阅读理解。
In spite of our efforts,we seemed to be getting no closer to Mary as the cold,boring March
days dragged by. Even my faith was wearing thin. My heart ached so desperately, wanting this
child with autism (自闭症) to come alive and be aware of the beauty, the wonder and the fun
even if she had the pain of living without her mother.
Then on a late March day,one of the boys excitedly reported a robin (知更鸟) in the schoolyard.
We flocked to the window to see it. "Spring's here!" the children cried. "Let's make a flower border
for the room!"
Why not? I thought. Anything to lift our spirits. This time the papers we selected were beautiful
pastel (颜料) colors,with brown strips to weave into baskets. I showed the children how to weave
the baskets and how to fashion all the flowers we welcome in early spring. I placed the beautifully
colored papers on her desk and encouraged her to try. Then I left the children to do their own
creating,and I spent, the next half-hour sorting strips of paper at the back of the room.
Suddenly,Kristie came hurrying to me,her face red. "Come and see Mary's basket," she cried.
"It's so pretty! You'll never believe it!" I caught my breath at its beauty. "Mary," I said ."This is
beautiful. How did you ever manage?" She looked at me with the shining eyes of any normal little girl.
"My mother loved flowers," she said simply. "She had all of these growing in our garden. "
We fastened her basket in the very center of the border at the front of the room. It remained
there until school ended in June. On the last day,Mary held it carefully as she carried it out the door.
Then she came running back, pulled a paper crocus (番红花) from her basket and handed it to me.
"This is for you," she said, and she gave me a hug.
I've kept the crocus in my desk ever since-just to remind me of Mary and of the enduring power of
love and faith.
1. What can we learn about the writer from the first paragraph?
A. She didn't want to get close to Mary.
B. She thought Mary should leave the school.
C. She considered that she had tried her best.
D. She was concerned about Mary.
2. The writer had the children weave baskets to____.
A. make them help Mary
B. develop their creativity
C. have a coffee break
D. talk to Mary about her condition
3. From Kristie's red face. we know she was ____.
A. angry
B. frightened
C. depressed
D. excited
4. What can we infer from the underlined sentence in the fourth paragraph?
A. Mary was seriously sick.
B. Mary wanted to please the writer.
C. Mary recovered from illness.
D. Mary was treated badly.
5. Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
A. A miracle has occurred
B. How lonely a girl will be
C. Why such a lovely girl is sick with autism
D. A great teacher and her students
