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      Even before my father left us, my mother had to go back to work to support our family. Once I came out

of the kitchen, complaining, "Mom, I can't peel (削皮) potatoes. I have only one hand." Mom never looked up

from sewing. "You get yourself into that kitchen and peel those potatoes," she told me, "And don't ever use that

as an excuse for anything again!"

      In the second grade, our teacher lined up my class on the playground and had each of us race across the

monkey bars (攀登架), swinging from one high steel rod to the next. When it was my turn, I shook my head.

Some kids behind me laughed, and I went home crying.

      That night I told Mom about it. She hugged me, and I saw her "we'll see about that" look. The next

afternoon, she took me back to school. At the deserted playground, Mom looked carefully at the bars. 

      "Now, pull up with your right arm," she advised. She stood by as I struggled to lift myself with my right

hand until I could hook the bar with my other elbow. Day after day we practiced and she praised me for every

rung (横档) I reached. I'll never forget the next time, crossing the rungs. I looked down at the kids who were

standing with their mouths open. 

      One night, after a dance at my new junior high, I lay in bed sobbing. I could hear Mom come into my

room. "Mom," I said, weeping,"None of the boys would dance with me." 

      For a long time, I didn't hear anything. Then she said, "Oh, honey, someday you'll be beating those boys

off with a bat." Her voice was faint and cracking. I peeked out from my covers to see tears running down

her cheeks. Then I knew how much she suffered from my disability. She had never let me see her tears.

1. Which of the following expressions can be used most suitably to describe Mom's attitude when she made 

    the child peel potatoes? [ ]

A. Cruel.

B. Rude.

C. Strict.

D. Cold.

2. From the passage, we know monkey bars can help a child train _____. [ ]

A. the skill to throw and catch things

B. the speed of one's hand movement

C. the strength and skill to hang and sway

D. the bodily skill to rotate round a bar.

3. What does the underlined sentence "I saw her 'we'll see about that' look." imply? [ ]

A. Mom believed every aim could be achieved if you stuck to it.

B. The race across monkey bars was not difficult enough for a child to give up.

C. Mom was determined to prove she herself was better than the teacher.

D. What the child had said brought Mom great attraction and curiosity.

4. When the author looked down at the kids, they were standing with their mouths open because _____. [ ]

A. they felt sorry for what they had done before

B. they were afraid the author might fall off and get hurt

C. they wanted to see what the author would do on the bars

D. they were astonished to find the author's progress