It was the first snow of winter- an exciting day for every child but not for most teacher. UP until now, I had been able to dress myself for recess (课间休息), but today I would need some help. Miss Finlayson, my kindergarten teacher at Princess Elizabeth School near Hamilton, Ontario, had been through first snow days many times in her long career, but I think she may still remember this one.
I managed go get into my wool snow pants. But I struggled with my jacket because it didn’t fit well. It was a hand-me-down from my brother, and it made me wonder why I had to wear his ugly clothes. At least my hat and matching scarf were mine, and they were quite pretty. Finally it was time to have Miss Finlayson help me with my boots. In her calm, motherly voice she said, “By the end of winter, you will be able to put on your own boots.” I didn’t realize at the time that this was more a statement of hope than of confidence.
I handed her my boots and stuck out my foot. Like most children, I expected the adult to do all the work. After much wiggling and pushing, she managed to get first one into place and then, with a sigh, worked the second one on too.
I announced, “They’re on the wrong feet.” With the grace that only experience can bring, she struggled to get the boots off and went through the joyless task of putting them on again. Then I said, “These aren’t my boots, you know.” As she pulled the offending boots from my feet, she still managed to look both helpful and interested. Once they were off, I said, “They are my brother’s boots. My mother makes me wear them, and I hate them!” Somehow, from long years of practice, she managed to act as though I wasn’t an annoying little girl. She pushed and shoved, less gently this time, and the boots were returned to their proper place on my feet. With a great sigh if relief, seeing the end of her struggle with me, she asked, “Now, where are your gloves?”
I looked into her eyes and said, “I didn’t want to lose them, so I put them into the toes of my boots.”
39. According to the passage, the little girl got ______ from her brother.
A. the wool snow pants and the jacket B. the jacket and the boots
C. the jacket and the hat D. the boots and the gloves
40. What made it so hard for the teacher to help the little girl put her boots on?
A. The gloves in the toes of the boots. B. The slowness of the teacher.
C. The wrong size of the boots D. The unwillingness of the girl
41. It can be inferred that before the little girl finally went out to enjoy the first snow of winter, the teacher had to help her put on her boots______ .
A. once B. twice C. three times D. four times
42. Which of the following sentences from the text BEST indicates that the teacher is very considerate?
A. In her calm, motherly voice she, “By the end of winter,…”(Paragraph 2)
B. With the grace that only experience can bring, she struggled to…(Paragraph 4)
C. …she still managed to look both helpful and interested. (Paragraph 4)
D. …she managed to act as though I wasn’t an annoying little girl. (Paragraph 4)
