阅读理解。
"Mum, what does it mean when someone tells you that they have a skeleton (骨骼) in the closet (衣橱)?" Jessica asked. "A skeleton in the closet?" her mother paused thoughtfully. "Well, it's something that
you would rather not have anyone else know about. For example, if in the past, someone in Dad's family
had been arrested for stealing a horse, it would be 'a skeleton in his family's closet'. He really wouldn't
want any neighbor to know about it. "
"Why pick on my family?" Jessica's father said with anger. "Your family history isn't so good, you
know. Wasn't your great-great-grandfather a prisoner who was transported to Australia for his crimes? " "Yes, but people these days say that you are not a real Australian unless your ancestors arrived as
prisoners." "Gosh, sorry I asked. I think I understand now," Jessica cut in before things grew worse.
After dinner, the house was very quiet. Jessica's parents were still angry each other. Her mother was
ironing clothes and every now and then she glared at her husband, who hid behind newspaper pretending
to read. When she finished, she gathered the freshly pressed clothes in her arms and walked to Jessica's
closet. Just as she opened the door and reached in to hang a skirt, a bony arm stuck out from the dark
depths and a bundle of white bones fell to the floor. Jessica's mother sank into a faint (晕倒), waking
only when Jessica's put a cold, wet cloth on her forehead. She looked up to see the worried faces of her
husband and daughter.
"What happened? Where am I?" she asked. "You just destroyed the school's skeleton, Mum,"
explained Jessica. "I brought it home to help me with my health project. I meant to tell you, but it seemed
that as soon as I mentioned skeletons and closets, it caused a problem between you and Dad. " Jessica
looked in amazement as her parents began to laugh madly. "They're both crazy," she thought.
1. According to Jessica's mother, "a skeleton in the closet" means ______.
A. a family honor
B. a family secret
C. a family story
D. a family treasure
2. What can we learn about some Australians' ancestors from Paragraph 2?
A. They were brought to Australia as prisoners.
B. They were the earliest people living in Australia.
C. They were involved in some crimes in Australia.
D. They were not regarded as criminals in their days.
3. Jessica's mother fell down into a faint because she was _____.
A. knocked
B. frightened
C. injured
D. surprised
4. Why did Jessica bring a skeleton home?
A. She was curious about it.
B. She planned to keep it for fun.
C. She needed it for her school task.
D. She intended to scare her parents.
5. Jessica's parents laughed madly at the end of the story probably because_______.
A. they were crazy
B. they were overexcited
C. they realized their misunderstanding
D. they both thought they had won the quarrel
