I am my mother's third child. When I was born, nurses took me from the room before she could see me. Her doctor gently explained that my left arm was　 41　 , below the elbow (肘部). Then he gave her some　 42 　 : "You'd better not treat her any　 43 　 from the other girls. Demand more." And she　 44 　 !

Even before my father left us, my mother had to go back to work to　 45　 our family. There were five of us girls in our family and we all had to　 46 　 . Once when I was about seven, I came out of the　 47 　 , whining(发牢骚), "Mom, I can't peel potatoes. I only have one hand."

Mom never looked up from sewing. "You get yourself into that kitchen and peel those potatoes," she told me. " And don't ever use that as a(n)　 48　 for anything again!"

Of course I could peel potatoes-with my good hand, while holding them down with my　 49 　 arm. There was always a　　50　 , and Mom knew it. She'd say, "If you try hard　　51 　 , you can do anything."

In the second grade, our teacher lined up my class on the playground and had each of us race across the monkey bars, swinging from one high steel rod (杆) to the next. When it was my turn, I　 52 　 my head. Some kids behind me　 53 　 . I went home crying.

When she got off work the next afternoon, she　　54 　 me back to school. On the deserted playground, Mom looked carefully at the bars.

"Now,　 55　 up with your right arm," she advised. She stood by　 56 　 I struggled to lift myself with my right hand until I could hook (钩住) the bar with my other elbow. Day after day we practiced, and she　 57 　 me for every rung (梯级) I reached.

I'll never forget the next time my class lined up at the monkey bars. Crossing the rungs, I looked down at the kids who'd　　58　 me. Now they were standing with their mouth open.

It was that way with everything:　　59 　 doing things for me, or excusing me, my mother insisted I find a way to do them myself. Sometimes, when I　 60 　 I can't handle things, I see her smile again. She had the heart to face anything. And she taught me I could, too.

41. A. missing B. broken C. diseased D. short

42. A. warning B. medicine C. help D. advice

43. A. badly B. differently C. better D. worse

44. A. did B. refused C. cried D. was

45. A. care B. helped C. support D. feed

46. A. pay attention B. work out C. carry out D. help out

47. A. kitchen B. bedroom C. house D. school

48. A. excuse B. change C. idea D. tool

49. A. lost B. other C. next D. longer

50. A. chance B. way C. time D. success

51. A. enough B. too C. again D. more

52. A. put B. covered C. shook D. turned

53. A. cheered B. whispered C. joked D. laughed

54. A. drove B. took C. sent D. carried

55. A. pull B. jump C. stand D. rise

56. A. before B. as C. after D. until

57. A. helped B. reminded C. praised D. protected

58. A. encouraged B. practiced

C. played tricks on D. made fun of

59. A. instead of B. ordered C. taught D. forced

60. A. wondered B. feared C. found D. knew