A
My father was 44 and knew he wasn’t going to make it to 45．He wrote me a letter and hoped that something in it would help me for the rest of my life.
Since the day I was 12 and first read his letter, some of his words have lived in my heart. One part always stands out. “Right now, you are pretending to be a timekiller. But I know that one day, you will do something great that will set you among the very best.” Knowing that my dad believed in me gave me permission to believe in myself. “You will do something great.” He didn’t know what that would be, and neither did I, but at times in my life when I’ve felt proud of myself. I remember his words and wish he were here so I could ask, “Is this what you were talking about, Dad? Should I keep going？”
A long way from 12 now, I realize he would have been proud when I made any progress. Lately, though, I’ve come to believe he’d want me to move on to what comes next: to be proud of, and believe in somebody else. It’s time to start writing my own letters to my children. Our children look to us with the same unanswered question we had. Our kids don’t hold back because they’re afraid to fail. They’re only afraid of failing us. They don’t worry about being disappointed. Their fear－as mine was until my father’s letter－is of being a disappointment. Give your children permission to succeed. They’re waiting for you to believe in them.
I always knew my parents loved me. But trust me: That belief will be more complete, that love will be more real, and their belief in themselves will be greater if you write the words on their hearts：“Don’t worry; you’ll do something great.” Not having that blessing from their parents may be the only thing holding them back.
1．We learn from the text that the author ________.
A．lost his father when he was young
B．worked hard before he read his father’s letter
C．asked his father’s permission to believe in himself
D．knew exactly what great thing his father wanted him to do
2．What does the author tell us in the 3rd paragraph?
A．Children need their parents’ letters.
B．Children are afraid to be disappointed.
C．His children’s fear of failure held them back.
D．His father’s letter removed his fear of failing his parents.
3．Which of the following is TRUE?
A．He got no access to success.
B．He wrote back to his father at 12．
C．He was sure his parents loved him.
D．He once asked his father about the letter.
【语篇解读】这是一篇记叙文。作者的父亲通过一封信告诉作者对他的爱与信任，这种爱与信任让作者在生活中取得了很大的进步。因此作者鼓励父母亲给孩子鼓励与信任。
1．A 细节理解题。根据文章前两段第一句“My father was 44 and knew he wasn’t going to make it to 45…Since the day I was 12 and first read his letter, some of his words have lived in my heart(我父亲当时44岁，他知道自己活不到45岁……从我12岁第一次读到他的信的那天起，他的一些话就深深地印在了我的心里)．”可知，作者年幼时失去了父亲。故选A项。
2．D 推理判断题。根据第三段最后三句“They’re only afraid of failing us. They don’t worry about being disappointed. Their fear－as mine was until my father’s letter－is of being a disappointment.”可知，“我”的孩子很担心没有符合“我们”的期望值，而“我”却没有这样的担心，由此判断出父亲的信让“我”不害怕让父母亲失望。故选D项。
3．C 细节理解题。根据最后一段第一句“I always knew my parents loved me.”可知，“我”很清楚地知道父母亲很爱“我”。所以“他确信他的父母爱他”。故选C项。
