When I look back at my decision to be a working mom, I realize that I didn’t think I had any other choice. Hubby and I had been a two-income family 36 the time we were married. It didn’t occur to me that we would be anything else though it’s hardly news that the choice has its 37 .
Hubby traveled a lot when our kids were young, and I often was a weekday single mom. I had an understanding boss,who allowed me to work a(n) 38 schedule for about 12 years. My 32-hour work week provided the chance to 39 in my kids’ kindergarten classrooms.
The woman who cared for the kids in our 40 was truly a gift from God. Nan and I 41 values and parenting styles.
Never underestimate (低估) the value of 42 . When Dad was away, the kids knew the drill. Though sports activities and piano lessons 43 interrupted our schedules, generally we got up, fed and out without much commotion (混乱) and back in, fed and 44 with a little time left over for a game or a favorite TV show. Mom got a few minutes of 45 before crashing herself (睡觉).
Looking back on the past, I realize we could have made other 46 . We could have been vegetable gardeners. Lots of families 47 on one income. But I think we would have lost something just as important as my 48 .
My work at the News Sentinel has been 49 and exciting. I’ve worked with people I never would have met had I been at home. I’ve spent my career 50 sentences and stories and learning and passing along information about our community. My coworkers are my Tennessee family.
My work has been 51 to me in important ways, and I think it has made me a more interesting and satisfied 52 and parent. And our family has learned to 53 the time we do have together.
54 , if I had to do it over again, I wouldn’t change my decision to be a working mom. And I wouldn’t change a single thing about the kids who 55 it.
36. A. from B. before C. at D. by
37. A. benefits B. challenges C. shortcomings D. privileges
38. A. extended B. packed C. reduced D. regulated
39. A. interfere B. volunteer C. study D. compete
40. A. separation B. conflict C. adjustment D. absence
41. A. influenced B. suspected C. shared D. ignored
42. A. routine B. independence C. cooperation D. schedule
43. A. systematically B. effectively C. occasionally D. adequately
44. A. entertained B. bathed C. exercised D. worked
45. A. peace B. excitement C. panic D. silence
46. A. mistakes B. fortunes C. achievements D. choices
47. A. fail B. manage C. squeeze D. part
48. A. income B. children C. passion D. life
49. A. fun B. tiring C. dull D. demanding
50. A. reading B. shaping C. reciting D. digesting
51. A. original B. optional C. meaningful D. stressful
52. A. employer B. breadwinner C. partner D. learner
53. A. kill B. value C. spend D. save
54. A. Therefore B. Meanwhile C. However D. Otherwise
55. A. pushed for B. centered around C. catered to D.lived through
36—40 ABCBD 41—45CACBA 46—50DBAAB 51—55 CCBAD
Sometimes I really doubt whether there is love between my parents. Every day they are very busy trying to 26 in order to pay the high tuition for my brother and me. They don’t act in the 27 ways that I read in books or I see on TV. In their opinion, “I love you” is too 28 for them to say. Sending flowers to each other on Valentine’s Day is even more out of 29 .
One day, my mother was sewing a quilt. I sat down beside her. “Mom, I have a question to ask you. Is there 30 between you and Dad?” I asked her in a very low voice. She didn’t answer immediately. She 31 her head and continued to sew the quilt.
I was very worried because I thought I had 32 her. I was 33 and I didn’t know what I should do. But at last I heard my mother say the following words:
“Susan,” she said thoughtfully, “Look at this thread.Sometimes it 34 , but most of it disappears in the quilt. The thread really makes the quilt 35 . If life is a quilt, then love should be a thread.It can hardly be seen 36 , but it’s really there. Love is 37 .”
I listened carefully but I 38 her until the next spring. At that time, my father suddenly 39 seriously. My mother had to stay with him in the hospital for a month. When they returned from the hospital, they both looked 40 . It seemed both of them had had a serious illness. After they were back, every day in the morning and dusk, my mother helped my father 41 on the country road.
“Dad, how are you feeling now?” I asked him one day.
“Susan, don’t 42 me.” he said gently. “To tell you the truth, I just like walking with your mom.” 43 his eyes, I know he loves my mother deeply.
Once I thought love meant flowers, gifts and 44 . But from this experience, I understand that love is just 45 in the quilt of our life. Love is inside, making life strong and warm.
26. A. keep fit | B. rise early | C. earn money | D. collect money |
27. A. magic | B. romantic | C. fantastic | D. attractive |
28. A. simple | B. easy | C. relaxing | D. luxurious(奢侈) |
29. A. the question | B. question | C. reach | D. control |
30. A. feeling | B. love | C. quarrel | D. smile |
31. A. raised | B. shook | C. lifted | D. bowed |
32. A. hurt | B. injured | C. wounded | D. harmed |
33. A. in great surprise | B. in a great embarrassment | ||
C. with delight | D. in great astonishment | ||
34. A. happens | B. comes about | C. appears | D. occurs |
35. A. warm and soft | B. hot and hard | ||
C. thin and cool | D. strong and durable (耐用的) | ||
36. A. somewhere and sometime | B. anywhere or anytime | ||
C. more or less | D. everyhere and everywhere | ||
37. A. inside | B. outside | C. faraway | D. nearby |
38. A. could believe | B. couldn’t understand | ||
C. wouldn’t recognize | D. might know | ||
39. A. got sick | B. got stuck | C. threw up | D. became disabled |
40. A. quite healthy | B. very pale | C. fairly red | D. much surprised |
41. A. jump high | B. go hurriedly | C. run fast | D. walk slowly |
42. A. think about | B. talk with | C. worry about | D. laugh at |
43. A. Reading | B. Listening | C. Speaking | D. Writing |
44. A. fresh roses | B. gold ring | C. sweet kisses | D. beautiful jewelry |
45. A. a thread | B. a needle | C. the cloth | D. the cotton |