For years I wanted a garden. I’d spend hours thinking of different things I could plant that would look nice together.
But then we had Matthew, and Marvin, and the twins Alisa and Alan, and then Helen. I was too busy raising them to grow a garden.
Money was not enough. Neither was time. Often when my children were little,one of them would want something that cost too much, and I’d have to say, “Do you see a money tree outside? Money doesn't grow on trees, you know.”
Finally, all the children got through high school and college and were off on their own. I started thinking again about a garden.
Then, one spring morning, on Mother’s Day, I was working in my kitchen. Suddenly, I looked out of the window and there was a new tree, planted right in my yard. There were things blowing around on it. Then I put my glasses on—and I couldn’t believe what I saw.
There was a money tree in my yard!
I went outside to look. It was true! There were dollar bills*, one hundred of them, hanging all over that tree. There was also a note among them, “Thank you for your time, Mom. We love you!”
Later, my children bought me tools, ornaments, a sunflower stepping stone and gardening books. A new page started in my life.
That was three years ago. My garden’s now very pretty, just like I wanted. When I go out and take care of my flowers, I don’t seem to miss my children as much as I once did. It feels like they’re right there with me. Now every year when winter comes, I look out of my window and think of the flowers I’ll see next spring in my little garden. I think about what my children did for me, and I get tears in my eyes—every time.
I’m still not sure that money grows on trees. But I know love does!
【小題1】How many children did the writer have?

For years I wanted a garden．I’d spend hours thinking of different things I could plant that would look nice together．
But then we had Matthew, and Marvin, and the twins Alisa and Alan, and then Helen．I was too busy raising them to grow a garden．
Money was not enough．Neither was time．Often when my children were little,
one of them would want something that cost too much, and I’d have to say, “Do you see a money tree outside? Money doesn't grow on trees, you know．”
Finally, all the children got through high school and college and were off on their own．I started thinking again about a garden．
Then, one spring morning, on Mother’s Day, I was working in my kitchen．Suddenly, I looked out of the window and there was a new tree, planted right in my yard．There were things blowing around on it．       Then I put my glasses on—and I couldn’t believe what I saw．
There was a money tree in my yard!
I went outside to look．It was true! There were dollar bills(帳單), one hundred of them, hanging all over that tree．There was also a note among them, “Thank you for your time, Mom．We love you!”
Later, my children bought me tools, ornaments, a sunflower stepping stone and gardening books．A new page started in my life．
That was three years ago．My garden’s now very pretty, just like I wanted．When I go out and take care of my flowers, I don’t seem to miss my children as much as I once did．It feels like they’re right there with me．Now every year when winter comes, I look out of my window and think of the flowers I’ll see next spring in my little garden．I think about what my children did for me, and I get tears in my eyes—every time．
I’m still not sure that money grows on trees．But I know love does!
【小題1】How many children did the writer have?

Once, there was a wild donkey (驢) and a tame (馴養(yǎng)的) donkey.

  The wild donkey was thin and small. He spent his life in the ____. The grass on the hill was his food all the year around. Sometimes, he had to walk miles to find clean water and at night there was always ____ from lions. The tame donkey was much fatter and ____. During summer, the owner fed him grass while in ____, he was given corn and hay (干草) to eat. There was always clean water for him to ____ and at night he stayed inside safely.

  The wild donkey always wished he could live ____ the tame donkey.

  One day, the wild donkey was looking for grass on the hill. Looking down, he saw the tame donkey walking slowly along the road, ____ heavy wood. As he watched, the tame donkey stopped to eat some ____ by the roadside. Suddenly, his owner began to drive him with a ____.

  “I don’t want your way of life,” thought the wild donkey. “I see that you have to pay ____ for the food they give you.”

1.A. house     B. zoo     C. wild     D. river

2.A. danger     B. noise     C. drink    D. food

3.A. taller     B. shorter    C. weaker   D. stronger

4.A. spring     B. summer    C. autumn   D. winter

5.A. eat      B. smell     C. drink    D. feel

6.A. with      B. without    C. like     D. unlike

7.A. cutting     B. carrying   C. eating    D. burning

8.A. grass     B. meat     C. fish     D. water

9.A. stick      B. knife     C. fork     D. string

10.A. easy     B. easily     C. heavy    D. heavily