My husband is on the front line in Iraq, not as a soldier, but as a reporter. When I told my friends about his latest task, each had the same reaction. “Did you tell him no?”

They reminded me, as if I’d somehow forgotten, that he would have left behind our three young children for weeks, perhaps months. He’ll be risking his life, they say, only for some news.

Is it worth it?

I understand the pity they feel for me because of the burden suddenly heaped on my shoulders.

My 5-year-old daughter designed a schedule to determine which of the children would keep me company in my empty bed at night. Whether it was her turn or not, I can usually wake to find her huddling against me. My 7-year-old son has many questions about the war and weapons. Though I’ve never allowed my children to watch the evening news, National Public Radio had been my constant companion, and he was interested in any mention of the war, and he questions me about “when will Dad go home…” Most troubling of all, my 9-year-old daughter has said nothing. She has asked no questions, shed no tears, and she merely glances at the photo of her father displayed on the page next to his article each morning. And all three are probably the only kids at their school who can find Iraq on a map.

In the end, when friends ask, “Is it worth it?” I can answer yes. He, like other reporters from other countries, is presenting us with the truth.

So when my friends ask, I tell them it isn’t a matter of letting him go or making him stay. My husband just does what his career asks him to do.

1．Who cares for the mother most?

      A．Her friends.                                         B．Her son.

       C．He nine-year-old daughter                    D．Her five-year-old daughter

2．The underlined word “schedule” （in paragraph 5） means        .

       A．the way of doing things                      

       B．the place where something happens

       C．the time when some activity is to be held

       D．the rule to do something to follow   

3．The nine-year-old daughter worried the mother most because she        .

       A．doesn’t care about her father very much

       B．hasn’t asked any questions about her father

       C．isn’t as lively as the other children in the family

       D．acts strangely and her mother doesn’t know her attitude

4．The writer thinks her husband        .

       A．is doing a worthwhile job in Iraq

       B．considers his career more important than his family

       C．should follow her friends’ advice

       D．should pay more attention to their children