A
Two things changed my life: my mother and a white, plastic, daisy bike basket. I have thought long and hard about it and it’s true. I would be a different person if my mom hadn’t turned a silly bicycle accessory (配件) into a life lesson I carry with me today.
It was summer and, one day, my mother drove me to the bike shop to get a tire fixed — and there it was in the window. White, shiny, plastic and decorated with daisies, the basket seemed so appealing and I knew I had to have it.
“Mom, please can I please, please get it? I’ll do extra chores for as long as you say. I’ll do anything, but I need that basket. Please, Mom. Please?”
“You know,” she said, gently rubbing my back while we both stared at what I believed was the coolest thing ever, “If you save up, you could buy this yourself.”
“By the time I make enough it’ll be gone!’
“Maybe Roger here could hold it for you,” She smiled at Roger, the bike guy.
“For that long? He can’t hold it for that long, Mom. Someone else will buy it. Please, Mom, please?”
“There might be another choice,” she said. My mother bought the beautiful basket and put it safely out of reach in some hiding place I couldn’t find. Each week I eagerly counted my growing nest egg earned by extra work here and there (washing the car, helping my mother make dinner, delivering milk around the neighborhood). And then, weeks later maybe, I counted, re-counted and jumped for joy. Oh, happy day! I made it! I finally had the exact amount we’d agreed upon.
Days later, the unthinkable happened. A neighborhood girl I’d played with millions of times appeared with the exact same basket fixed to her shiny, new bike that already had all the bells and whistles. I rode my bike fast home to tell my mother about this disaster, this horrible turn of events.
And then came the lesson I’ve taken with me through my life: “Honey, your basket is extra-special,” Mom said, gently wiping away my hot tears. “Your basket is special because you paid for it yourself.”
21. In Paragraph 1, the writer shows a sense of _________.
A. loneliness B. gratitude C. brightness D. regret
22
The writer finally got the basket she desired by _________.
A. waiting and sharing B. crying and begging
C. working and saving D. borrowing and returning
23. What lesson did the mother want to teach her children?
A. The fruit of one’s labor tastes sweeter. B. After rain comes fair weather.
C. Hard work leads to success. D. Tolerance and patience bring happiness.
【答案】21. B 22. C 23. A
【解析】
本文为一篇记叙文。作者回忆自己母亲对孩子不同寻常的教育方法。通过一个自行车篮子的事情，母亲教会作者什么事情都要自力更生，通过自己的努力得到的东西才是珍贵的。
【21题详解】
推理判断题。根据第一段Two things changed my life .I would be a different person if my mom hadn’t turned a silly bicycle accessory (配件) into a life lesson I carry with me today.可知，有两件事改变了我的一生，要不是妈妈把一个傻傻的自行车配件变成了我今天随身携带的人生教训，我的人生将会完全不同。由此判断出，作者表现出一种感激之情。故选B项。
【22题详解】
细节理解题。根据倒数第三段Each week I eagerly counted my growing nest egg earned by extra work here and there (washing the car, helping my mother make dinner, delivering milk around the neighborhood). And then, weeks later maybe, I counted, re-counted and jumped for joy. Oh, happy day! I made it! I finally had the exact amount we’d agreed upon.可知，每周，我都急切地数着我不断增长的储蓄，这些储蓄是通过在这里和那里的额外工作（洗车、帮妈妈做饭、在附近送牛奶）获得的。然后，几个星期后，也许，我数了数，重新数了数，高兴得跳了起来。哦，快乐的一天！我成功了！我终于得到了我们商定的确切数额。由此可知，作者终于通过工作和攒钱得到了她想要的篮子。故选C项。
【23题详解】
推理判断题。根据最后一段Your basket is special because you paid for it yourself.可知，你的篮子很特别，因为是你自己付的钱买的。结合短文的主要内容，通过一个自行车篮子的事情，母亲教会作者什么事情都要自力更生，通过自己的努力得到的东西才是珍贵的。由此判断出，这位母亲想告诉孩子劳动的果实尝起来更甜。故选A项。
