For years I wanted a garden. I’d spend hours thinking of different things I could plant that would look nice together.
But then we had Matthew, and Marvin, and the twins Alisa and Alan, and then Helen. I was too busy raising them to grow a garden.
Money was not enough. Neither was time. Often when my children were little,one of them would want something that cost too much, and I’d have to say, “Do you see a money tree outside? Money doesn't grow on trees, you know.”
Finally, all the children got through high school and college and were off on their own. I started thinking again about a garden.
Then, one spring morning, on Mother’s Day, I was working in my kitchen. Suddenly, I looked out of the window and there was a new tree, planted right in my yard. There were things blowing around on it. Then I put my glasses on—and I couldn’t believe what I saw.
There was a money tree in my yard!
I went outside to look. It was true! There were dollar bills*, one hundred of them, hanging all over that tree. There was also a note among them, “Thank you for your time, Mom. We love you!”
Later, my children bought me tools, ornaments, a sunflower stepping stone and gardening books. A new page started in my life.
That was three years ago. My garden’s now very pretty, just like I wanted. When I go out and take care of my flowers, I don’t seem to miss my children as much as I once did. It feels like they’re right there with me. Now every year when winter comes, I look out of my window and think of the flowers I’ll see next spring in my little garden. I think about what my children did for me, and I get tears in my eyes—every time.
I’m still not sure that money grows on trees. But I know love does!
【小题1】How many children did the writer have?

"I didn’t hear them call my name," explained Shelley Hennig to Active Teens (AT) as she talked about that exciting moment on national television when she won the honor of Miss Teen USA 2004. "Are you ready?" is what she heard. Then she said, "I shook my head no, and then they said ‘yes’ and it was announced again."
It was four days after that life changing moment for the seventeen-year-old high school student from Destrehan, Louisiana—she was still on cloud nine.
"I was so shocked! I never believed that it could actually really happen." Present in the audience that day were: her mother and father, older brother, her friends, and her dance teacher.
Understanding why members of her family and her friends would be there, AT asked why her dance teacher had traveled so far to see her compete（比赛）."She’s always been my role model. I’ve danced with her since I was six. She’s been through so many difficulties and came through them all. I’ve learned to get over bad life’s experiences and learned how to move on because of her."
One of those bad life’s experiences for Shelley happened three years ago when her brother Brad was killed in a drunk driving accident. He was 18. She found writing helped her get through the hard days. She said, "I write a lot about my brother. I write a lot, a lot, a lot...”
As Miss Louisiana Teen, she traveled around the state speaking to teens about the dangers of drinking and driving. In her role as Miss Teen USA, Shelley will continue to speak to youth about safe driving, in addition to(除…之外) many other things to help the youth.
When AT asked Miss Teen USA if she had any advice for our readers, she said, "Don’t let anyone change you. Hang out with people that make you feel good about yourself. That way, it is easy to be yourself."
【小题1】What do the words “on cloud nine” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?

Do you often communicate with your parents? Some parents are always comparing their 41 with themselves when they were young or with other people when they were children.
"When I was your age," a father said to his sixteen-year-old son one day, "I was at the top of my class every year. And I 42  what I wanted to do when I left school. I had goals (目标). You are always at the bottom (最后) of your class  43 you have no goals."
The man’s son said nothing. He had already heard this from his father many times. "And when your mother was your age, " the young man’s father 44  , " she had a good job and she 45  lots of money. You don’t even have a part-time job .You earn nothing. " The man’s son still said nothing. He had heard this before, too. "And when your 46  brother was your age, "the young man’s father said, "he studied hard. But you just waste your time."
And the man’s son still said nothing.
Finally, the young man’s father said, "And when Abraham Lincoln was your age, he worked all day and studied at night."
This time the son  47  stay silent. "
And when Abraham Lincoln was your age, father," he said, "He was the President of 48  United States. 49  are you?"
His father had no answer 50  this.
Are your parents always comparing you with others? And what’s your reply? Do you have a better way to communicate with each other?

Do you often communicate with your parents? Some parents are always comparing their 41 with themselves when they were young or with other people when they were children.

"When I was your age," a father said to his sixteen-year-old son one day, "I was at the top of my class every year. And I  42  what I wanted to do when I left school. I had goals (目标). You are always at the bottom (最后) of your class  43  you have no goals."

The man's son said nothing. He had already heard this from his father many times. "And when your mother was your age, " the young man's father  44  , " she had a good job and she  45  lots of money. You don't even have a part-time job .You earn nothing. " The man's son still said nothing. He had heard this before, too. "And when your  46  brother was your age, "the young man's father said, "he studied hard. But you just waste your time."

And the man's son still said nothing.

Finally, the young man's father said, "And when Abraham Lincoln was your age, he worked all day and studied at night."

This time the son  47  stay silent. "

And when Abraham Lincoln was your age, father," he said, "He was the President of  48  United States.  49  are you?"

His father had no answer  50  this.

Are your parents always comparing you with others? And what's your reply? Do you have a better way to communicate with each other?

1. A. children              B. students         C. teachers         D. friends

2. A. know              B. knew                 C. will know            D. have known

3.A. although           B. or               C. and              D. but

4.A. went away          B. went over            C. went up          D. went on

5.A. won                B. made                 C. received             D. gave

6.A. old                B. young            C. older                D. elder

7.A. can                B. can't                C. could                D. couldn't

8.A. a                  B. an               C. the              D./

9.A. What               B. How              C. Where            D. Who

10.A. to                    B. with                 C. of               D. on