There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind. In fact, she 41 nobody except her boyfriend, for he was always 42 to help her. She used to tell her boyfriend, “If I could see the 43 , I would marry you. ”

　 One day, someone donated a pair of 44 to her. When the bandages（繃帶）came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend, for the 45 time. He asked her, “Now that you can see the world, will you 46 me?” The girl looked at her boyfriend and was greatly surprised to see that he was 　47 . She had never expected that．She would not like to be with a blind husband for the rest of her life，so she 48 to marry him．

Her boyfriend left in tears and a few days later wrote a 49 to her，saying，“My dear，take good care of your eyes． 50 they are yours. They were mine.”

　 This is how the human brain（人腦）often works when our status（地位）changes．Only a very few remember what 51 was like before．And we often ask for more than we need．Life is a gift. Today, before you complain about the 52 of your food，think of someone who has nothing to 53 . Before you complain about life，think of someone who went to heaven（天堂）too early. Before you complain about your old 54 , think of the people who are living in the streets．And when you are tired and complain about your job, think of those who have no jobs．So 55 what you have and don’t forget your past.

For years I wanted a garden．I’d spend hours thinking of different things I could plant that would look nice together．
But then we had Matthew, and Marvin, and the twins Alisa and Alan, and then Helen．I was too busy raising them to grow a garden．
Money was not enough．Neither was time．Often when my children were little,
one of them would want something that cost too much, and I’d have to say, “Do you see a money tree outside? Money doesn't grow on trees, you know．”
Finally, all the children got through high school and college and were off on their own．I started thinking again about a garden．
Then, one spring morning, on Mother’s Day, I was working in my kitchen．Suddenly, I looked out of the window and there was a new tree, planted right in my yard．There were things blowing around on it．       Then I put my glasses on—and I couldn’t believe what I saw．
There was a money tree in my yard!
I went outside to look．It was true! There were dollar bills(帳單), one hundred of them, hanging all over that tree．There was also a note among them, “Thank you for your time, Mom．We love you!”
Later, my children bought me tools, ornaments, a sunflower stepping stone and gardening books．A new page started in my life．
That was three years ago．My garden’s now very pretty, just like I wanted．When I go out and take care of my flowers, I don’t seem to miss my children as much as I once did．It feels like they’re right there with me．Now every year when winter comes, I look out of my window and think of the flowers I’ll see next spring in my little garden．I think about what my children did for me, and I get tears in my eyes—every time．
I’m still not sure that money grows on trees．But I know love does!
【小題1】How many children did the writer have?

For years I wanted a garden．I’d spend hours thinking of different things I could plant that would look nice together．

But then we had Matthew, and Marvin, and the twins Alisa and Alan, and then Helen．I was too busy raising them to grow a garden．

Money was not enough．Neither was time．Often when my children were little,

one of them would want something that cost too much, and I’d have to say, “Do you see a money tree outside? Money doesn't grow on trees, you know．”

Finally, all the children got through high school and college and were off on their own．I started thinking again about a garden．

Then, one spring morning, on Mother’s Day, I was working in my kitchen．Suddenly, I looked out of the window and there was a new tree, planted right in my yard．There were things blowing around on it．       Then I put my glasses on—and I couldn’t believe what I saw．

There was a money tree in my yard!

I went outside to look．It was true! There were dollar bills(帳單), one hundred of them, hanging all over that tree．There was also a note among them, “Thank you for your time, Mom．We love you!”

Later, my children bought me tools, ornaments, a sunflower stepping stone and gardening books．A new page started in my life．

That was three years ago．My garden’s now very pretty, just like I wanted．When I go out and take care of my flowers, I don’t seem to miss my children as much as I once did．It feels like they’re right there with me．Now every year when winter comes, I look out of my window and think of the flowers I’ll see next spring in my little garden．I think about what my children did for me, and I get tears in my eyes—every time．

I’m still not sure that money grows on trees．But I know love does!

1.How many children did the writer have?

A．Three            B．Four             C．Five              D．Six

2.What did the mother mean when she said “Money doesn’t grow on trees”?

A．She was too busy to plant a money tree at that time．

B．She had to save money so that she could have a garden．

C．It wasn’t easy for her to make money to raise all the children．

D．They didn’t have much money because the mother lost her job．

3.The “money tree” appeared in the writer’s yard _________．

A．before her children were born

B．one spring morning when the children were little

C．after the children went to school

D．on a Mother’s Day after the children left her

4.The children planted a money tree in their mother’s yard because _________．

A．their mother needed money badly

B．they wanted to show their love to their mother

C．it was time for them to give the money back to her

D．they wanted to live together with their mother forever

For years I wanted a garden．I’d spend hours thinking of different things I could plant that would look nice together．
But then we had Matthew, and Marvin, and the twins Alisa and Alan, and then Helen．I was too busy raising them to grow a garden．
Money was not enough．Neither was time．Often when my children were little,
one of them would want something that cost too much, and I’d have to say, “Do you see a money tree outside? Money doesn't grow on trees, you know．”
Finally, all the children got through high school and college and were off on their own．I started thinking again about a garden．
Then, one spring morning, on Mother’s Day, I was working in my kitchen．Suddenly, I looked out of the window and there was a new tree, planted right in my yard．There were things blowing around on it．       Then I put my glasses on—and I couldn’t believe what I saw．
There was a money tree in my yard!
I went outside to look．It was true! There were dollar bills(帳單), one hundred of them, hanging all over that tree．There was also a note among them, “Thank you for your time, Mom．We love you!”
Later, my children bought me tools, ornaments, a sunflower stepping stone and gardening books．A new page started in my life．
That was three years ago．My garden’s now very pretty, just like I wanted．When I go out and take care of my flowers, I don’t seem to miss my children as much as I once did．It feels like they’re right there with me．Now every year when winter comes, I look out of my window and think of the flowers I’ll see next spring in my little garden．I think about what my children did for me, and I get tears in my eyes—every time．
I’m still not sure that money grows on trees．But I know love does!

1. 1.

   How many children did the writer have?

   1. A.
      Three
   2. B.
      Four
   3. C.
      Five
   4. D.
      Six
2. 2.

   What did the mother mean when she said “Money doesn’t grow on trees”?

   1. A.
      She was too busy to plant a money tree at that time．
   2. B.
      She had to save money so that she could have a garden．
   3. C.
      It wasn’t easy for her to make money to raise all the children．
   4. D.
      They didn’t have much money because the mother lost her job．
3. 3.

   The “money tree” appeared in the writer’s yard _________．

   1. A.
      before her children were born
   2. B.
      one spring morning when the children were little
   3. C.
      after the children went to school
   4. D.
      on a Mother’s Day after the children left her
4. 4.

   The children planted a money tree in their mother’s yard because _________．

   1. A.
      their mother needed money badly
   2. B.
      they wanted to show their love to their mother
   3. C.
      it was time for them to give the money back to her
   4. D.
      they wanted to live together with their mother forever