A
One of my wonderful memories is about a Christmas gift.Unlike other gifts, it came without wrap (包装)．
On September 11th, 1958, Mum gave birth to Richard.After she brought him home from hospital, she put him in my lap, saying, “I promised you a gift, and here it is.” What an honour! I turned for a month earlier and none of my friends had such a baby doll of their own.I played with it day and night.I sang to it.I told it stories.I told it over and over how much I loved it!
One morning, however, I found its bed empty.My doll was gone! I cried for it.Mum wept and told me that the poor little thing had been sent to a hospital.It had a fever.For several days, I heard Mum and Dad whispering such words as “hopeless”， “pitiful”， and “dying”， which sounded ominous.
Christmas was coming.“Don't expect any presents this year，” Dad said, pointing at the socks I hung in the living room.“If your baby brother lives, that'll be Christmas enough.” As he spoke, his eyes filled with tears.I'd never seen him cry before.
The phone rang early on Christmas morning.Dad jumped out of bed to answer it.From my bedroom I heard him say, “What? He's all right？” He hung up and shouted upstairs.“The hospital said we can bring Richard home！”
“Thank God！” I heard Mum cry.
From the upstairs window, I watched my parents rush out to the car.I had never seen them so happy.And I was also full of joy.What a wonderful day! My baby doll would be home.I ran downstairs.My socks still hung there flat.But I knew they were not empty；they were filled with love!
语篇解读：本文是一篇记叙文。文章主要讲述作者心爱的小弟弟突然生病了，全家人都很担心，圣诞节弟弟病愈，作者觉得这是一份十分珍贵的圣诞节礼物，并且感到了满满的爱。
1．What happened to the author on September 11th, 1958?
A．He got a baby brother.
B．He got a Christmas gift.
C．He became four years old.
D．He received a doll.
解析：选A 细节理解题。根据第二段中的On September 11th, 1958, Mum gave birth to Richard.可知，作者有了一个小弟弟，故A项正确。
2．What does the underlined word “ominous” in Paragraph 3 probably mean?
A．Impossible. B．Boring.
C．Difficult. D．Fearful.
解析：选D 词义猜测题。根据第三段中的It had a fever.For several days, I heard Mum and Dad whispering such words as “hopeless”， “pitiful”， and “dying”．..可知，ominous意为“可怕的”。故D项正确。
3．Which word can best describe the feeling of the father when Christmas was coming?
A．Excitement. B．Happiness.
C．Sadness. D．Disappointment.
解析：选C 细节理解题。根据第四段中的As he spoke, his eyes filled with tears.可知，父亲的内心充满了悲伤(sadness)。故C项正确。
4．What is the passage mainly about?
A．A sad Christmas day.
B．Life with a lovely baby.
C．A special Christmas gift.
D．Memories of a happy family.
解析：选C 主旨大意题。本文主要讲作者心爱的小弟弟突然生病了，全家人都很担心，圣诞节弟弟病愈，作者觉得这是一份十分珍贵的圣诞节礼物，并且感到了满满的爱。因此C项(一份特殊的圣诞礼物)能概括全文。故C项正确。
