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2 . I woke to the sound of birds outside my window and lay in bed, going over the busy day ahead of me. Finally, I got up and attempted to switch on the light — nothing happened. I checked my phone. No Wi-Fi, no data. With our unstable cell service, there was no way of knowing if we had received alerts fbr a power failure. I grabbed a sweater, went downstairs, found a flashlight and a match to light the gas stove, and then boiled water to brew coffee. Outside the window, the falling snow obscured (遮蔽) the sunrise. Deep piles of snow covered the road.
My work meetings and deadlines, my sons’ classes and tests, my husband’s plans — everything would have to wait. Why does this happen today of all days?“ I asked. Thankfully, the wood stove was still going strong. I took a deep breath. I supposed we had everything we needed.
The house was quiet as I sipped my coffee and cuddled (搂抱) our dog. One by one, my husband and sons came downstairs and complained about the turn the day had taken.
I opened the curtains to let light in. We gathered around the table and had cereal. After breakfast, my husband played a game of solitaire. Then my sons joined him in building a house of cards that reached three levels until our cat jumped up to investigate and knocked it down. We played a round of Scrabble and had my favorite snow day lunch: grilled cheese and tomato soup.
Then we took a long walk in the woods behind our house, walking along the stream. We spotted deer tracks and played in the snow that was coming down in big fluffy flakes. When we returned, all the clocks in the house were blinking. I started to make dinner, happy to have things back to normal — even better than normal.
It was a day that began without electricity, cut off from the rest of the world, and ended with hot chocolate and power restored. We were recharged by the unexpected gift of a day together.
1. What did the author find when she woke up?| A．Heavy snow trapped the family in the house. |
| B．The electricity supply had been cut off. |
| C．It was still early for breakfast. |
| D．Her phone wouldn’t be turned on. |
| A．Their arrangements were upset. |
| B．They had to serve themselves with simple meals. |
| C．The family encountered a shortage of supplies. |
| D．Everyone was angry about this unexpected event. |
| A．To pave the way for her insight. |
| B．To present the daily life of the family. |
| C．To show the close family relationship. |
| D．To create a lighthearted atmosphere. |
| A．It was a temporary disaster. |
| B．It was a day full of exciting adventures. |
| C．It was a lovely day of family togetherness. |
| D．It was a rare moment of leisure and freedom. |
3 . A Georgia mom is winning praise for the way she’s teaching her children, aged 13,10 and 6, about money.
Shaketha MeGregor, a single mother in Dublin, Georgia, knew she needed a solution after frequent requests from her three kids for things like new toys and money to do things with their friends.
She came up with the unique idea to host a “job fair(就业展览会)”for her three children, Jahkeem, in seventh grade, Takeia, in fifth grade, and Serinity, in first grade. The three positions at the job fair were the kitchen manager, lead housekeeper and laundry supervisor(洗衣房主管).Children had to earn their pocket money by doing a job.
Jahkeem, Takeia and Serinity each picked the job they wanted to apply for, filled out the application and had interviews with their employer-their mom.
“My oldest and my youngest both applied for the lead housekeeper,” McGregor said.“ As to my 6-year-old daughter Serinity, I was more impressed with her application and her interview than my 13-year-old son Jahkeem.”
”I want them to be familiar with the process when they are older,“ she said. ”Whether they’re applying to a school or for a new job. they can look back and say, “I did this with Mom years ago.” As a parent you want to protect your children as much as possible, but you know that eventually they’ll have to experience it on their own and a child’s greatest lesson in life is going through the process.
MeGregor’s post on Facebook where she shared her job fair idea now has more than 200,000 likes. She said she hoped it inspired other parents to think outside of the box and let their kids’ voices be heard.“ What I’m realizing is that kids just want to be part of something. The first-hand experience is the best way to educate children,” McGregor said.
1. What do you know about McGregor’s solution?| A．It is creative. | B．It’s uninteresting |
| C．It is strange. | D．It’s traditional. |
| A．By doing housework. | B．By behaving well. |
| C．By getting good marks. | D．By listening to McGregor. |
| A．Serinity was awarded a new toy. |
| B．Serinity got the position as a kitchen manager. |
| C．Takeia became the lead housekeeper at the fair. |
| D．Jahkeen didn’t get the job he had applied for. |
| A．Children should always listen to their parents views. |
| B．Parents should pay their children for anything. |
| C．MeGregor’s post is well received online. |
| D．MeGregor’s idea is suitable for all families. |
4 . “Mommy, will you play this with me?” My two-year-old daughter sat next to a mountain of laundry baskets. She held a toy in her hand. I looked at her, and then I stared down a pile of dirty clothes - enough, already. I thought of some popular phrases among moms I had read countless times on the Internet. “Days are long but the years fly by.” “A messy house is a happy house.” “Hard work pays off.” I become energetic every time the phrases pass through my mind.
Sometimes, the laundry just needed to get done. I stared straight into my daughter’s pleading eyes.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart, but I cannot play right now. Mom is really busy.” Suddenly, an idea passed through my brain. I must do the housework! And that would not make me a bad mom!
Quite the opposite, I thought.
It’s okay to clean, to cook, or to spend a morning paying bills, making phone calls and folding towels. That’s what grown-ups do. And how else will our kids learn unless we demonstrate? Recently, I read an article about a local family. It was a diary of their typical week, written by the father of six children. Each day consisted of cooking and family devotions. The grandkids ran in the barn while the older children milked cows, and everyone helped make pies for the family bakery business. They were all faithfully devoted to one another as they worked side by side from dawn to dusk.
Could it be that the real call on a family is not for the parents to serve the children, but for everyone to serve each other for a greater purpose? Sometimes we work, and sometimes we play. Strong families are built with both.
“Sweetie, I have a great idea.” I set my daughter’s game on the table and held her hands. “You can help me put these clothes in the wash. Doesn’t that sound fun?” Her face lit up. “Can I push the buttons, too?” “Absolutely, you are a good button pusher.” “Yeah,” she said as if I had just asked her to play.
1. According to the writer, the popular phrases.| A．persuade the moms to enjoy their lives. |
| B．encourage and comfort the exhausted moms. |
| C．tell the moms the real meaning of life. |
| D．make the moms become more knowledgeable. |
| A．Interest should be developed at a young age. |
| B．It is really hard to take good care of children. |
| C．Children should be taught to contribute to families. |
| D．Parents are responsible for keeping family in harmony. |
| A．Worried and scared. |
| B．Thankful and touched. |
| C．Excited and interested. |
| D．Disappointed and upset. |
| A．Enjoying a messy house. |
| B．Playing toys with my kid. |
| C．Making dreams come true. |
| D．Doing the laundry together. |
