My daughter just turned nine last week. We went to the supermarket, and I offered her the best gift I could imagine: picking out anything she wanted. I expected her to pick out some clothes, a new video game, maybe even a doll. However, she insisted the only thing she wanted was a model airplane.
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised about her request. My daughter has grown up in a military(军人的) household, the pride and joy of her father. He finds it perfectly appropriate(合适的) that, from a very early age, she has shared his love of aviation(航空学). I’ll never forget my shock when he taught her to jump off the swing set in our backyard, pretending she was a pilot. I believe she was four at the time, but even then she would play pilot more than house.
Yet soon stories and pictures of aircraft weren’t enough; she wanted to see the real thing. So my husband started taking her to the annual air show at the local military base. Most other children her age admired how fast the planes flew or how nicely they were painted, but not my daughter. She would ask, “Daddy, when are they going to upgrade(升级) the avionics system in the F－22 Raptor？” or “Do you think unmanned drones(无人机) will ever be as useful as manned aircraft？” I once overheard her correcting an older gentleman who was mistaken about the planned retirement date of the F－15 Eagle.
Of course, my husband has big dreams for his little aviatrix. She is going to be a military pilot, graduating at the top of her class from the Naval Academy. Then she’s going to design the next－generation fighter personally, while lecturing at Harvard about the history of fixed－wing aircraft. How she’s going to find time to do all of these things, I’ll never know!
【解题导语】 本文是一篇记叙文。作者介绍了她的女儿对航空飞行器的浓厚兴趣。
1．How did the author celebrate her daughter’s 9th birthday?
A．She took her to watch an air show.
B．She held a doll－themed party for her.
C．She gave her a model airplane as a gift.
D．She set a swing in the backyard for her.
C 解析：细节理解题。由第一段的We went to the supermarket...she insisted the only thing she wanted was a model airplane.可知，女儿九岁生日时，作者带她去超市挑选生日礼物，最后在女儿的坚持下送了她一个航模作为礼物。
2．How did the author’s daughter feel when she played pilot at age 4?
A．Moved. B．Excited.
C．Shocked. D．Frightened.
B 解析：推理判断题。由第二段的I believe she was four at the time, but even then she would play pilot more than house.可知，作者的女儿四岁时在秋千上玩飞行的游戏多于玩过家家，故那时她玩这种游戏特别开心兴奋。
3．Why did the author mention her daughter’s special behavior in Paragraph 3?
A．To introduce her big dreams.
B．To describe her happy childhood.
C．To show her strong interest in aircraft.
D．To compare her with other children her age.
C 解析：写作目的题。第三段的首句Yet soon stories and pictures of aircraft weren’t enough；she wanted to see the real thing.即本段主旨句。作者描述她的女儿有别于其他同龄人的行为表现，就是为了说明女儿对航空飞行器的浓厚兴趣。
4．What’s the author’s attitude to her husband’s plans for their daughter’s future?
A．Supportive. B．Doubtful.
C．Uncaring. D．Satisfied.
B 解析：推理判断题。由最后一段的How she’s going to find time to do all of these things, I’ll never know！可知，作者的丈夫对女儿的未来有太多的期待，但作者却不认为女儿有足够的时间能完成他的这些梦想，故作者持怀疑的态度。
