When I was ten, my sisters and I were amazed at our neighbor’s Christmas tree. We returned home from their house and decided that we must have one of our own. In our house we never had enough money for a Christmas tree.
In fact, we insisted so much that my father had no choice but to agree. “Yes!” he finally said.“This year we will have a Christmas tree.” Our mouths dropped open at the thought of having our own tree. Then Dad said,“I’ll do it myself.”
We followed him around the house as he gathered up the materials he would need, We all sat close to him, carefully watching everything he did. He passed the thread around the first nail on the corner of a box, then back down to the second nail on the box, and up again to the nail, until right there before our eyes a green Christmas tree began to take shape. He carefully did the same with all of the 50 nails in the box and when he had finished, he said,“Now you can decorate it.”
I don’t remember where the decorations came from, but they were red and small and to us they just looked so beautiful and perfect for our tree. When we finished decorating it, we proudly invited all our friends over to see our Christmas tree. We were so happy, not only because it looked so pretty, but because my father had made it himself. It truly was the most beautiful Christmas tree we had ever seen.
Years later, things got better and Dad was able to buy a proper Christmas tree which we would happily decorate. However, my sisters and I will never forget the night when we got our first Christmas tree.
【小题1】What do we know about the writer?

Parents are the closest people to you in the world．They love you just because you are you．And they would do anything for you．

    Like a lot of middle school students，ZhuangShuxia has a problem．She and her parents don’t get on well．

    “I really want to be my Daddy’s little girl．But it feels like he just doesn’t understand．He talks at me and doesn’t listen，”said Zhuang，a Junior 3 student

    Do you and your parents also have problems?

    Well, why don’t you all take a walk and have a talk on Saturday? It’s the International(国际的) Day of Families．On May l5，people around the world give thanks for good things about their families and work on family problems．

    A study last year showed that l,500 Beijing families had the same problem as Zhuang’s family：The children，12 to 15 years old，didn’t like talking with their parents much．They weren’t happy at home．

    Of course，lots of kids feel that way．But you and your parents will be much happier if you can be friends．Here are some ways to have a good talk with them：

    Find a good time to talk，like when you’re eating dinner, going out for a walk or watching TV．

   Tell them something you’re interested in，or ask them about their lives when they were young．They love to talk about it．

   Listen to them carefully，and look them in the eye．

   Be honest(诚实的)．Your parents will trust(信任)you more．And a trusting family is a happy family．

1. Who are the closest people to us according to the writer of this passage?

A. The people who love us.          

B. The people who understand us.

C. Our father and mother.          

D. All the family members.

2. What is Zhuang Shuxia's problem?

     A. Her father thinks she is old enough.

     B. Her father doesn't like to talk with her.

     C. She really wants to be a little girl again.

     D. She and her father don't understand each other well.

3. What does the writer suggest (建议) the students do on the International Day of Families?

     A. They should remember the special day for the families in the world.

     B. They should take a walk and have a talk with their parents.

     C. They should do something to celebrate the International Day of Families.

     D. They should help others to solve their family problems.

4. How does the writer know 1,500 families had the same problem as Zhuang's family?

     A. From a study made in Beijing.

     B. From reports about family problems.

     C. From discussions with parents and their children.

     D. From a report on the International Day of Families.

5. In this passage the writer tells the children,12 to 15 years old,           

     A. how to show their thanks to their parents

     B. how to make friends with their parents

     C. how to feel happier at home in different ways

     D. how to win their parents' trust by listening to their parents