see lots of empty wrists; sales of watches to young adults have been going down since 2007.
But while the wise have realized that they don’t need them, others—apparently including some distinguished men of our time—are spending total fortunes on them. Brands such as Rolex, Patek Philippe and Breitling command shocking prices, up to £250.000 for a piece.
This is ridiculous. Expensive cars go faster than cheap cars. Expensive clothes hang better than cheap clothes. But these days all watches tell the time as well as all other watches. Expensive watches come with extra functions—but who needs them? How often do you dive to 300 metres into the sea or need to find your direction in the area around the South Pole? So why pay that much of five years’ school fees for watches that allow you to do these things?
If justice were done, the Swiss watch industry should have closed down when the Japanese discovered how to make accurate watches for a five-pound note. Instead the Swiss reinvented the watch, with the aid of millions of pounds’ worth of advertising, as a message about the man wearing it. Rolexes are for those who spend their weekends climbing icy mountains; a Patek Philippe is for one from a rich or noble family; a Breitling suggests you like to pilot planes across the world.
Watches are now classified as“investments”(投资). A 1994 Philippe recently sold for nearly £350, 000, while 1960s Rolexes have gone from £15, 000 to £30, 000 plus in a year. But a watch is not an investment. It's a toy for self-satisfaction, a matter of fashion. Prices may keep going up—they’ve been rising for 15 years. But when fashion moves on, the owner of that £350, 000 beauty will suddenly find his pride and joy is no more a good investment than my childhood Timex.
1.It seems ridiculous to the writer that_______________.
| A．people dive 300 metres into the sea |
| B．expensive clothes sell better than cheap ones |
| C．cheap cars don’t run as fast as expensive ones |
| D．expensive watches with unnecessary functions still sell |
2.What can be learnt about Swiss watch industry from the passage?
| A．It’s hard for the industry to beat its competitors. |
| B．It targets rich people as its potential customers. |
| C．It wastes a huge amount of money in advertising. |
| D．It’s easy for the industry to reinvent cheap watches. |
3.Which would be the best title for the passage?
| A．Watches? Not for Me! |
| B．My Childhood Timex |
| C．Timex or Rolex? |
| D．Watches—a Valuable Collection |
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When I was seven my father gave me a Timex, my first watch. I loved it, wore it for years, and haven’t had another one since it stopped ticking a decade ago. Why? Because I don’t need one. I have a mobile phone and I’m always near someone with an iPod or something like that. All these devices （装置） tell the time — which is why, if you look around, you’ll see lots of empty wrists; sales of watches to young adults have been going down since 2007.
But while the wise have realized that they don’t need them, others — apparently including some distinguished men of our time — are spending total fortunes on them. Brands such as Rolex, Patek Philippe and Breitling command shocking prices, up to ￡250,000 for a piece.
This is ridiculous. Expensive cars go faster than cheap cars. Expensive clothes hang better than cheap clothes. But these days all watches tell the time as well as all other watches. Expensive watches come with extra functions — but who needs them? How often do you dive to 300 metres into the sea or need to find your direction in the area around the South Pole? So why pay that much of five years’ school fees for watches that allow you to do these things?
If justice were done, the Swiss watch industry should have closed down when the Japanese discovered how to make accurate watches for a five-pound note. Instead the Swiss reinvented the watch, with the aid of millions of pounds’ worth of advertising, as a message about the man wearing it. Rolexes are for those who spend their weekends climbing icy mountains; a Patek Philippe is for one from a rich or noble family; a Breitling suggests you like to pilot planes across the world.
Watches are now classified as “investments” （投资）. A 1994 Patek Philippe recently sold for nearly ￡350,000, while 1960s Rolexes have gone from ￡15,000 to ￡30,000 plus in a year. But a watch is not an investment. It’s a toy for self-satisfaction, a matter of fashion. Prices may keep going up — they’ve been rising for 15 years. But when fashion moves on, the owner of that ￡350,000 beauty will suddenly find his pride and joy is no more a good investment than my childhood Timex.
1.The sales of watches to young people have fallen because they ________.
A. have other devices to tell the time B. think watches too expensive
C. prefer to wear an iPod D. have no sense of time
2.It seems ridiculous to the writer that ______.
A. people dive 300 metres into the sea
B. expensive clothes sell better than cheap ones
C. cheap cars don’t run as fast as expensive ones
D. expensive watches with unnecessary functions still sell
3.What can be learnt about Swiss watch industry from the passage?
A. It targets rich people as its potential customers.
B. It’s hard for the industry to beat its competitors.
C. It wastes a huge amount of money in advertising.
D. It’s easy for the industry to reinvent cheap watches.
4.Which would be the best title for the passage?
A. Timex or Rolex? B. My Childhood Timex
C. Watches? Not for Me! D. Watches — a Valuable Collection
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I grew up as the “baby” of my family. I was the_______of three sons. My brothers were five and seven years older than me and_______most of the small routine tasks that my mom and dad needed to do around the house. I spent most of my time riding my bike, playing basketball, walking in the woods, or reading books by the_______in the cold winter. I spent my_______with all the fun and none of the_______.
By the time I entered my early teens,_______, both of my brothers had moved out of our home. My dad had injured his back seriously and become_______. Later, we_______to a mountain top house heated by a stove. I soon_______that I did more work than I had ever done before. I__________our garden in the spring and summer. In the fall I cut and__________wood up to keep us__________ in the winter. And all year round I__________heavy five gallon containers of water from a mountain spring back to our__________so that we could have water to drink and cook with.
At first I__________and wasn’t satisfied. After a while, I began to find__________in helping my parents. I sang to myself while I piled wood up and smiled while I carried water. I __________found myself helping my mom with the dinner dishes and cleaning. I started to __________something that I would carry with me the rest of my__________too: When your work is done in love, it isn’t just__________.
1.A.smartest B.laziest C.youngest D.strangest
2.A.abandoned B.handled C.removed D.weighed
3.A.lorry B.fence C.tree D.stove
4.A.childhood B.adulthood C.time D.money
5.A.effort B.preparation C.patience D.responsibility
6.A.however B.therefore C.otherwise D.instead
7.A.distinct B.disabled C.dishonest D.distinguished
8.A.led B.distributed C.moved D.devoted
9.A.found B.recommended C.indicated D.worried
10.A.destroyed B.weeded C.visited D.advertised
11.A.burnt B.cleaned C.piled D.gave
12.A.healthy B.apart C.safe D.warm
13.A.dragged B.returned C.piped D.stored
14.A.farmland B.house C.hotel D.camp
15.A.lied B.quit C.complained D.wandered
16.A.hope B.pity C.pain D.joy
17.A.even B.seldom C.alone D.again
18.A.promote B.realize C.confuse D.explain
19.A.family B.cash C.life D.expense
20.A.trouble B.fun C.pleasure D.work
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I was 20 years old when my mother passed away.It was the first real blow that life had dealt me，and I thought I would never recover.Then，by the time the following spring came，the pain was almost bearable and again I could find pleasure in the miraculous reward of nature.
At first，I went to the cemetery with trepidation.But then，amazingly，by tending her grave and decorating it with flowers，I was ridding myself of the painful memories.
The years passed.I moved from Kaposvar，Hungary，the town where I had been born and had spent my youth.So did my siblings.We only came together on feast days，especially on All Souls’ Day in the cemetery.
Father lived with me for many years，to a ripe old age.Now that he，too，rests beneath the white marble stone，I go even more eagerly to the cemetery.While I tend my parents’ grave site，again I am with them in thought.
One day I noticed a modest grave site behind my parents’ plot.It lay among the magnificent granite and marble markers of the other graves，its very simplicity calling attention to itself.Ivy(常春藤) had covered the site and its only decoration was a simple wooden cross on which was written in copper letters a name，and that she lived 22 years.Whenever I went by，the plot and its surroundings looked cared for and neat，and each time I felt curious about this mysterious woman who had lived all of 22 years.
Once I saw an elderly man leaving from there.I concluded that perhaps he had come to visit his wife.In 1996 I was preparing for All Souls’ Day in the cemetery when again I caught sight of him，tending the grave.Tall，somewhat bent，he was well passed middle age.We nodded to each other and continued our work.Occasionally I stole a glance at my neighbor.When I noticed that he hadn’t got the tools for a proper cleanup，I offered him mine，which he gratefully accepted.After this，it seemed only natural to engage him in conversation.I asked him whose grave it was.This was his answer：
“My mother’s.She died young，in 1912 when I was only a yearanda half old.I really never knew her.I made her that cross and the copper letters.”
Then he went on：“No one comes to visit this grave but me because I was her only child.She died of pneumonia.My father remarried and my stepmother only cared for her own children.So then I always came here to my mother，whether in sadness or in joy.Later，life took me far afield，but I never forgot this grave.For me it was the same as the family home is for others.I always came home here.”
“With the years passing，it is getting more difficult for me to come，but as long as my legs will carry me，at least twice a year I visit my mother.I’m in my 80s，so who knows how long I can still make it.”
In stunned silence I listened.Tears clouded my eyes as I realized that I had never seen such boundless love.How much easier is my lot，I thought，for at any moment I can reach into my storehouse of memories and draw out the joyful or sad vignettes(小插图) that bind me to my parents with a thousand threads.What memories might this kindly old gentleman harbor？Perhaps a face from an ancient faded photograph of his mother.
What a great attachment throughout his long life must have led him back again and again to the resting place of that young woman whose motherly love he could never truly savor(尝到)，only forever feels its enormous lack.
We said goodbye.I was deeply moved because I knew that I had been given a great gift.I had been allowed a glimpse of the royal and longlasting affection that bound a simple and noblehearted man to his mother.I decided I would tend the grave together with that of my parents，where，finally，the aged child will have met his youthful mother.
1.All Souls’ Day is a feast day .
A. to visit the cemetery and memorize the dead
B. for families to get together in the cemetery
C. to give gifts to family members
D. for daughters and sons to memorize their parents
2.From the passage，we know .
A. the author’s mother died young and her father，too
B. the author’s mother was dead while her father enjoyed a long life
C. the man’s mother died very young before he was born
D. the author’s father lived long while the man’s mother died very young
3.The underlined words “calling attention to itself” in the 5th paragraph mean .
A. desiring to be paid attention to
B. making it easily noticed
C. too modest to be noticed
D. calling itself to draw others’ attention
4.The author stole a glance at her neighbor because .
A. they were living in the same neighborhood
B. the man was tall and straight，well passed middle age
C. she was wondering about the dead young lady’s story
D. she knew the dead in the grave was the man’s mother
5.From Paragraph 10 we can conclude that .
A. the author lived near the cemetery and can visit her parents at any time
B. the poor gentleman had hardly any memory of his dear mother’s love
C. the author is bound to her parents with threads
D. the gentleman comes back “home” whenever he wants to
6.What message is conveyed in the passage?
A. Love is a length of thread to bind mother and children together.
B. Mother needs love from her children even if she is dead.
C. Parents’ love is always royal and longlasting to children.
D. Mother’s love can be a boundless gift to their children.
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I was 20 years old when my mother passed away. It was the first real blow that life had dealt me, and I thought I would never recover. Then, by the time the following spring came, the pain was almost bearable and again I could find pleasure in the miraculous reward of nature.
At first, I went to the cemetery with trepidation. But then, amazingly, by tending her grave and decorating it with flowers, I was ridding myself of the painful memories.
The years passed. I moved from Kaposvar, Hungary, the town where I had been born and had spent my youth. So did my siblings. We only came together on feast days, especially on All Souls’ Day in the cemetery.
Father lived with me for many years, to a ripe old age. Now that he, too, rests beneath the white marble stone, I go even more eagerly to the cemetery. While I tend my parents’ grave site, again I am with them in thought.
One day I noticed a modest grave site behind my parents’ plot. It lay among the magnificent granite and marble markers of the other graves, its very simplicity calling attention to itself. Ivy(长春藤) had covered the site and its only decoration was a simple wooden cross on which was written in copper letters a name, and that she lived 22 years. Whenever I went by, the plot and its surroundings looked cared for and neat, and each time I felt curious about this mysterious woman who had lived all of 22 years.
Once I saw an elderly man leaving from there. I concluded that perhaps he had come to visit his wife. In 1996 I was preparing for All Souls’ Day in the cemetery when again I caught sight of him, tending the grave. Tall, somewhat bent, he was well passed middle age. We nodded to each other and continued our work. Occasionally I stole a glance at my neighbor. When I noticed that he hadn’t got the tools for a proper cleanup, I offered him mine, which he gratefully accepted. After this, it seemed only natural to engage him in conversation. I asked him whose grave it was. This was his answer:
“My mother’s. She died young, in 1912 when I was only a year-and-a half old. I really never knew her. I made her that cross and the copper letters.”
Then he went on:“No one comes to visit this grave but me because I was her only child. She died of pneumonia. My father remarried and my stepmother only cared for her own children. So then I always came here to my mother, whether in sadness or in joy. Later, life took me far afield, but I never forgot this grave. For me it was the same as the family home is for others. I always came home here.”
“With the years passing, it is getting more difficult for me to come, but as long as my legs will carry me, at least twice a year I visit my mother. I’m in my 80s. so who knows how long I can still make it.“
In stunned silence I listened. Tears clouded my eyes as I realized that I had never seen such boundless love. How much easier is my lot, I thought, for at any moment I can reach into my storehouse of memories and draw out the joyful or sad vignettes(小插图) that bind me to my parents with a thousand threads. What memories might this kindly old gentleman harbor? Perhaps a face from an ancient faded photograph of his mother.
What a great attachment throughout his long life must have led him back again and again to the resting place of that young woman whose motherly love he could never truly savor(尝到), only forever feels its enormous lack.
We said good-bye. I was deeply moved because I knew that I had been given a great gift. I had been allowed a glimpse of the royal and long-lasting affection that bound a simple and noble-hearted man to his mother. I decided I would tend the grave together with that of my parents, where, finally, the aged child will have met his youthful mother.
1.All Souls’ Day is a feast day ________.
A. to visit the cemetery and memorize the dead
B. for families to get together in the cemetery
C. to give gifts to family members
D. for daughters and sons to memorize their parents
2.From the passage, we know ________.
A. the author’s mother died young and her father, too
B. the author’s mother is dead while her father enjoys a long life
C. the man’s mother died very young before he was born
D. the author’s father lived long while the man’s mother died very young
3.The underlined words “calling attention to itself” in the 5th paragraph means ________.
A. desiring to be paid attention to
B. making it easily noticed
C. too modest to be noticed
D. calling itself to draw others’ attention
4.The author stole a glance at her neighbor because ________.
A. they were living in the same neighborhood
B. the man was tall and straight, well passed middle age
C. she was wondering about the dead young lady’s story
D. she knew the dead in the grave was the man’s mother
5.From Paragraph 10 we can conclude that ________.
A. the author lived near the cemetery and can visit her parents at any time
B. the poor gentleman had hardly any memory of his dear mother’s love
C. the author is bound to her parents with threads
D. the gentleman comes back “home” whenever he wants to
6.What message is conveyed in the passage?
A. Love is a length of thread to bind mother and children together.
B. Mother needs love from her children even if she is dead.
C. Parents’ love is always royal and long-lasting to children.
D. Mother’s love can be a boundless gift to their children.
they can grow their own square watermelons, my dad tells them to “use square seeds”. Truthfully, though, my dad discovered the key 5. square fruit by accident.