“I’ve been writing a book, John. Do you think anyone would be interested in   1   it?” said the old lady.
John took over the papers from her shaking hand and seated her in chair. He remembered her rich    2   in the early days of the Old West. He looked through the papers. “It’s good, Grandma,” he said gently. Then realizing that she    3   hear him, he shouted into her ears, “I think it’s very good. I’ll  4   it to a publisher (出版商).”
Ten days later, he reported that the publisher had had time to read only a few    5  . But he was so impressed (给...留下深刻的好印象) that he had sent $ 100 for an option（版权）. More money would be given as an advance (预付款). Every month John    6   $100 for her with a letter from the publisher telling about the progress of the book.
One morning, three months after her 100^th birthday, Grandma didn’t get up. The doctor told her that she couldn’t    7   more than a few days. She was ready to go, but she first wanted her book to be in print. John promised that she could get it very soon.
Grandma held on until the day the book came into her hands with the title and her name on the cover. Though she couldn’t see it, she could touch it. She proudly traced（找到）her name with her fingers(手指), tears(眼泪) in her eyes. Two hours later, she died peacefully,    8   holding her book.
Her granddaughter took up the book and opened it. “Why, it’s just blank pages!” she cried in    9  . John’s face turned    10  . Then the girl understood. There never was a book. Grandma couldn’t hear the little bell when the typewriter came to the middle of the line. She would keep on working, not knowing the whole sentences and sometimes the paragraphs were missing. John did not tell her, for he couldn’t take away her only hope. It was John himself who had written the letters and sold his car to pay the advance.
(   ) 1. A. buying     B. publishing      C. reading         D. lending
(   ) 2. A. sufferings     B. experiences     C. thoughts        D. family
(   ) 3. A. couldn’t    B. needn’t          C. mustn’t             D. doesn’t
(   ) 4. A. throw      B. put             C. send            D. lift
(   ) 5. A. words      B. sentences         C. pages            D. books
(   ) 6. A. brought        B. took              C. gave             D. carried
(   ) 7. A. die            B. stay             C. last               D. sleep
(   ) 8. A. still           B. yet              C. always         D. then
(   ) 9. A. anger          B. joy             C. surprise        D. tears
(   ) 10. A. white         B. red             C. gray             D. pale

I had the meanest mother in the whole world. While other kids ate candy for breakfast, I had to have porridge, eggs or toast. When others had Cokes and candy for lunch, I had to eat a sandwich. But at least I wasn’t alone when I was sad. My sister and two brothers had the same mean(刻薄的) mother as I did.?

My mother preferred to know where we were all the time. She had to know who our friends were and where we were going. We had to clean clothes and take a bath every day. The other kids got to wear the same clothes for days. We could not lie in bed “sick” in order to miss school.?

The worst is yet to come. We had to be in bed by nine each night and get up at eight the next morning. We couldn’t sleep till noon like our friends. So while they slept, my mother was brave to break the Child Labour Law. She made us work. We had to wash dishes, make beds, and learn to cook and all sorts of things at home. I believe she lay awake thinking up all things for us to do. ?

My mother was a complete failure as a mother. Two of her children received higher education. None of us have ever been arrested(taken away by the police) or divorced. She forced us to grow up into educated and honest adults. I am trying to raise my three children this way. I am filled with pride when my children call me “mean”. Why? Because now I thank God every day for giving me the meanest mother in the world.?

1. How many children does the writer’s mother have??

2. What can you infer(推测) from the passage??

3.The best title for this passage may be     . ?

“I’ve been writing a book, John. Do you think anyone would be interested in   1   it?” said the old lady.

John took over the papers from her shaking hand and seated her in chair. He remembered her rich    2   in the early days of the Old West. He looked through the papers. “It’s good, Grandma,” he said gently. Then realizing that she    3   hear him, he shouted into her ears, “I think it’s very good. I’ll  4   it to a publisher (出版商).”

Ten days later, he reported that the publisher had had time to read only a few    5  . But he was so impressed (给...留下深刻的好印象) that he had sent $ 100 for an option（版权）. More money would be given as an advance (预付款). Every month John    6   $100 for her with a letter from the publisher telling about the progress of the book.

One morning, three months after her 100^th birthday, Grandma didn’t get up. The doctor told her that she couldn’t    7   more than a few days. She was ready to go, but she first wanted her book to be in print. John promised that she could get it very soon.

Grandma held on until the day the book came into her hands with the title and her name on the cover. Though she couldn’t see it, she could touch it. She proudly traced（找到）her name with her fingers(手指), tears(眼泪) in her eyes. Two hours later, she died peacefully,    8   holding her book.

Her granddaughter took up the book and opened it. “Why, it’s just blank pages!” she cried in    9  . John’s face turned    10  . Then the girl understood. There never was a book. Grandma couldn’t hear the little bell when the typewriter came to the middle of the line. She would keep on working, not knowing the whole sentences and sometimes the paragraphs were missing. John did not tell her, for he couldn’t take away her only hope. It was John himself who had written the letters and sold his car to pay the advance.

(   ) 1. A. buying     B. publishing      C. reading         D. lending

(   ) 2. A. sufferings     B. experiences     C. thoughts        D. family

(   ) 3. A. couldn’t    B. needn’t          C. mustn’t             D. doesn’t

(   ) 4. A. throw      B. put             C. send            D. lift

(   ) 5. A. words      B. sentences         C. pages            D. books

(   ) 6. A. brought        B. took              C. gave             D. carried

(   ) 7. A. die            B. stay             C. last               D. sleep

(   ) 8. A. still           B. yet              C. always         D. then

(   ) 9. A. anger          B. joy             C. surprise        D. tears

(   ) 10. A. white         B. red             C. gray             D. pale