People constantly focus on wealth and winning as the most important parts of life. But we shouldn't forget
that life is too short not to live a little.
     At high school, the pressure of trying to get excellent grades can be very great. Sometimes it seems like I
live at school! When I am home all my time is spent doing homework in my room.
     I have a younger sister. We used to see a lot of each other, but after I graduated from the school she
attends, I see less and less of her.
     Then one day I came home to an empty house and found a note from my mom saying that my sister was
at her friend's and would be dropped off (送回).
     At five o'clock I saw my sister walking toward the door with her friend and her friend's father. I heard
them talking.
      "Is anyone home?" the father asked.
      "Just my mean big sister, and she's probably in her room as always,"my sister replied. I couldn't believe it.
I opened the door, thanked the father for bringing her home, shut the door and started to cry.
     A huge fight followed and it ended with me driving my sister to her room. When my mom got home, I told
her what had happened, and I realized what was worse than the fight was that I really hadn't been a good big
sister… I had lost track of what was important, what really mattered.
      I had fallen into a whirlpool of competition, and it took my sister's honest observation to show me that the
grades I got didn't matter to everyone-certainly not to her. All that matters to her is that I'm her big sister, and
that's what matters to me, too.

1. The underlined sentence in the first paragraph probably advised us _____.

A. to work hard and be successful
B. to enjoy the pleasure of life
C. to take our time in daily life
D. to live like rich people

2. What kind of life did the author live at high school?

A. Happy and active.
B. Peaceful and comfortable.
C. Busy and competitive.
D. Wild and empty.

3. Why did the author's sister consider her as a mean sister?

A. Because she didn't take her sister home after school.
B. Because she didn 't do well in her schoolwork.
C. Because she always fought with her sister at home.
D. Because she didn't care more about her sister.

4. What lesson did the author learn from her experience?

A. It is love rather than grades that matters in life.
B. Winning at school can win you respect from others.
C. One shouldn ' t compete with one ' s sister for parents' love.
D. There is no end in looking for what really matters.