As young parents, my husband and I felt that at age 6 and 8, our children were old enough to be cleaning their  36  and making their beds. But they thought otherwise. My complaints, repeating myself, even self-justified shouting were landing on  37  ears. I felt  38 , and very often a whole afternoon’s scolding would end with their  39  into tears, I realized I needed to  40  my methods of “mothering”.

One day while they were at school, I had great fun  41  their rooms. On their desks, in plain  42 , I left the cards: “Dear Bill (the other card was  43  to Sarah), your room was messy this morning and I’m sure you like it clean. Love, the House Fairy. ” 44  arriving back, the children were  45     excited to receive the little note from the House Fairy. The next day, their rooms were fairly tidy. Sure enough, there was another note from the House Fairy  46  for them, thanking them for their nice “gift” of a clean room and  47  asking them to play a certain violin  48 . Each day, thank--you notes would be worded differently to keep the ideas  49 .

Sometimes the House Fairy would propose a little  50 : “If you can finish your homework today and  51  it before dinner, I’ d like to watch a particular television program with you tonight. ” Sometimes some colored markers or other little items would be left in  52  of jobs especially well done the day before.

53  I can’t remember how long “the House Fairy” continued leaving her love notes. When they were no longer age appropriate, we used various versions of Post-Its. The bathroom mirror became the    54  centre of our home. Appointments, notices about visiting relatives, lesson schedules, and changes in plans could be posted.

We all benefited from and  55  the idea of sharing reminders and daily details of life through notes. I believe the true legacy(遗留、遗产) of the House Fairy notes survives in our frequent and enjoyable communication.

36. A. shoes            B. clothes              C. rooms              D. items

37. A. side             B. deaf                      C. neither               D. either

38. A. tiring            B. shocked                C. annoyed        D. boring

39. A. bursting       B. breaking           C. crying                D. bumping

40. A. adopt             B. adjust          C. access               D. addict

41. A. moving          B. tidying        C. painting                 D. clearing

42. A. distance       B. words                   C. speech               D. sight

43. A. sent            B. read                   C. delivered      D. addressed

44. A. As              B. At                     C. Of                     D. Upon

45. A. more than     B. rather than                  C. no more than    D. other than

46. A. asking           B. waiting            C. praying                 D. expecting

47. A. casually       B. directly             C. gently                 D. toughly

48. A. music           B. song                               C. piece                  D. tone

49. A. respectable    B. uninteresting       C. incredible                           D. fresh

50. A. challenge         B. question                C. suggestion                           D. advice

51. A. go with          B. go through              C. look up                 D. look into

52. A. response         B. answer                C. praise                  D. honor

53. A. Actually             B. Even so                 C. Even if                  D. Though

54. A. reminder      B. main                                         C. memory                  D. life

55. A. learned          B. thanked                C. shared                  D. appreciated