In China, Mother^’s Day is becoming more popular, and carnations（康乃馨）are a very popular gift. In 1997  48  was set as the day to help poor mothers, specially to remind people  49_ the poor mothers in rural areas. In the People^’s Daily,  50_ article explained that “despite originating in the United States, people in China take the holiday   51   it goes in line with（符合） the country^’s traditional ethics（道德标准）—respect to the elderly and filial piety（子女的孝顺）to parents.” In recent years many people began 52  advocate for the official adoption of Mother^’s Day  53  memory of Meng Mu, the mother of Meng Zi, and some officials even formed a non-governmental organization called Chinese Mothers^’ Festival Promotion Society, with the support 100 Confucian scholars and lecturers of ethics. They also ask to replace the Western gift of carnations with lilies（百合花),   54_, were planted by Chinese mothers  55 children left home in ancient times.

Our “Mommy and Me” time began two years ago. My next-door neighbor and fellow mother, Christie, and I were out in our front yards, watching seven children of age 6 and under ride their bikes up and down. “I wish I could take one of my children out alone,” said Christie.

   Then we worked out a plan: When Christie takes one of her children out, I’ll watch her other three. And when she watches two of mine, I’ll take someone out.

   The children were extremely quick to accept the idea of “Mommy and Me” time. Christie’s daughter, McKenzie, went first. When she returned, the other children showered her with tons of questions. McKenzie was smiling broadly. Christie looked refreshed and happy. “She’s like a different child when there’s no one else around,” Christie shared with me quickly. With her mother all to herself, McKenzie didn’t have to make an effort to gain attention.

   Just as Christie had noticed changes in McKenzie, I also discovered something different in each of my children during our alone times. For example, I am always surprised when my daughter, who is seldom close to me, holds my hand frequently. My stuttering（口吃的）son, Tom, doesn’t stutter once during our activities since he doesn’t have to struggle for a chance to speak. And the other son, Sam, who’s always a follower when around other children shines as a leader during our times together.

   The “Mommy and Me” time allows us to be simply alone and away with each child ---talking, sharing, and laughing, which has been the biggest gain. Every child deserves（应得到）to be an only child at least once in a while.

What is the text mainly about?

A. The experience of the only child being with mother.

B. The advantage of spending time with one child at a time.

C. The happy life of two families.

D. The basic needs of children.

Right after McKenzie came back, the other children were _____________.

A. happy  B. curious  C. regretful  D. friendly

What is one of the changes the author finds in her children?

A. The daughter acts like a leader.     B. Sam holds her hand more often.

C. The boys become better followers.  D. Tom has less difficulty in speaking.

The author seems to believe that ___________.

A. having brothers and sisters is fun       B. it’s tiring to look after three children

C. every child needs parents’ full attention  D. parents should watch others’ children

Play is the basic business of childhood, and in recent years research has shown the great importance of play in the development of a human being. From earliest infancy (婴儿), every child needs opportunity and right materials for play, and the main tools of play are toys. The main function of toys is to suggest, encourage and play. To succeed in this, they must be good toys, which children will play with often, and will come back again and again. Therefore, it is important to choose suitable toys for different stages of a child’s development.

In recent years research on infant development has shown that the standard a child is likely to reach, within the range of his inherited abilities, is largely determined in the first three years of his life. So a baby’s ability to benefit from the right play materials should not be underestimated. A baby who is encouraged, talked to and shown things and played with, has the best chance of growing up successfully.

In the next stage, from three to five years old, curiosity knows no bounds. Every type of suitable toys should be made available to the child, for trying out, experimenting and learning, for discovering his own particular ability: Bricks and jigsaws and construction toys; painting, scribbling and making things; sand and water play; toys for imaginative and pretending play—the first social games for learning to play and get on with others.

But at the third stage of play development—from five to seven or eight years old— the child is at school. But for a few more years play is still the best way of learning, at home or at school. It is easier to see which type of toys the child most enjoys.

Until the age of seven or eight, play and work mean much the same to a child. But once reading has been mastered, then books become the main source of learning. Toys are still interesting and valuable, which lead up to new hobbies, but their significance has changed — to a child of nine or ten years old, toys and games mean, as to adults, relaxation and fun.

According to the first passage we know that as a child grows up, ______.

   A. he should be allowed to choose his own toys

   B. he should be given the same toys

   C. he should be given fewer and fewer toys

   D. he should be given different toys

According to the passage, the abilities a child has inherited from his parents ______.

   A. determine his character

   B. will not change after the age of three

   C. partly determined the standard he is likely to reach

   D. to a large extent determine the choice of toys

We learn from the passage that a child has boundless curiosity ______.

   A. when he is two                    B. when he is around four

   C. when he is six                     D. when he is eight

The passage is mainly about _______.

A. the role of play in a child’s development

B. the importance of schooling

C. the importance of pre-school education

D. the choice of toys for youngster