Question

My mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s (老年痴呆症)last summer. Suddenly, it was difficult for me to accept that the roles were now reversed---my mother became my child, and I became her mother. I became impatient, argued with her, once I even yelled at her. Gradually, I was used to this kind of life. Now I am able to deal with her and the situation better. I have learned a lot of life lessons from the experience. 

    My mother reacts very sensitively to my feelings. That is typical of Alzheimer’s patients. When I visit her, feeling busy and tense, she reacts immediately, takes on my mood, and becomes nervous and negative. But when I appear cheerful and attentive, she is happy. This has taught me to pay more attention to my own feelings when I am with other people. 

    I always thought I was very tolerant, but in reality, my tolerance ran out as soon as someone turned away from what I considered “right”. With my mother I can now really be tolerant. Through her illness she has developed a childlike tactlessness（不得体）. Eating out in restaurants, for example, is a bit embarrassing when she shouts at the waiter that the food is so bad or talks about people at the next table in a loud voice. Of course I make sure that my mother doesn’t offend（冒犯）anyone, but I’ve stopped complaining about others and have become more tolerant. 

    I have also learned that everything has special value. When my mother got sick I didn’t want to burden my two daughters with it. They are young and have enough going on with their education, and starting their careers. I felt that it was simply my job as my mother’s daughter. The most wonderful discovery I’ve made through my mother’s disease may be that my children not only offer to help me when they sense that I’m feeling overwhelmed（难以承受）, but that they take care of my mother on their own initiative（主动地）. They visit her often, play cards with her, and look at photo albums together with her. It shows me that it’s all worth it.

1.Which of the following is the best title of the passage?

A. How I Cared for My Sick Mother

B. How I Became More Tolerant

C. What I Have Learned from Alzheimer’s

D. Why I Am Feeling Overwhelmed

2.Which of the following is common behavior of Alzheimer patients?

A. Being curious about everything

B. Being sensitive to others’ moods

C. Being afraid of strange people

D. Being particular about clothes

3.We can infer that the writer’s daughters are ________.

A. naughty B. selfish C. traditional D. considerate

Answer 1