題材: 親情 詞數: 238 建議閱讀時間: 5分鐘
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I've loved my mother's desk since I was just tall enough to see above the top of it as Mother sat doing letters.Standing by her chair,looking at the ink bottle,pens,and white paper,I decided that the act of writing must be the most wonderful thing in the world.
Years later,during her final illness,Mother kept different things for my sister and brother.“But the desk,”she'd said again,“is for Elizabeth.”
I never saw her angry,never saw her cry.I knew she loved me;she showed it in action.But as a young girl,I wanted heart-to-heart talks between mother and daughter.
They never happened.And a gulf opened between us.I was“too emotional”.But she lived“on the surface”.
As years passed and I had my own family.I loved my mother and thanked her for our happy family.I wrote to her in careful words and asked her to let me know in any way she chose that she did forgive me.
I posted the letter and waited for her answer.None came.
My hope turned to disappointment,then little interest and,finally,peace—it seemed that nothing happened.I couldn't be sure that the letter had even got to Mother.I only knew that I had written it.
Now the present of her desk told me that she was pleased with my chosen work—writing.I cleaned the desk carefully and found some papers inside—a photo of my father and a one-page letter,folded and refolded many times.
Mother,you always chose the act that speaks louder than words.
生詞
act n. 行為,行動:From his acts he seems to be a fool.從行動看,他似乎是個呆子?!琣ction n. 行動,行為,活動:Actions speak louder than words.(諺語)行動勝于語言。
emotion n. 激動,激情;感情,情緒‖emotional adj. 感情的;易激動的,易動感情的:She always gets very emotional when I leave.每當我要離開的時候,她總是顯得依依不舍。
surface n. 表面;外表,外觀‖on the surface 表面上,外表上:His politeness is only on the surface.他只是表面上客氣。
forgive v. 原諒,寬恕:Forgive me for asking,but where did you get that dress?恕我打擾,這件連衣裙你在哪里買的?‖forgiveness n. 原諒,寬?。篐e asked for forgiveness of his wrong doings.他請求寬恕自己的錯誤行為。
fold v. 折疊,對折;合攏,交疊:fold a letter 把信對折/fold an umbrella 收攏傘‖refold v. 再折疊
1.The writer began to love her mother's desk________.
A.after Mother died
B.before she became a writer
C.when she was a child
D.when Mother gave it to her
2.The passage shows that________.
A.Mother was cold on the surface but kind in her heart to her daughter
B.Mother was too serious about everything her daughter had done
C.Mother cared much about her daughter in words
D.Mother wrote to her daughter in careful words
3.The word“gulf ”in the passage means________.
A.deep understanding between the old and the young
B.different ideas between the mother and the daughter
C.free talks between mother and daughter
D.part of the sea going far in land
4.What did Mother do with her daughter's letter asking for forgiveness?
A.She had never received the letter.
B.For years,she often talked about the letter.
C.She didn't forgive her daughter at all in all her life.
D.She read the letter again and again till she died.
參考譯文
母親寫東西時,我的個子剛好長到可以看見桌上的一切。從那時起,我就愛上了母親的書桌。我站在她的椅子旁,看著墨水瓶、鋼筆和白紙,心想,寫作一定是世界上最美妙的事情。
很多年后,母親得了不治之癥,在她彌留之際,把東西分給了姐姐和哥哥?!暗@張書桌,”她再次說,“是留給伊麗莎白的?!?/p>
我從未見過她生氣,也從未見過她哭泣。我知道她愛我;她的愛顯示在行動中。但作為一名年輕女孩,我想要的是母女之間貼心的交流。
但這種事從未發(fā)生。我們之間產生了裂痕。我過于感情用事,而她則不動聲色。
隨著時間的推移,我有了自己的家庭。我愛母親,也很感謝她帶給我們的幸福的家庭生活。我給她寫信,委婉地求她以她能接受的方式讓我明白,她確實原諒了我。
我把信寄出,等著她的回音。但我沒有收到任何回復。
我的希望變成了失望,我的興趣逐漸降低,最后歸于平靜——就好像一切都沒有發(fā)生。我甚至不敢肯定母親收到了信。我只知道我寫過這么一封。
現在,她把書桌送給我作為禮物,這使我明白,她對我選擇的工作——寫作是滿意的。我小心地清理書桌,發(fā)現里面有個人的書信集,其中就有父親的一張照片和一封只有一頁紙的信,信被反復折疊過很多次。
母親,你總是選擇那勝過言語的行動。
參考答案
Tuesday 1.C 2.A 3.B 4.D