Motherhood is a career to respect

　　A WOMAN renewing her driver’s license at the CountyClerk’s office was asked to state her occupation. She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.

　　“What I mean is,” explained the recorder, “do you have a job, or are you just a...”

　　“Of course I have a job,” said Emily. “I’m a mother.”

　　“We don’t list ‘mother’ as an occupation... ‘housewife’ covers it,” said the recorder.

　　One day I found myself in the same situation. The Clerk was obviously a career woman, confident and possessed of a high sounding title. “What is your occupation?” she asked.

　　The words simply popped out. “I’m a Research Associate (研究员) in the field of Child Development and Human Relations.”

　　The clerk paused, ballpoint pen frozen in midair.

　　I repeated the title slowly, then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement (声明) was written in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.

　　“Might I ask,” said the clerk with interest, “just what you do in your field?”

　　Coolly, without any trace of panic in my voice, I heard myself reply, “I have a continuing program of research (what mother doesn’t), in the laboratory and in the field (normally I would have said indoors and out). Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities (any mother care to disagree?), and I often work 14 hours a day (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money.”

　　There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk’s voice as she completed the form, stood up, and showed me out.

　　As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up (激励) by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants – ages 13, 7, and 3.

　　Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model (a 6-month-old baby), in the child-development program, testing out a new vocal pattern.

　　I felt proud! I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable (不可缺少的) to mankind than “just another mother.”

　　Motherhood... What a glorious career! Especially when there’s a title on the door.

 

1. How did the female clerk feel at first when the writer told her occupation?

　　A. Cold-hearted.　　　　B. Open-minded.

　　C. Puzzled. 　　　　　　D. Interested.

 

2. How many children does the writer have?

　　A. 3　　　 B. 4 　　　C. 7　　　 D. 13

 

3.Why did the woman clerk show more respect to the writer?

　　A. Because she thought the writer did admirable work.

　　B. Because the writer cared little about rewards.

　　C. Because the writer did something that she had little knowledge of.

　　D. Because she admired the writer's research work.

 

4. What is the point of the article?

　　A. To show that how you describe your job affects your feelings toward it.

　　B. To show that the writer had a grander job than Emily.

　　C. To argue that motherhood is a worthy career.

　　D. To show that being a mother is hard and boring work.

 

When your kids were six or seven, you sent them to school. Did you ever wonder what goes through a teacher's　 __36__　 as he or she tries to teach your kids? Did you ever wonder what the teacher　 __37__　 from you，the parents?

Parents can be　 __38__　 or suspicious. They can be of great help to the teacher　 __39__ be in need of help themselves. Some teachers think parents are too　 __40__　 on their children. Here is　 __41__　 one teacher puts it.

“I usually have the　 __42__　 of parents coming in and 　__43__　 me how much they care about the kids' education and how they really　 __44__ their kids. They tell me they stand and　 __45__　 them closely when they do their homework. Sometimes they　 __46__　 offer help with the kids' lessons as if they were teachers. They check their school work, and are too sensitive to　 __47__. They blame the kids on everything having to do　 __48__ school. When a parent asks me how his or her kid is getting on in my class, my answer usually is‘Well, you know，he is　 __49__　 a good kid. He is fine in my class. Maybe you don't have to be so　 __50__　 with your kid.’”

Teachers want parents to know that they are professionals at　 __51__　 with children. They have　 __52__　 many children and even parents. Because of this, teachers can be　 __53__　 at educating children. Teachers are　 __54__　 that parents want their children to do well, but they know more about what children should be able to do at different ages and　 __55__.

36．A.heart　　 　　　 B．mind　 　C．soul　　　 　 D．spirit

37．A.reflects 　 B．results C．benefits D．expects

38．A.effective B．attentive C．supportive 　 D．positive

39．A.but　 B．or C．thus 　　 D．as

40．A.hard B．keen C．dependent 　　 D．crazy

41．A.where 　　 B．how C．when 　 D．why

42．A.problems B．contracts C．accidents 　　 D．agreements

43．A.advising　 B．examining C．telling　 D．instructing

44．A.help with B．deal with C．make up　 　　 D．give up

45．A.connect 　 B．guide C．watch 　 D．inspire

46．A.even B．already C．still 　　　 D．merely

47．A.marks　 　 B．efforts C．pains 　　 D．words

48．A.at　 　 B．beyond C．in D．with

49．A.nearly 　　 B．really C．seldom　 　　　 D．hardly

50．A.satisfied　 B．careful C．strict 　　 D．cautious

51．A.working 　 B．playing C．staying D．joking

52．A.fed 　 B．observed C．attended 　　　 D．greeted

53．A.pleased 　 B．worried C．disappointed D．experienced

54．A.content 　 B．doubtful C．aware 　 D．suspicious

55．A.stages 　　 B．classes C．schools D．projects

Several times my daughter had telephoned to say, “Mother, you must come to see the daffodils (黄水仙) before they are over，” I wanted to go, but it was a two－hour drive from Laguna to Lake Arrowhead. “I will come next Tuesday，” I promised, a little reluctantly, on her third call.

Next Tuesday dawned cold and rainy. Still, I had promised, and so I drove there. When I finally walked into Carolyn's house and hugged and greeted my grandchildren. I said. “Forget the daffodils, Carolyn! The road is invisible in the clouds and fog, and there is nothing in the world except you and these children that I want to see！”

My daughter smiled calmly and said. “We drive in this all the time, mother. You will never forgive yourself if you miss this experience.”

After about twenty minutes, we turned onto a small gravel road and I saw a small church. On the far side of the church, I saw a hand－lettered sign that read: “Daffodil Garden.”

We got out of the car and each took a child's hand. And I followed Carolyn down the path. Then, as we turned a corner of the path. and I looked up and gasped.Before me lay the most glorious sight. There were five acres of flowers. “But who has done this？” I asked Carolyn. “It's just one woman，” Carolyn answered. “That's her home.” Carolyn pointed to a well－kept A－frame house that looked small and modest in the midst of all that glory. We walked up to the house. On the patio(露台), we saw a poster. “Answers to the Questions I Know You Are Asking” was the headline.

The first answer was a simple one. “50,000 bulbs(球茎)，” it read. The second answer was, “One at a time, by one woman.” The third answer was, “Began in 1958.”

I thought of this woman whom I had never met, who, more than forty years before, had begun—one bulb at a time—to bring the beauty and joy to the mountain top.

6. The author didn't go to see the daffodils at first because ________.

A. she was not interested in them

B. they were growing on a mountain top

C. the weather was not good enough

D. it was a long drive to her daughter's house

7. Which of the following BEST describes the author's feeling seeing the daffodils?

A. Amazed.   B. Disappointed.  　　C. Confused.      　　D. Moved.

8. What do we know about the woman living in the A－frame house?

A. She must be out of mind.

B. She acted as a gardener here.

C. It took her great determination to grow the daffodils.

D. She was poor and made her living by selling daffodils.

9. What would be the BEST title of the passage?

A. A Wonderful Daffodil Garden      　　

B. A Remarkable Woman

C. One Bulb at a Time              　　

D. I Love Daffodils

10. What could the author probably learn from this experience?

A. Nothing is too difficult if you put your heart into it.

B. We must put the interests of others above our own.

C. We can change the world through our own efforts.

D. It's never too late to learn.

It was my first year teaching in a special class, and I wasn’t sure what to expect at our yearly Special Olympics sports meeting. My         had some challenges, from learning disabilities to cerebral palsy (脑瘫).

Mark was one with the latter. Restricted to a      , he had to fight his spasms (抽搐) just to control his movements.     , he always had a positive attitude and greeted everyone with a huge smile. His classmates       him and always took the time to make sure he was included in group activities, especially Mike, Andy and Lucas, three boys who were good at   ­­       . Obviously, Mark wanted to be like them, unrestricted by the limitation of his      , and watching them moving on the playing field seemed to fill him with      .

When the day came, Mike, Andy and Lucas placed well in their sports events, and gave the calm audience something to cheer about. Mark sat in his wheelchair on the sidelines,         them on. The final event of the day was the 400-meter race.       was invited to either walk or run, according to their ability, around the       length of the track.

When Mike, Andy and Lucas reached the finish line, they       and turned to look behind them. At the       of the crowd on the track, determined not to be left behind, was Mark. All his classmates had      him. He was alone on the track with over half the distance left to        . Mike, Andy and Lucas looked at each other, and a silent       passed between them. Slowly, they jogged       towards their friend, cheering him on       he had done for them moments before.

The progress was      , but in the end the three star runners and Mark       the finish line together to the enthusiastic cries of their teachers and classmates. Seeing the look on Mark’s face and hands upraised, I came to understand what       the Special Olympics.

       Years later, I’m still cheering them on.

1.A. students     B. friends             C. partners       D. classmates

2.A. bed             B. machine               C. desk      D. wheelchair

3.A. Thus          B. However     C. Otherwise  D. Besides

4.A. protected      B. satisfied      C. loved      D. cared

5.A. expression            B. practice       C. studies    D. sports

6.A. interests              B. habits         C. body      D. mind

7.A. trust         B. admiration     C. fear D. worry

8.A. bringing      B. cheering       C. holding   D. moving

9.A. Someone      B. Everyone      C. Anybody   D. Nobody

10.A. average      B. different       C. entire     D. extra

11.A. fell         B. rested          C . hurried   D. paused

12.A. end       B. front          C. center     D. top

13.A. left        B. ignored        C. passed     D. helped

14.A. run        B. jog            C. cover     D. walk

15.A. demand          B. relief          C. action     D. thought

16.A. back     B. along         C. again      D. on

17.A. while            B. although       C. since      D. as

18.A. slow               B. great          C. boring      D. relaxing

19.A. crossed    B. arrived         C. rushed     D. got

20.A. left  　　 B. made  C. kept      D. found

 

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Motherhood is a career to respect
　　A WOMAN renewing her driver’s license at the CountyClerk’s office was asked to state her occupation. She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.
　　“What I mean is,” explained the recorder, “do you have a job, or are you just a...”
　　“Of course I have a job,” said Emily. “I’m a mother.”
　　“We don’t list ‘mother’ as an occupation... ‘housewife’ covers it,” said the recorder.
　　One day I found myself in the same situation. The Clerk was obviously a career woman, confident and possessed of a high sounding title. “What is your occupation?” she asked.
　　The words simply popped out. “I’m a Research Associate (研究员) in the field of Child Development and Human Relations.”
　　The clerk paused, ballpoint pen frozen in midair.
　　I repeated the title slowly, then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement (声明) was written in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.
　　“Might I ask,” said the clerk with interest, “just what you do in your field?”
　　Coolly, without any trace of panic in my voice, I heard myself reply, “I have a continuing program of research (what mother doesn’t), in the laboratory and in the field (normally I would have said indoors and out). Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities (any mother care to disagree?), and I often work 14 hours a day (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money.”
　　There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk’s voice as she completed the form, stood up, and showed me out.
　　As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up (激励) by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants – ages 13, 7, and 3.
　　Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model (a 6-month-old baby), in the child-development program, testing out a new vocal pattern.
　　I felt proud! I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable (不可缺少的) to mankind than “just another mother.”
　　Motherhood... What a glorious career! Especially when there’s a title on the door.
【小题1】 How did the female clerk feel at first when the writer told her occupation?

A．Cold-hearted.	B．Open-minded.
C．Puzzled.	D．Interested.

【小题2】 How many children does the writer have?

A．3

B．4

C．7

D．13

【小题3】Why did the woman clerk show more respect to the writer?

A．Because she thought the writer did admirable work.

B．Because the writer cared little about rewards.

C．Because the writer did something that she had little knowledge of.

D．Because she admired the writer's research work.

【小题4】 What is the point of the article?

A．To show that how you describe your job affects your feelings toward it.

B．To show that the writer had a grander job than Emily.

C．To argue that motherhood is a worthy career.

D．To show that being a mother is hard and boring work.