Geraniums (天竺葵) of Love
As the fifth of seven children, I went to the same public school as my three elder sisters and brother.Every year, my mother went to the same ceremony and had parentchild interviews (親子交流會) with the same teachers.The only thing different was the child.And every child __1__ an old Geraniums school tradition — the annual plant sale (拍賣會) held in early May, just in time for __2__ Day.
Third grade was the first time that I was allowed to take part in the plant sale.I wanted to surprise my mother.__3__, I didn't have any money.I went to my eldest sister and __4__ the secret, and she gave me some money.When I arrived at the plant sale, I carefully made my __5__.I agonized (苦苦思索) over that decision, __6__ each plant to ensure that I had indeed found the best geranium.The moment I had smuggled it home, with the help of my sister, I __7__ it on the upstairs neighbor's porch.I was very afraid my mother would find it before Mother's Day, but my sister assured me that she wouldn't, and __8__ she did not.
When Mother's Day arrived, I was bursting with pride when I gave her that geranium.I remember how bright her eyes were, and how delighted she was with my __9__.
The year I was fifteen, my younger sister reached third grade.In early May, she came to me full of wonder and secrecy and told me that there was going to be a plant sale at school and she wanted to __10__ our mother.Like my __11__ sister did for me, I gave her some money and off she went.She arrived at home full of __12__ excitement, the geranium hidden in a paper bag __13__ her sweater.“I looked at every plant,” she explained, “and I know I got the __14__ one!”
I helped my little __15__ hide that geranium on the upstairs neighbor's porch, assuring that our mother wouldn't find it before Mother's Day.I was there when she gave my mother the geranium, and I watched them both bursting with pride and __16__.It was like being in a dream I had already dreamed.My mother noticed me __17__, and she gave me a soft secret smile.Shocked and puzzled, I __18__ back.I had been wondering how my mother could __19__ to be surprised at this gift from her sixth child.But as I watched her eyes light up with delight as she was __20__ with that most precious gift, I knew she was not pretending.
語篇解讀:本文是一篇記敘文。作者回憶了自己和妹妹在母親節(jié)那天給母親送節(jié)日“驚喜”的故事。
1.A.passed down B.participated in
C.broke with D.carried on
解析:選B 學(xué)校每年舉行一次植物拍賣會,學(xué)校的每個孩子都要參加(participated in)。下文中的“I was allowed to take part in the plant sale”亦是呼應(yīng)。故選B。
2.A.Women's B.Father's
C.Children's D.Mother's
解析:選D 根據(jù)下文中的“before Mother's Day”以及常識可知,母親節(jié)在五月,故選D。
3.A.Besides B.Moreover
C.However D.Therefore
解析:選C 作者想給母親一個驚喜,但她沒有錢,因此上下文之間是轉(zhuǎn)折關(guān)系,故選C。
4.A.shared B.discovered
C.guarded D.unlocked
解析:選A 根據(jù)下文“she gave me some money”可知,姐姐給了作者錢。由此可知,作者應(yīng)該是和姐姐分享了(share)自己要給母親驚喜的秘密。故選A。
5.A.plan B.preparation
C.present D.selection
解析:選D 根據(jù)下文中的“agonized (苦苦思索) over that decision”可知,作者要決定給母親買什么,即“進(jìn)行挑選”(selection)。故選D。
6.A.watering B.growing
C.inspecting D.protecting
解析:選C 作者為了確保找到最好的天竺葵,仔細(xì)查看(inspect)每一株植物。故選C。
7.A.showed B.potted
C.packaged D.hid
解析:選D 上文提到作者想要給母親驚喜,所以她要把天竺葵藏(hide)起來。故選D。
8.A.indeed B.instead
C.properly D.anyhow
解析:選A 作者的姐姐向她保證母親不會發(fā)現(xiàn)這株天竺葵,的確(indeed),母親沒有發(fā)現(xiàn)。故選A。
9.A.performance B.grades
C.gift D.presence
解析:選C 母親節(jié)那天,作者將天竺葵送給母親,母親對于孩子送的禮物(gift)很開心。故選C。
10.A.inspire B.surprise
C.satisfy D.relax
解析:選B 根據(jù)下文的“be surprised at this gift”可知,作者的妹妹向作者借錢,也想要給母親一個驚喜(surprise)。故選B。
11.A.youngest B.eldest
C.cleverest D.bravest
解析:選B 根據(jù)上文中的“I went to my eldest sister”可知,作者原來是向自己的大姐借的錢。故選B。
12.A.nervous B.youthful
C.increasing D.false
解析:選A 根據(jù)下文中的“the geranium hidden in a paper bag”可知,作者的妹妹既為買了禮物高興,又擔(dān)心被母親發(fā)現(xiàn),所以她有點(diǎn)緊張(nervous),故選A。
13.A.on B.beside
C.behind D.under
解析:選D 根據(jù)上文中的“hidden”可知,妹妹應(yīng)該是把袋子藏在毛衣的下面(under),以防被發(fā)現(xiàn)。故選D。
14.A.shortest B.rarest
C.best D.strongest
解析:選C 妹妹看了每一株植物,她認(rèn)為自己找到了最好的(best)。故選C。
15.A.sister B.brother
C.cousin D.friend
解析:選A 根據(jù)“my younger sister”可知,作者幫助自己的妹妹把花藏了起來。故選A。
16.A.confusion B.anxiety
C.delight D.astonishment
解析:選C 收到女兒送的禮物,母親當(dāng)然高興(delight),女兒為自己的行為感到驕傲自豪。下文中的“as I watched her eyes light up with delight”亦是提示。故選C。
17.A.listening B.watching
C.smelling D.tasting
解析:選B 根據(jù)上文的“I watched them”可知,作者看著(watch)發(fā)生的一切。故選B。
18.A.waved B.smiled
C.signed D.called
解析:選B 根據(jù)上文“she gave me a soft secret smile”可知,作者也回以母親微笑(smile)。故選B。
19.A.pretend B.continue
C.appear D.try
解析:選A 根據(jù)下文“I knew she was not pretending”可知,作者懷疑母親在假裝(pretend)驚訝。故選A。
20.A.impressed B.satisfied
C.associated D.presented
解析:選D 根據(jù)上文中的“when she gave my mother the geranium”可知,作者的妹妹送給母親禮物,即母親被贈送(present)禮物。故選D。