A
Being thirteen has certain problems that only another thirteen-year-old would understand. The biggest, I think, is learning to get along well with adults. I have found that when dealing with grown-ups, it is wise to remember two things.
1. Always use your head
2. Never use your head
For instance, one day just before supper, my mother sent me to the store for a loaf of whole-wheat bread. They didn’t have any. When I told my mother, she said, “Well, what kind did you get? ” I told her I didn’t get any. She looked as if I had just announced that I was leaving home for good. “For goodness’ sake! ” she said, “If they hadn’t had whole-wheat, you should have got something else! Why don’t you use your head? ”
Not long after that, she sent me to the store for red oilcloth. They didn’t have any, so I bought seven yards of purple. I thought it was pretty. Mother didn’t. She said, “Who ever heard of purple oilcloth in a red kitchen? ” I told her I was only trying to use my head. She said. “Well, don’t! And in the future, if you can’t get what I send you for, don’t get anything. ”
See what I mean?
There are other things that seem a little strange, too. If my father goes out for the evening, he tells me to “look after” my mother and sister. But if the family goes out, and I want to stay home, my father won’t let me. He doesn’t feel comfortable if I am home alone. That means I am old enough to “look after” my mother and sister but not old enough to “look after” myself.
Another problem is what to do when you trip over the cat and land with your head in the refrigerator, causing a large lump(肿块) to appear just over the right eyebrow. In that case, your father could feel free to say with a few choice words. Your sister could shed(流出)enough tears to dampen the whole room. Your mother could, and probably would, do both. But you? You are thirteen and can’t do anything! You are too young to curse(咒骂), and “big boys” don’t cry. So you just stand there looking more stupid than usual. But in spite of all this I still think thirteen is a wonderful age!
【语篇概述】本文主要介绍了一个13岁孩子的困惑, 该如何解决呢?
1. The author says the biggest problem is ______.
A. learning how to use one’s head
B. taking on responsibilities
C. showing you can be depended on
D. learning how to get along with grown-ups
【解析】选D。细节理解题。根据第一段第二句“The biggest, I think, is learning to get along well with adults. ”可知, 故选D。
2. The author thinks that his father should allow him to ______.
A. go shopping by himself
B. stay at home alone
C. look after the family
D. use his head
【解析】选B。细节理解题。根据倒数第二段中的“But if the family goes out, and I want to stay home, my father won’t let me. He doesn’t feel comfortable if I am home alone. ”内容可知, 家人外出时, 作者想留在家中, 父亲却反对。后文中接着提到作者认为父亲应该认同其保护自己的能力, 允许其独自在家, 故选B。
3. The author complains(抱怨)that there is no acceptable way for a thirteen-year-old boy to ______.
A. prevent his sister from crying
B. act when he is in the kitchen
C. prevent himself tripping over the cat
D. behave when he hurts himself
【解析】选D。细节理解题。最后一段讲到当13岁男孩受伤时, 爸爸说了几句安慰的话, 姐姐心疼哭得很厉害, 妈妈既心疼得哭了又安慰他, 但自己什么也做不了, 既不能咒骂又不能哭只能傻傻站着, 故选D。
4. The author believes being a boy of thirteen is ______.
A. frustrating B. painful
C. delightful D. tiring
【解析】选C。推理判断题。根据最后一句“But in spite of all this I still think thirteen is a wonderful age! ” 可知, 即使如此, “我”还是认为13岁是个美好的年纪, 故选C。
