1 . When I was nine years old. I pulled out my grandmother’s dress over my young frame, admiring myself in the mirror. I had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up. Later in senior high school, I began to dream of being an adult to explore a big world and make adventures. However, I knew adulthood for me was still distant because I supported myself mainly with the money from my family.

Fresh out of college, I was working as a middle school teacher. I was in charge of young people and heavy with that responsibility. I arrived at school early and stayed late, preparing lessons and chatting with students. I was an official adult. I paid my rent and taxes. But I still felt as if I were playing a role. I was the adult authority figure who secretly didn’t feel grown-up in a room full of children. But I wasn’t worried; I was convinced that it would happen soon.

To me, an adult is someone who is mature and trustworthy—a contributing member of the society. We strive to become adults while there is also someone who spends life constantly partying and avoiding responsibility. A grown-up, however, is a state of mind. Our body gets older but something inside us doesn’t feel as if it is progressing as quickly.

In the following ten years, I followed the routines of adulthood: getting married, giving birth and working. My 6-year-old daughter and I often held hands, running breathlessly and laughing wildly. I tried to avoid eye contact with the nearby people who glared at us. I suspect they would prefer adults who would never slide down a giant hill of sand.

I turned 57 recently and it occurred to me that maybe I had it all wrong; I should stop waiting to feel grown-up. What if we embraced (拥抱) the child-like part of ourselves to enjoy it, guilt free? If we’re responsible adults and do all the adult things in a way that works, why should it matter if we don’t feel grown-up deep inside? Non-grown-ups don’t necessarily play games, but it isn’t fun embracing the playful side of life? Why can’t we feel 57 and 15 years old at the same time?

1. How did the author feel about adulthood when she was a teenager?

A．She was unwilling to make adventures if she became an adult.

B．She showed no interest in thinking about it.

C．She was expectant and hopeful about it.

D．She had unknown fears for it.

2. What did the author believe would happen to her before long according paragraph 2?

A．Being respected by her children.

B．Becoming a capable teacher.

C．Living on her own.

D．Being a real adult.

3. What does the author mainly talk about in the third paragraph?

A．What an adult means in her opinion.

B．What an adult’s state of mind can be.

C．Why some people spend life avoiding responsibility.

D．Why it doesn’t progress so quickly to become a grown-up.

4. What advice does the author give to us through her story?

A．Be true to your inner self.

B．It’s never too late to learn.

C．Life is a bittersweet journey.

D．Nice souls are a masterpiece of time.