I tend to accept any idea put forward by experts on TV. One day, a sociologist(社会学家) proposed that the   36  society has been consuming modern humans little by little. For fear that I would become a victim of the consumer society, I   37  hurried to a bicycle shop in my neighborhood.   38  the shopkeeper Mr. Johnson was selling me the bicycle, he said, “This is the best thing you   39  have done. Life has become hopelessly   40 . A bicycle is simple, and it brings to you   41  things: fresh air, sunshine and exercise.” I agreed. Happy as a child, I got on the bicycle and headed out onto the streets. After some time, I   42  at the other end of the town. I was   43  that this simple vehicle could let me   44  long distances in a fairly short time. But how   45  did I really go?
Since I hated to be   46 , I went back to Mr. Johnson and asked him to   47  an odometer (里程表) on my bicycle. He agreed, but   48 , “An odometer without a speedometer (速度计) is like a   49  without a knife.” I admitted he was right and in a few minutes, the two devices (装置) were   50  to the handlebars of my bicycle. “What about a horn?” he then asked. “Look, this horn is no larger than a matchbox and has many   51 .” Attracted by these functions, I bought the horn.
“You can’t leave the back part   52 ,” noted Mr. Johnson. He fixed a metal box with buttons   53  the seat, and said, “Is there anything better than this oven(烤箱) when you feel   54  on your way? I can give you a special discount.” I was not strong enough to   55  the offer.
“I congratulate you once more; this is the best thing you could have done,” said Mr. Johnson in the end.

         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．

20．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．

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

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

22．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．

23．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