2 . People in the United States honour their parents with two special days：Mother’s Day, on the second Sunday in May, and Father’s Day, on the third Sunday in June. These days are set aside to show love and respect for parents. They raise their children and educate them to be responsible citizens. They give love and care to their children. These two days offer an opportunity to think about the changing roles of mothers and fathers. More mothers now work outside the home. More fathers must help with childcare.
These two special days are celebrated in many different ways. On Mother’s Day people wear carnations (康乃馨). A red one symbolizes (象征) a living mother. A white one shows that the mother is dead. Many people attend religious services to honour their parents. It is also a day when people whose parents are dead visit the cemetery(公墓). On these days families get together at home, as well as in restaurants. They often have outdoor barbecues(烤肉) for Father’s Day. These are days of fun and good feelings and memories.
Another tradition is to give cards and gifts. Children make them in school. Many people make their own presents. These are valued more than the ones bought in stores. It is not the value of the gift that is important, but it is “the thought that counts”. Greeting card stores, florists(花匠), candy makers, bakeries, telephone companies, and other stores do a lot of business during these holidays.
1. Which is NOT a reason for children to show love and respect for their parents?
| A．Their parents bring them up. |
| B．Their parents give love and care to them. |
| C．Their parents educate them to be good persons. |
| D．Their parents passed away before they grew up. |
2. What do you learn from the passage?
| A．Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are both in May. |
| B．Fewer women worked outside the home in the past. |
| C．Not all the children respect their parents. |
| D．Fathers are not as important as mothers at home. |
3. On Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, ________.
| A．people usually have family parties |
| B．everyone goes to visit the cemetery |
| C．children always go to their parents’ home |
| D．handmade cards are the most valuable gifts |
