Donald had his own difficulties in sleeping that night. Not just because of the bright lights of the shelter or people’s constant voices, it was the happening repeatedly nightmare that caused him to stay awake, to fear sleep. Donald was back in his small house. He did his best to ignore the howling winds outside his window. Yet he could not turn out the fearful whimpers (嗚咽) of his little dog, or the uncomfortable sounds of his mother anxious in her room next door, unable to sleep through the storm despite her insistence they would be all right.
Donald did not want his mother to be upset, but on some level, he was glad to hear she was awake, It meant he was not alone in the dark. Though he was 12, until recently it was impossible for Donald to fall asleep unless his mother lay down by his side.
Suddenly there was a crash. Their living room window is shattered (打碎) by 125 miles an hour winds. Troy rushed to Donald and sat anxiously on the edge of his bed. He did his best to calm his mother, and she had to comfort him. Soon water was seeping (滲入) into the single floor house. Quickly it rose from ankle level to leg level. At Donald’s insistence, they pushed their way through the water --- now chest high --- toward the front door. When they fought their way into the living room, water rose to their chins.
It was a struggle for the boy and mother to stay afloat. In a total panic, desperate to hold on to something, Troy caught a curtain rod. She was breathing hard, shouting that she couldn’t swim.
Donald cried out, “Mom! Hold on!” Just then Donald also caught a floatable wood board.
【小題1】The passage is mainly about _____.

Donald had his own difficulties in sleeping that night. Not just because of the bright lights of the shelter or people’s constant voices, it was the happening repeatedly nightmare that caused him to stay awake, to fear sleep. Donald was back in his small house. He did his best to ignore the howling winds outside his window. Yet he could not turn out the fearful whimpers (嗚咽) of his little dog, or the uncomfortable sounds of his mother anxious in her room next door, unable to sleep through the storm despite her insistence they would be all right.
Donald did not want his mother to be upset, but on some level, he was glad to hear she was awake, It meant he was not alone in the dark. Though he was 12, until recently it was impossible for Donald to fall asleep unless his mother lay down by his side.
Suddenly there was a crash. Their living room window is shattered (打碎) by 125 miles an hour winds. Troy rushed to Donald and sat anxiously on the edge of his bed. He did his best to calm his mother, and she had to comfort him. Soon water was seeping (滲入) into the single floor house. Quickly it rose from ankle level to leg level. At Donald’s insistence, they pushed their way through the water --- now chest high --- toward the front door. When they fought their way into the living room, water rose to their chins.
It was a struggle for the boy and mother to stay afloat. In a total panic, desperate to hold on to something, Troy caught a curtain rod. She was breathing hard, shouting that she couldn’t swim.
Donald cried out, “Mom! Hold on!” Just then Donald also caught a floatable wood board.

1. 1.

   The passage is mainly about _____.

   1. A.
      how a storm happened and caused damage
   2. B.
      how a mother and son experienced a storm
   3. C.
      how a mother and son survived a storm
   4. D.
      how a son helped his mother in a storm
2. 2.

   Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the story?

   1. A.
      The rising water.
   2. B.
      The broken window.
   3. C.
      The lucky dog.
   4. D.
      The noisy environment.
3. 3.

   Which phrase can describe Troy’s feelings at the beginning of the storm most suitably?

   1. A.
      In excitement.
   2. B.
      In calm.
   3. C.
      In anxiety.
   4. D.
      In despair.
4. 4.

   What will the author most probably talk about next?

   1. A.
      How the other people struggled in the storm.
   2. B.
      Why the rainstorm happened.
   3. C.
      What damage the rainstorm caused.
   4. D.
      How Donald and Troy struggled to save themselves

 The best Mother’s Day gift I ever received was a magnolia(木蘭)tree. At first, it was a tired little thing, but it was mine, and I know I would treasure it.

    Magnolia trees were my mother’s favorite. We had one in the front yard of our house when I was growing up. I can still remember Mom’s pleasure upon seeing the buds. “Oh, look,” she’d cry out every year, “the magnolia tree is going to bloom(開花)—just in time for my birthday.” And sure enough, on April 19, her birthday, the graceful pink-and-white flowers would be all over the branches, announcing the arrival of spring.

    Back then, I didn’t find the blooming of a tree to be an event worthy of celebration. A new toy, a pretty dress or a trip to the amusement park—those were exciting. But my mother had a way of appreciating the smallest things as wonders. A baby’s smile, or a call from an old friend filled her with happiness.

    On the first Mother’s Day following her death six years ago, I wasn’t sure how I’d manage. Reminders of my mother’s absence seemed to be everywhere.

    That Sunday morning I awoke to a quiet house, with warm sun streaming through the windows. I wondered where my husband had gone with our two daughters, Kira,4, and Sophie, 9 months. As I was relaxing in bed, enjoying the peace, Kira suddenly burst through the bedroom door.

    “Look outside, Mommy!” she ordered. There, in the yard, David was digging a hole. Next to him was a little tree whose roots were wrapped.

    “It’s a magnolia tree,” Kira said, though I didn’t need to be told. I raised the window and called out to David. “Happy Mother’s Day!” he said.

    It was. Although I didn’t have my mother any longer, I had her tree, and each year since, I’ve had her enthusiasm(激情). Now when we pull up to our house on a bright spring day, I say to my daughters, “Oh look! The magnolia’s about to bloom.” And when it does, we admire its beauty and use it as a chance to talk about my mother and her love for flowers.

What time does the magnolia bloom according to the passage?

42. What impresses the writer most about her mother was __________.

43. By saying “I had her tree” (Paragraph 8), the writer most probably implies that _______.

44. The writer’s purpose in writing the passage is to __________.

Donald had his own difficulties sleeping that night. Not just because of the bright lights of the shelter or people's constant voices, it was the happening repeatedly nightmare(噩夢) that caused him to stay awake, to fear sleep. Donald was back in his small house. He did his best to ignore the howling winds outside his window. Yet he couldn't turn out the fearful whimpers(嗚咽聲) of his little dog, or the uncomfortable sounds of his mother anxious in her room next door, unable to sleep through the storm despite her insistence they would be all right.

Donald didn't want his mother to be upset, but on some level，he was glad to hear she was awake. It meant he wasn't alone in the dark. Though he was 12, until recently it was impossible for Donald to fall asleep unless his mother lay down by his side.

Suddenly there was a crash. Their living room window is shattered(打碎) by 125­mile­an­hour winds. Troy rushed to Donald and sat anxiously on the edge of his bed. He did his best to calm his mother, and she to comfort him.

Soon water was seeping(滲透) into the single­floor house.Quickly it rose from ankle level to leg level. At Donald's insistence, they pushed their way through the water—now chest high—toward the front door. When they fought their way into the living room, water rose to their chins.

It was a struggle for the boy and mother to stay afloat. In a total panic, desperate to hold on to something, Troy caught a curtain rod(桿). She's breathing hard, shouting that she couldn't swim.

Donald called out，“Mom! Hold on！” Just then Donald also caught a floating wood board.

36．The passage is mainly about ________．

A．how a storm happened and caused damage

B．how a mother and son experienced a storm

C．how a mother and son survived a storm

D．how a son helped his mother in a storm

37．Which of the following is mentioned in the story?

A．The rising sun.  B．The broken door.

C．The lucky dog.  D．The noisy environment.

38．Which word can best describe Troy's feelings at the beginning of the storm?

A．Excited.  B．Calm.

C．Anxious.  D．Desperate.

39．What will the author most probably talk about next?

A．How the other people struggled in the storm.

B．Why the storm happened.

C．What damage the storm caused.

D．How Donald and Troy struggled to save themselves.