My mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s (老年痴呆症)last summer. Suddenly, it was difficult for me to accept that the roles were now changed—my mother became my child, and I became her mother. I became impatient, argued with her, once I even yelled at her. Gradually, I was used to this kind of life. Now I am able to deal with her and the situation better. I have learned a lot of life lessons from the experience.
My mother reacts very sensitively to my feelings. That is typical of Alzheimer’s patients. When I visit her, feeling busy and tense, she reacts immediately, takes on my mood, and becomes nervous and negative. But when I appear cheerful and attentive, she is happy. This has taught me to pay more attention to my own feelings when I am with other people.
I always thought I was very tolerant, but in reality, my tolerance ran out as soon as someone turned away from what I considered “right”. With my mother I can now really be tolerant. Through her illness she has developed a childlike tactlessness(不得体). Eating out in restaurants, for example, is a bit embarrassing when she shouts at the waiter that the food is so bad or talks about people at the next table in a loud voice. Of course I make sure that my mother doesn’t hurt anyone, but I’ve stopped complaining about others and have become more tolerant.
I have also learned that everything has special value. When my mother got sick I didn’t want to burden my two daughters with it. They are young and have enough going on with their education, and starting their careers. I felt that it was simply my job as my mother’s daughter. The most wonderful discovery I’ve made through my mother’s disease may be that my children not only offer to help me when they sense that I’m feeling unbearable, but that they take care of my mother on their own actively. They visit her often, play cards with her, and look at photo albums together with her. It shows me that it’s all worth it.
1.Which of the following is the best title of the passage?
A. How I Cared for My Sick Mother B. How I Became More Tolerant
C. What I Have Learned from Alzheimer’s D. Why I Am Feeling stressed
2.Which of the following is common behavior of Alzheimer patients?
A. Being curious about everything. B. Being particular about clothes.
C. Being afraid of strange people. D. Being sensitive to others’ moods.
3.We can infer that the writer’s daughters are ________.
A. naughty B. considerate C. traditional D. selfish
It was late one evening. I can’t remember what it was about, but my dad and I had a very big argument when my mom was away. We both said things we didn’t mean, and in the end I said, “I’m leaving.” And he said, “Good. The sooner, the better.”
I threw a few things in a suitcase and closed the door angrily behind me, not knowing where I was going. After walking aimlessly for about 20 minutes, I stopped at a local supermarket. Then my phone rang. It was my mom calling. She said, “Hey, Mary. Where are you? Dad is worried about you.”
“How can he worry about me? I’ve been away for nearly half an hour, but he didn’t call,” I said with annoyance (烦恼). My anger returned and I remembered all the hateful things he’d shouted to me. “Listen, Mom. You can tell Dad that I’m fine. I’ll call you tomorrow,” I said and hung up.
I walked around the store, trying to get my thoughts together. By the time I paid for my purchases, it had been much later than I used to be out alone. When I left the supermarket, a large piece of white paper was in front of me. On the piece of white paper were these words: “Please come home! I miss you and I’m worried about you!”
Then a car pulled up beside me. Hanging out of the window was my dad. Beside him, smiling gently, sat my mom. And that’s when I started laughing. I laughed so hard that I cried. Despite (尽管) my best efforts to run away from home, my father finally managed to track me down. I couldn’t leave now, not with him sitting there with caring eyes.
1.Hearing Mary decided to leave home, Mary’s father was very ________.
A. worried B. nervous C. angry D. surprised
2.After her mother called her, Mary ________.
A. became angrier than before B. gave in to her father
C. cried and calmed down D. agreed to go home
3.What does the underlined word “purchases” in Paragraph 4 mean?
A. Actions Mary regretted. B. Goods Mary bought.
C. Telephone calls Mary made. D. Lessons Mary learned.
4.What probably happened at the end of the story?
A. Mary returned home happily. B. Mary still refused to go home.
C. Mary’s father became angry again. D. Mary’s mother hated her father.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.How did Katherine do her most recent climb?
A. In a group. B. On her own. C. With a guide.
2.What made Katherine’s first climb of Mont Blanc difficult?
A. The poor weather conditions. B. The long climbing time. C. The crowded people.
3.What did Katherine do before her second climb to make it easier?
A. She made a detailed plan. B. She spent a few days in Chamonix.
C. She climbed smaller mountains for training.
4.What special advice does Katherine offer about climbing Mont Blanc?
A. Wear enough clothes. B. Have the right equipment. C. Improve the physical condition.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Where are the speakers?
A. At home. B. At a post office. C. At a supermarket.
2.What did the man do this morning?
A. He did some cleaning. B. He did the cooking. C. He did some shopping.
3.What will the woman do tomorrow?
A. Buy a lot of food. B. Send her car to the garage. C. Pick up the man’s mother.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What does the man think of the journey to the lakeside house?
A. Tiring. B. Enjoyable. C. Uncomfortable.
2.What was the problem for the man?
A. There was no time to think and read.
B. The lakeside house was quite small.
C. The local shop was too far away.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What relation is the woman to the man?
A. His secretary. B. His customer. C. His boss.
2.When will the man call Miss Takemura?
A. At 8:30. B. At 9:30. C. At 10:00.
