Every mother is great, so is my mother. My mother is a common worker. But I love her very much. She is tall and of medium build. She has two big eyes. Her hair is black and curly. I think she is very beautiful.

My mother likes telling stories. She also likes helping others. So she is popular. She is hard-working like many other mothers. Whenever she is at home or at work, she is always busy. On weekends, she often cleans our house, so our house is very clean and tidy. And she likes planting flowers, too. She often says, “Flowers are beautiful. Planting flowers is fun and exciting. Flowers can make the air fresh and keep the house beautiful.” She often gives flowers to her friends, too.

She is strict in my study. She often says to me, “Study is the most important thing to a student. You must study hard. Then you can do more and better for others and yourself.” And she is also kind to me. Every day she takes good care of me. She often helps me. When I have trouble, I’d like to ask her for help.”

This is my mother. She is the greatest and most beautiful mother in my eyes.

1．What does the mother do?

A．A teacher                              B．A farmer.                       C．A worker.

2．What color is the mother’s hair?

A．Black.                                   B．Blue.                              C．Brown.

3．Who is always busy?

A．The mother.                          B．The kid.                         C．The father.

4．What does the mother like doing?

A．Fishing.                                B．Swimming.                    C．Planting flowers.

5．What is important to a student?

A．Playing.                                B．Studying.                       C．Surfing the Internet.

I never saw my father home from work late or ill, nor did I ever see my father take a “night out with the boys”. He had no bobbies but just took care of his family.
For 22 years, since I left home for college, my father called me every Sunday at 9:00 am. He was always interested in my life-how my family was doing. The calls even came when he and my mother were in Australia, England or Florida.
Nine years ago when I bought me first house, my father, 67 years old, spent eight hours a day for three days, painting my house. He would not allow me to pay someone to have it done. All he asked, was a glass of iced tea, and that I hold a paintbrush for him and talk to him. But I was too busy, for I had a law practice to run, and I could not take the time to hold the paintbrush, or talk to my father.
Five years ago, my 71-year-old father spent five hours putting together a swing set（秋千）for my daughter. Again, all he asked was that I get him a glass of iced tea, and talk to him, But again, I had laundry to do, and the house to clean.
The morning on Sunday, January 16, 1995, my father telephoned me as usual, this time he had seemed to have forgotten some things we had discussed the week before. I had to get to church, and I cut the conversation short.
The call came at 4:40 am. That day my father was sent to hospital in Florida. I got on a plane immediately, and I vowed（发誓）that when I arrived, I would make up for the lost time, and have a nice long talk with him ad really get to know him.
I arrived in Florida at 1:00 am, but my father had passed away at 9:12 pm. This time it was he who did not have time to talk, or time to wait for me.
In the years since his death I have learnt much about my father, and even more about every single day.
【小题1】 We know from the reading that the father_____.