Amy returned to her small apartment at midnight, exhausted. Pushing the key into the lock, she quietly opened the door so as not to wake her younger brothers. She stepped into the front room and froze. The apartment was a mess: plates of half-eaten food were scattered in front of the TV; toys littered the floor; clothes, shoes and homework were strewn everywhere. Amy’s eyes welled with tears. This is just way too much for me, she thought. Her worst fears began to race through her mind. Would the court（法院）tell her she couldn’t care for her family anymore? Would the kids go through the bitterness once more of being split up and sent away? She was so young, almost a child herself, and yet Amy knew everything depended on her. At that moment, she wondered if she would ever find the strength to see it through

Amy had been born dead. Doctors fought and saved this smaller twin of a drug-taking mother, and she’d had to fight for everything in life ever since. From earliest childhood, Amy took care of her younger brothers. Jan, their mother, only added to the family disorder and confusion. Sometimes they lived in apartments, sometimes in shelters.

One afternoon Amy was called to the high school, where a social worker was waiting for her. “We know your mother has been staying with you,” the social worker said. “We’re going to have to put you guys in foster （收养)）care.” “No! Don’t split us up!” the girl cried out. “Can’t you just leave it the way it is?” The social worker shook his head. Amy’s voice then rose like the howl of a lioness protecting her babies: “Why can’t I take them? I take care of them all the time anyway.” The social worker hesitated, and then said, “Maybe. Once you’re 18, you could apply to become their relative caretaker. Then you’d be their foster mother until we find a home where all of you can be together.” “I’ll do it,” Amy said.

One month later, Amy was named guardian（监护人）of her brothers for a six-month trial period. It was a remarkable victory for an 18-year-old girl. Her brothers didn’t make her task any easier in the months ahead. However，Amy’s efforts were rewarded when the court allowed her to continue as guardian. Amy’s relief at remaining the kids’ guardian was at risk of being taken away by the pressure she always felt to measure up. Social workers still looked regularly over her shoulder and asked the boys shameful questions: “Does she feed you? Does she ever try to harm you?” Then one day a visiting social worker came over. “We’d like to get the boys out of foster care and adopted into homes,” she said. Sensing that the family was about to be split apart yet again, Amy replied, “Fine, then. Call it adoption if you want, but they’re not going anywhere.” To her surprise, the social worker took her remark seriously. She explained that if Amy were to adopt the boys, they would become like any other family.

That night at dinner Amy told the boys about the idea. “Cool!” Joey said. He threw a piece of corn at Adam. His brother flicked it back, and pretty soon corn was flying. Amy rolled her eyes. They didn’t have far to go to be like any other family. As the proceedings（程序）ended, Amy thanked everyone. “No,” the judge responded, “thank you. You saved three kids. Not many family members would do what you’re doing, especially for this many children. I’m very proud of you.” 

On a lazy spring day, in a modest suburban neighborhood, Amy stood in front of a neatly kept one-story house. She watched her brothers playing basketball, and heard the playful bark of their dog, Tahoe. The young lady had made good on her promise: they had rented a home, a real home, and the boys had gotten their dog. Amy continues to raise her family alone, but has begun taking courses in business management at a nearby community college. Eventually, she hopes to become a child psychologist.

1.Which of the following best describes Amy?

A．Crazy and tough.                        B．Firm and stubborn.

C．Enthusiastic and generous.                D．Abnormal and aggressive.

2.What was bothering Amy most in the passage?

A．The mess in her apartment.

B．Her family being split up again.

C．Working hard to support the family.

D．Her young age to take care of her brothers.

3.From the Paragraph 3, we can learn that __________.

A．The social worker gave in to Amy.

B．The social worker tried to adopt Amy’s brothers.

C．Amy tried to apply for the guardian of the brothers.

D．Amy had no idea how to face her family being split up.

4.By saying “They didn’t have far to go to be like any other family”, the writer means________.

A．they will live in the same area as other families.

B．they made a deep impression on the neighborhood.

C．Amy is able to take good care of the family.

D．Amy and her brothers would be already just like a family.

5.The best title for this text would be___________. 

A．Standing On Two Feet                    B．Growing Up Alone

C．A Lifelong Fight                         D．A Teen Hero

 

My husband had just bought a new washing machine for me . I decided to use it the very day and I washed a lot of things .
Everything worked well , but I found one of my husband’s socks(短袜)  missing . I looked everywhere for it , but I couldn’t find it anywhere .
The next morning , I got ready for school as usual . When the bell rang , the students came in . I greeted them and told them what we were going to do that day .
When I turned around to write on the blackboard , the class bursted out a roar (大笑声)! They laughed and laughed . They laughed so much , in fact ,that I was afraid the headmaster would be in to see all this .
I asked the class to stop , but the more I talked , the more they laughed . I decided to pay no attention to them and I continued to write on the blackboard . when I did this , they roared even more .
Finally , the teacher who had the room next to mine came in to see what all the laughter was about .
“Good heavens ,” I said , “Will someone please tell me what is so funny?”
“Oh , God,” said the teacher , “You have a brown sock to the back of your skirt !”
So that’s how I found my husband’s missing sock .
“Oh , well ,” I said to the class , “Let’s just say you have had an unforgettable lesson on static electricity(静电)。”
【小题1】What was the writer ?

A．A washer

B．A student

C． A headmaster

D． A teacher

【小题2】What happened when the writer turned around to write on the blackboard ?

A．The class roared with anger .

B．The class began to laugh loudly .

C．Another teacher came in

D．There was a loud noise outside the room

【小题3】Why couldn’t she find one of her husband’s socks?
A. Because some students had hidden it .
D. Because her husband had taken it away .
C. Because she had left it in the classroom .
D. Because she never expected that it would stick to her skirt .
【小题4】What did the writer do when she got to know why her students laughed?

A．She did nothing but laugh.

B．She got angry with the class .

C．She did nothing

D．She explained the matter in a clever way .

My husband had just bought a new washing machine for me . I decided to use it the very day and I washed a lot of things .

Everything worked well , but I found one of my husband’s socks(短袜)  missing . I looked everywhere for it , but I couldn’t find it anywhere .

The next morning , I got ready for school as usual . When the bell rang , the students came in . I greeted them and told them what we were going to do that day .

When I turned around to write on the blackboard , the class burst into a roar (大笑声)! They laughed and laughed . They laughed so much , in fact ,that I was afraid the headmaster would come in to see all this .

I asked the class to stop , but the more I talked , the more they laughed . I decided to pay no attention to them and I continued to write on the blackboard . when I did this , they roared even more .

Finally , the teacher who had the room next to mine came in to see what all the laughter was about .

“Good heavens ,” I said , “Will someone please tell me what is so funny?”

“Oh , God,” said the teacher , “You have a brown sock to the back of your skirt !”

So that’s how I found my husband’s missing sock .

“Oh , well ,” I said to the class , “Let’s just say you have had an unforgettable lesson on static electricity(静电)。”

1.What was the writer ?

A．A washer          B．A student          C． A headmaster     D． A teacher

2.What happened when the writer turned around to write on the blackboard ?

A．The class roared with anger .

B．The class began to laugh loudly .

C．Another teacher came in

D．There was a loud noise outside the room

3.Why couldn’t she find one of her husband’s socks?

A．Because some students had hidden it .

B．Because her husband had taken it away .

C．Because she had left it in the classroom .

D．Because she never expected that it would stick to her skirt .

4.What did the writer do when she got to know why her students laughed?

A．She did nothing but laugh.

B．She got angry with the class .

C．She did nothing

D．She explained the matter in a clever way .

 

My husband had just bought a new washing machine for me . I decided to use it the very day and I washed a lot of things .

Everything worked well , but I found one of my husband’s socks(短袜) missing . I looked everywhere for it , but I couldn’t find it anywhere .

The next morning , I got ready for school as usual . When the bell rang , the students came in . I greeted them and told them what we were going to do that day .

When I turned around to write on the blackboard , the class burst into a roar (大笑声)! They laughed and laughed . They laughed so much , in fact ,that I was afraid the headmaster would come in to see all this .

I asked the class to stop , but the more I talked , the more they laughed . I decided to pay no attention to them and I continued to write on the blackboard . when I did this , they roared even more .

Finally , the teacher who had the room next to mine came in to see what all the laughter was about .

“Good heavens ,” I said , “Will someone please tell me what is so funny?”

“Oh , God,” said the teacher , “You have a brown sock to the back of your skirt !”

So that’s how I found my husband’s missing sock .

“Oh , well ,” I said to the class , “Let’s just say you have had an unforgettable lesson on static electricity(静电)。”

36．What was the writer ?

A. A washer　　 B. A student　 C. A headmaster　　 D. A teacher

37．What happened when the writer turned around to write on the blackboard ?

A. The class roared with anger .

B. The class began to laugh loudly .

C. Another teacher came in

D. There was a loud noise outside the room

38．Why couldn’t she find one of her husband’s socks?

A. Because some students had hidden it .

B. Because her husband had taken it away .

C. Because she had left it in the classroom .

D. Because she never expected that it would stick to her skirt .

39．What did the writer do when she got to know why her students laughed?

A. She did nothing but laugh.

B. She got angry with the class .

C. She did nothing

D. She explained the matter in a clever way .