It was at least two months before Christmas when nine-year-old Almie Rose told her father and me that she wanted a new bicycle.
As Christmas drew nearer, her dream for a bicycle seemed to fade(逐渐消失), for she didn’t mention it again. We bought some beautiful story books for her and thought she would be happy to see them. However, on December 24, she said that she wanted a bike more than anything else.
It was just too late. We were busy with Christmas dinner and parking presents till midnight. So there was no time to buy a bicycle for our little girl. Thinking she would feel unhappy with the gift we gave her, we felt sad. We didn’t know what to do.
Suddenly my husband had a good idea. “ What if I make a little bicycle out of clay(泥) and write a note to tell her that she could trade the clay model in for a real bike?” My husband asked. I agreed. So he spent the next four hours patiently working with clay to make a tiny bike.
On Christmas morning, we were excited for Almie to open the little box with the beautiful red and white clay bike and the note. Finally, she opened it and read the note aloud.
Then she asked, “Does this mean that I can trade in this bike that Daddy made me for a real one?” Smiling, I said, “Yes.”
Almie had tears in her eyes when she replied, “I will never trade in this beautiful bicycle that Daddy made for me. I’d rather keep this than get a real bike.” Hearing this, I gave her a big hug.(拥抱).
小题1:What did Rose hope to get on Christmas Day?
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小题2:Why didn’t Rose’s parents buy a bicycle for her?
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小题3:What did Rose’s father decide to do then?
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小题4:When did Rose open the box and read the note in a loud voice?
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小题5:What do we know from Rose’s words in the last paragraph?
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