A
“May she grow up to be as intelligent as her mother.”
“May she become a good hostess.”
“May she be the most beautiful bride in Quanzhou.”
“She will be a famous authoress.”
This last wish was expressed by my elder uncle. I knew it because, being himself fond of writing, he always said the same thing to every-born baby.
The inspection was over; the little girl was wrapped up again and carried away. The relatives presented my mother with gifts. There were eggs in woven baskets, cackling hens, bags of sugar, and selected rice. My grandmother glanced from the bag of sweets to me, and began laughing again.
The procession of relatives moved to the dining room. At the table, the return gifts from our family were distributed, each relative receiving two red eggs. I was sad; we did not have enough money, so I could not stick a gilt-paper hieroglyphic meaning “luck” on the egg.
A year later, on my sister’s birthday the same relatives again crowded into our house. A red tablecloth was put on a table in the sitting room, and all sorts of objects were spread out: a needle and thread, a saucepan, a teapot, a paint-brush, an inkpot, a knife, a book of verses, a book of stories, a flexible spear, and a piece of printed silk.
Then the little girl, who, in her embarrassment, was trying to stick her foot into her mouth, was brought to the table, to see what object she would pick up first. If she takes a brush, she will be an authoress; if she grabs at a saucepan, she will be a housewife; if she touches silk, she will be a well-dressed woman; if she picks up a spear, she will make herself famous as a heroine or a chieftain.
I don’t know what object my little sister chose. Judging by the fact that she is now in Peking University, and shows a great deal of interest in literature, she must have chosen a brush or a book. However, she was a niece of two teachers. So many books and so much stationary were piled up that day on the red cloth that the insignificant needle and thread had no chance of getting into the hands of little An An.
In those days, she was the important person in the house. But I didn’t mind. I was grown up. I was six years older than she.
21. What is mainly described in the first four paragraphs?
A.The greetings for the newly-born baby.
B. The predictions for the newly-born baby.
C. The blessings for the newly-born baby.
D. The affections for the newly-born baby.
22. Why will she make herself famous as a chieftain(酋长) if she picks up a spear?
A. Because a spear belongs to kitchenware.
B. Because a spear makes her escape easily.
C. Because a spear produces bad smells.
D. Because a spear protects her from being hurt.
23. What is the author’s attitude to the fact that the little sister was the center in the house?
A. Jealous. B. Overjoyed. C. Tolerant. D. Inspirational.
