Deep Love Between Mom and Children

劉桂珍

As the fifth of seven children， I went to the same public school as my three elder sisters and brother. Every year， each child from the third grade took part in an old school tradition—the plant sale held in early May， just before Mother's Day.

That year I was old enough to take part in it. I wanted to surprise my mother， but I didn't have any money. I told my elder sister about it and she gave me some money. When I arrived at the plant sale， I carefully chose my favorite. I watched each plant seriously to make sure that I could find the best geranium （天竺葵）. After school， with the help of my sister， I hid it on the neighbor's porch （走廊）. On Mother's Day， I remember how bright my mother's eyes were and how elated she was at my gift.

The year I was fifteen， my younger sister reached the third grade. She told me that she wanted to surprise our mother. Like my elder sister did for me， I gave her some money. And she bought the same gift and we hid it in the same place. When she gave the gift to my mother， I watched them full of pride and happiness. My mother noticed me watching and gave me a soft and secret smile. With a shock at my heart， I smiled back.

I wonder how my mother could pretend （假裝） to be surprised at the same gift from her sixth child， but as I watched her eyes， I knew she was not pretending.

根據短文內容，選擇正確答案。

1. The writer first took part in the plant sale ____.

A. in the third grade ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? B. at the age of sixteen

C. in the fifth grade ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? D. at the age of fifteen

2. The underlined word “elated” in the second paragraph probably means ____.

A. angry ? ? B. upset ? ? C. excited ? ? ? D. relaxed

3. The sixth child bought ____ for her mother.

A. the prettiest rose ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? B. the best geranium

C. the biggest grape ? ? ? ? ? ? ? D. the freshest strawberry

4. From the third paragraph， we can know the mother ____ when she got the same gift.

A. refused to accept it ? ? ? ? ? ? B. pretended to be happy

C. felt proud and happy ? ? ? ? ? D. hid it on the neighbor's porch