阅读理解。
Jennie and I met in night school. After having completed the required courses, we started teaching
in the same school. Frequently we had lunch together.
For a time we were just casual friends, but one day, when I was telling Jennie about my problem
son, we discovered we were kindred spirits. "He's a difficult little character," I explained. Jennie looked
thoughtful, "Maybe you're seeing him with your eyes." She was silent a moment and then added softly,
"It is only with the heart that one sees rightly." I stared at her, "You're quoting that! It's from The Little
Prince, SaintExupery's book for children. One of my favorites. You know it, too?" Jennie nodded, "I
love it. I've read it so often, I've practically memorized it."
Now, when I think of Jennie, I recall that book, because Jennie-more than anyone I know-possessed
the gift of seeing with the heart.
From that moment of a treasured book shared, our friendship grew steadily. It wasn't that I didn't have an excellent relationship with my husband and son. But my mother had died shortly after my marriage, and I had neither sisters nor daughters. I realize, now, how I needed someone to share those little, seemingly
unimportant things that add so much to life-things that must be shared to be fully appreciated.
And it was Jennie who helped me with my fourthgrade problem child. One day I_was_at_my_wit's__
end. "What he needs is a good beating!" I exploded.
"He's probably had plenty of those," Jennie said. "Maybe he just needs sincere praise for anything he
does right, and a hug or two each day." I followed this suggestion, and eventually, because of Jennie, I
discovered a lovable little boy.
Looking back, I had to admit that she taught me so much, such as how to love spring. One April day I said, "I hate rain!" And I'll never forget what she said, "You can't hate spring rain! It brings the flowers!" So I learned to love spring rain, too, because it did bring flowers-violets, tulips and daffodils.
1. What does the underlined sentence "I was at my wit's end" mean?
A. I didn't know what to do next.
B. I decided to give up.
C. I was hurt by my son deeply.
D. I was very proud of my son.
2. We learn from the passage that the author ________.
A. has the gift of seeing with the heart
B. likes spring rain because it seldom rains in spring
C. had lost her mother before her marriage
D. seldom praised her child in the past
3. How does the author feel about her family?
A. No one listened to her seemingly unimportant things.
B. She didn't get along well with her husband and son.
C. She seldom spoke to her mother.
D. She felt quite alone in her family.
4. The passage is mainly about ________.
A. how to educate children properly
B. the fact that we should see nature differently
C. the influence of friendship on our life
D. how friendship begins and develops
