Parents are a child’s first teachers. But some parents never learned from good examples. In New York City, Covenant House tries to help homeless young mothers become good parents.
The twelve or so teenagers who live at the shelter attend parenting classes four days a week. The class is called Mommy and Me.
Teacher Delores Clemens is a mother of five and a grandmother. She teaches basic skills, like how to give a baby a bath and how to dress a baby in different seasons.
She remembers one student who learned from her mother not to pick up a crying baby. The mother said that would only make the child needy.
“I said ‘That’s not true. You have to hold your baby! He is crying for a reason. If you never pick him up, he’s going to keep crying. Pick your baby up. Hug(拥抱)him! And she started to do that. They just want a little hugging and a little love. And it works!” Delores Clemens said.
Delores Clemens says her students also learn how to be good mothers by letting themselves be mothered. “I’m doing something for them that never has been done for them before.”
In class, with her baby son, is Natasha. She lived on the streets. She is glad not only for the warmth and shelter of Covenant House. As she told reporter Adam Phillips, she is also glad for the help they offer in looking for a safer life.
“Did you go to high school?”
“Yes.”
“Did you graduate?”
“No, I didn’t. I was in my last year and then, I got pregnant(怀孕)and I got lazy.”
“You look like you are willing to accept responsibility(责任)for that.”
“Yes, I am, and I would like to finish.”
Some teenage mothers wish they themselves could be children again. 18-year-old Placida knows that feeling. “Because you have to get up every two hours in the middle of the night, and you can’t go out and say ‘I am going to buy this for myself.’ No. I have to buy pampers, clothes and food. So now it’s two. So it’s very hard.” Placida said.
【小题1】What did Natasha want to finish high school for?

I used to have little passion (激情) in my life. But what happened the other day changed my min. It was then that 1 learned how 　26 it is to have a passion in life.

That day 1 went home in Mom's ear. When Morn 27 at a red light, someone on the side of the road caught my eye. It was a man dressed 　 28 rags (破旧衣服). He was homeless. That didn't interest me, because I had seen 　29 like him before. Those people usually looked unhappy and hopeless.

　　 But this man was 30 in some way. He was not sitting down with a 31 expression. Instead, he had a　 32　 in his hand and was dancing happily to the music. The radio seemed to be the most precious (珍贵的) thing he had.

　 "Morn, why does that man have a radio 　33 he’s homeless?” I asked.

　 "He　 34　 it," she replied.

　 "But why doesn't he use the money to buy food or clothes? He　 35　 something that he didn't need."

　 "Well, Sarah, sometimes food and clothes aren't the most important.”

　 That man must care so much about　 36　 that he bought a radio instead of food or clothes. I soon realized that　 37　 is the key to life.

　 Since then I am always thinking of 　38　 is truly important in life. A home, a meal, clothes—these things are 39 part of the life. What we often forget is that we all need a joy, a light in a 　40 . day. We all need a passion which gives a person the happiness they need ~o keep going.

26. A. strange　　　　 B. important　　　 C. dangerous　　　 D. difficult

27. A. stopped　　 　　B. walked　　　　 C. stood　　　　　 D. exercised

28. A. in　　　　　 　B. on　　　 　　　C. at　　　　　 　D. of

29. A. none　　　　　 B. few　　 　　 C. all　　　　 　　D. many

30. A. common　　　 B. different　 　　C. polite　　　 　 D. rude

31. A. sad　　　　 　 B. nervous　 　　 C. mad　　 　　　D. happy

32. A. hat　　　　 　B. phone　 　　　 C. scarf　 　　　 D. radio

33. A. though　　　 　B. because　 　　　C. until 　　　　 D. unless

34. A. borrowed　 　 B. made　　　　　 C. fixed　　 　　 D. bought

36. A. asked for　 　 B. waited for　　 　 C. paid for　 　 D. looked for

36. A. stories　　　 　B. music　　　　　 C. news　　 　　D. languages

37. A. knowledge 　　B. health　　　　 　 C. happiness　 　 D. friendship

38. A. who　　　　 　B. what　　　　　　 C. where　　　 　D. when

39. A. only　　　　　　 B. all　　　　 　　C. also　　　 　 D. never

40. A. warm　　　　　 B. hot　　　　 　　C. dark　　　 　　D. relaxing