When Mary Moore began her high school in 1951, her mother told her, "Be sure and take a typing course
so when this show business thing doesn't work out, you'll have something to rely on." Mary responded in
typical teenage fashion. From that moment on, "the very last thing I ever thought about doing was taking a
typing course," she recalls.
     The show business thing worked out, of course. In her career, Mary won many awards. Only recently,
when she began to write Growing Up Again, did she regret ignoring her mom, "I don't know how to use a
computer," she admits.
     Unlike her 1995 autobiography, after all, her second book is less about life as an award-winning actress
and more about living with diabetes (糖尿病). All the money from the book is intended for the Juvenile
Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), an organization she serves as international chairman. "I felt there was
a need for a book like this," she says. "I didn't want to lecture, but I wanted other diabetics to know that things
get better when we're self-controlled and do our part in managing the disease."
     But she hasn't always practiced what she teaches. In her book, she describes that awful day, almost 40
years ago, when she received two pieces of life-changing news. First, she had lost the baby she was carrying,
and second, tests showed that she had diabetes. In a childlike act, she left the hospital and treated herself to a
box of doughnuts (甜甜圈). Years would pass before she realized she had to grow up again and take control
of her diabetes, not let it control her. Only then did she kick her three-pack-a-day cigarette habit, overcome her
addiction to alcohol, and begin to follow a balanced diet.
     Although her disease has affected her eyesight and forced her to the sidelines of the dance floor, she refuses
to fall into self-pity. "Everybody on earth can ask, 'why me?' about something or other," she insists. "It doesn't
do any good. No one is immune (免疫的) to heartache, pain, and disappointments. Sometimes we can make
things better by helping others. I've come to realize the importance of that as I've grown up this second time.
I want to speak out and be as helpful as I can be."

1. Why did Mary feel regretful?

A. She didn't achieve her ambition.
B. She didn't take care of her mother.
C. She didn't complete her high school.
D. She didn't follow her mother's advice.

2. We can know that before 1995 Mary _____.

A. had two books published
B. received many career awards
C. knew how to use a computer
D. supported the JDRF by writing

3. Mary's second book Growing Up Again is mainly about her _____.

A. living with diabetes
B. successful show business
C. service for an organization
D. remembrance of her mother

4. When Mary received the life-changing news, she _____.

A. lost control of herself
B. began a balanced diet
C. Med to get a treatment
D. behaved in an adult way

5. What can we know from the last paragraph?

A. Mary feels pity for herself.
B. Mary has recovered from her disease.
C. Mary wants to help others as much as possible.
D. Mary determines to go back to the dance floor.

                                                                    Secret Santas
     On Christmas morning, Linda wakes up, and tries to imagine the wide-eyed surprise of children in another
household as they unwrap the presents she carefully chose for them. Linda has never met the children, but that's
all part of the joy of giving as secret Santas, she says.
     "It's an amazing feeling to buy gifts on an anonymous (匿名的) basis," says Linda. "It brings a whole new
meaning to the holidays."
     Linda and Tony are an American couple living in Toronto, Canada, and Linda did charitable work as a
member of the American Women's Club of Toronto. As the name suggests, members are U.S. citizens living in
Toronto, who join together for fellowship and community service.
     To find her "adopted" family, Linda goes to the local schools and requests a wish list for a family that's
struggling to survive. Last year she helped a single mother with three children. The mother works as a cleaning
lady in a nursing home.
     "The list is always heartbreaking. They have an opportunity to ask for anything and do just the opposite,
asking for basic clothes or simple toys," she says. "We always buy the kids a new winter coat, hats, and gloves."
She also buys gifts for the parents.
     Last year Linda asked the mother for a second wish list-one that didn't include the basics. "Every child
should have a Christmas that sticks with them for a lifetime." She purchased iPods for the two older children
and a video game system for the youngest. "I have learned a very valuable lesson in all of this," says Linda. "Pay
attention to what's going on in your own backyard-no matter where you live."
     The joy of giving as secret Santas is much sweeter when the gift is anonymous.

1. What reactions does Linda imagine the children will have? (No more than 5 words)
    ______________________________________________________________________________
2. Why did Linda join the American Women's Club of Toronto? (No more than 10 words)
    ______________________________________________________________________________
3. Why did Linda ask for a second wish list? (No more than 15 words)
    ______________________________________________________________________________
4. What kind of people does "secret Santas" in the passage refer to? (No more than 12 words)
    ______________________________________________________________________________

     An old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-old grandson. The family ate together
at the table, but his shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor.
When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth. The son and daughter-in-law became angry with the
mess. So they set a small table in the corner. There Grandfather ate alone while they enjoyed dinner.
     Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl. Still, the only words
the couple had for him were sharp when he dropped a fork or spilled food. The grandson watched silently.
One evening, the father noticed the son playing with wood scraps (:small piece) and asked the child sweetly,
"What are you making?" The boy responded, "Oh, I am making a bowl for you and mum to eat your food in
when I grow up."
     The words struck the parents so hard that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their
cheeks. The son took gently and led Grandfather back to their table. From then on, he ate every meal with them.
Neither of them seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.

     _______________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________

     When I was growing up in America, I was ashamed of my mother's Chinese English. Because of her
English, she was often treated unfairly. People in department stores, at banks, and at restaurants did not take
her seriously, did not give her good service, pretended not to understand her, or even acted as if they did not
hear her.  
     My mother has realized the limitations of her English as well. When I was fifteen, she used to have me
call people on phone to pretend I was she. I was forced to ask for information or even to yell at people who
had been rude to her. One time I had to call her stockbroker (股票经纪人). I said in an adolescent (青春期的)
voice that was not very convincing, "This is Mrs. Tan.."
     And my mother was standing beside me, whispering loudly, "Why he don't send me check already two
week late." And then, in perfect English I said:"I'm getting rather concerned. You agreed to send the check
two weeks ago, but it hasn't arrived."
     Then she talked more loudly. "What he want? I come to New York tell him front of his boss." And so I
turned to the stockbroker again, "I can't tolerate any more excuse. If I don't receive the check immediately,
I am going to have to speak to your manager when I am in New York next week." The next week we ended
up in New York. While I was sitting there red-faced, my mother, the real Mrs.Tan, was shouting to his boss
in her broken English.
     When I was a teenager, my mother's broken English embarrassed me. But now, I see it differently. To me,
my mother's English is perfectly clear, perfectly natural. It is my mother tongue. Her language, as I hear it, is
vivid, direct, and full of observation and wisdom. It was the language that helped shape the way I saw things,
expressed ideas, and made sense of the world.

1. Why was the author's mother poorly served?

A. She was unable to speak good English.
B. She was often misunderstood.
C. She was not clearly heard.
D. She was not very polite.

2. From Paragraph 2, we know that the author was _____.

A. good at pretending
B. rude to the stockbroker
C. ready to help her mother
D. unwilling to phone for her mother

3. After the author made the phone call, _____.

A. they forgave the stockbroker
B. they failed to get the check
C. they went to New York immediately
D. they spoke to their boss at once

4. What does the author think of her mother's English now?

A. It confuses her.
B. It embarrasses her.
C. It helps her understand the world.
D. It helps her tolerate rude people.