Geraniums (天竺葵) of Love
As the fifth of seven children, I went to the same public school as my three elder sisters and brother.Every year, my mother went to the same ceremony and had parentchild interviews (亲子交流会) with the same teachers.The only thing different was the child.And every child __1__ an old Geraniums school tradition — the annual plant sale (拍卖会) held in early May, just in time for __2__ Day.
Third grade was the first time that I was allowed to take part in the plant sale.I wanted to surprise my mother.__3__， I didn't have any money.I went to my eldest sister and __4__ the secret, and she gave me some money.When I arrived at the plant sale, I carefully made my __5__.I agonized (苦苦思索) over that decision, __6__ each plant to ensure that I had indeed found the best geranium.The moment I had smuggled it home, with the help of my sister, I __7__ it on the upstairs neighbor's porch.I was very afraid my mother would find it before Mother's Day, but my sister assured me that she wouldn't, and __8__ she did not.
When Mother's Day arrived, I was bursting with pride when I gave her that geranium.I remember how bright her eyes were, and how delighted she was with my __9__.
The year I was fifteen, my younger sister reached third grade.In early May, she came to me full of wonder and secrecy and told me that there was going to be a plant sale at school and she wanted to __10__ our mother.Like my __11__ sister did for me, I gave her some money and off she went.She arrived at home full of __12__ excitement, the geranium hidden in a paper bag __13__ her sweater.“I looked at every plant，” she explained, “and I know I got the __14__ one！”
I helped my little __15__ hide that geranium on the upstairs neighbor's porch, assuring that our mother wouldn't find it before Mother's Day.I was there when she gave my mother the geranium, and I watched them both bursting with pride and __16__.It was like being in a dream I had already dreamed.My mother noticed me __17__， and she gave me a soft secret smile.Shocked and puzzled, I __18__ back.I had been wondering how my mother could __19__ to be surprised at this gift from her sixth child.But as I watched her eyes light up with delight as she was __20__ with that most precious gift, I knew she was not pretending.
语篇解读：本文是一篇记叙文。作者回忆了自己和妹妹在母亲节那天给母亲送节日“惊喜”的故事。
1．A.passed down B．participated in
C．broke with D．carried on
解析：选B 学校每年举行一次植物拍卖会，学校的每个孩子都要参加(participated in)。下文中的“I was allowed to take part in the plant sale”亦是呼应。故选B。
2．A.Women's B．Father's
C．Children's D．Mother's
解析：选D 根据下文中的“before Mother's Day”以及常识可知，母亲节在五月，故选D。
3．A.Besides B．Moreover
C．However D．Therefore
解析：选C 作者想给母亲一个惊喜，但她没有钱，因此上下文之间是转折关系，故选C。
4．A.shared B．discovered
C．guarded D．unlocked
解析：选A 根据下文“she gave me some money”可知，姐姐给了作者钱。由此可知，作者应该是和姐姐分享了(share)自己要给母亲惊喜的秘密。故选A。
5．A.plan B．preparation
C．present D．selection
解析：选D 根据下文中的“agonized (苦苦思索) over that decision”可知，作者要决定给母亲买什么，即“进行挑选”(selection)。故选D。
6．A.watering B．growing
C．inspecting D．protecting
解析：选C 作者为了确保找到最好的天竺葵，仔细查看(inspect)每一株植物。故选C。
7．A.showed B．potted
C．packaged D．hid
解析：选D 上文提到作者想要给母亲惊喜，所以她要把天竺葵藏(hide)起来。故选D。
8．A.indeed B．instead
C．properly D．anyhow
解析：选A 作者的姐姐向她保证母亲不会发现这株天竺葵，的确(indeed)，母亲没有发现。故选A。
9．A.performance B．grades
C．gift D．presence
解析：选C 母亲节那天，作者将天竺葵送给母亲，母亲对于孩子送的礼物(gift)很开心。故选C。
10．A.inspire B．surprise
C．satisfy D．relax
解析：选B 根据下文的“be surprised at this gift”可知，作者的妹妹向作者借钱，也想要给母亲一个惊喜(surprise)。故选B。
11．A.youngest B．eldest
C．cleverest D．bravest
解析：选B 根据上文中的“I went to my eldest sister”可知，作者原来是向自己的大姐借的钱。故选B。
12．A.nervous B．youthful
C．increasing D．false
解析：选A 根据下文中的“the geranium hidden in a paper bag”可知，作者的妹妹既为买了礼物高兴，又担心被母亲发现，所以她有点紧张(nervous)，故选A。
13．A.on B．beside
C．behind D．under
解析：选D 根据上文中的“hidden”可知，妹妹应该是把袋子藏在毛衣的下面(under)，以防被发现。故选D。
14．A.shortest B．rarest
C．best D．strongest
解析：选C 妹妹看了每一株植物，她认为自己找到了最好的(best)。故选C。
15．A.sister B．brother
C．cousin D．friend
解析：选A 根据“my younger sister”可知，作者帮助自己的妹妹把花藏了起来。故选A。
16．A.confusion B．anxiety
C．delight D．astonishment
解析：选C 收到女儿送的礼物，母亲当然高兴(delight)，女儿为自己的行为感到骄傲自豪。下文中的“as I watched her eyes light up with delight”亦是提示。故选C。
17．A.listening B．watching
C．smelling D．tasting
解析：选B 根据上文的“I watched them”可知，作者看着(watch)发生的一切。故选B。
18．A.waved B．smiled
C．signed D．called
解析：选B 根据上文“she gave me a soft secret smile”可知，作者也回以母亲微笑(smile)。故选B。
19．A.pretend B．continue
C．appear D．try
解析：选A 根据下文“I knew she was not pretending”可知，作者怀疑母亲在假装(pretend)惊讶。故选A。
20．A.impressed B．satisfied
C．associated D．presented
解析：选D 根据上文中的“when she gave my mother the geranium”可知，作者的妹妹送给母亲礼物，即母亲被赠送(present)礼物。故选D。
