Lesson

1

A Mother’s Letter to a Son Starting Kindergarten

Dear George,

When your big brother and your little dog and I walked you up to school today, you had no idea how I was feeling.

You were so excited, you had packed and unpacked the washable markers and safety scissors in your backpack a dozen times.

I am really going to miss those lazy mornings when we waved your brother and sister off to school. I’d settle in with my coffee and newspaper, handing you the comics to color while you watched Sesame Street.

Because you are my youngest, I had learned a few things by the time you came along. I found out that the seemingly endless days of babyhood are gone like lightning. I blinked①, and your older siblings② were setting off for school as eagerly as you did this morning.

I was one of the lucky ones; I could choose whether to work or not. By the time it was your turn, the glittering③ prizes of career advancement and a double income had lost their luster④. A splash⑤ in the puddles with you in your bright red boots or “just one more” rereading of your favorite book, Frog and Toad Are Friends, meant more.

You didn’t go to preschool and I’m not exactly Maria Montessori. I hope that doesn’t hold you back. You learned numbers by helping me count the soda cans we returned to the store. (You could usually charm me into letting you pick out a treat with the money we got back.)

I’m not up on the Palmer method, but you do a fine job of writing your name on the sidewalk in chalk, in capitals to make it look more important. And somehow you caught on to the nuances of language. Just the other day, you asked me why I always call you “Honey” when we’re reading stories and “Bud” when you’re helping with chores. My explanation of the difference between a cuddly mood and a matey one seemed to satisfy you.

I have to admit that in my mind’s eye, an image of myself while you’re in school has developed. I see myself updating all the photo albums and starting that novel I always wanted to write. As the summer wound down and more frequent quarrels erupted⑥ between you and your siblings, I was looking forward to today.

And then this morning, I walked you up the steep hill to your classroom with a picture of the President on one wall and of Bambi on the opposite. You found the coat hook with your name above it right away, and you gave me one of your characteristically fierce, too-tight hugs. This time you were ready to let go before I was.

Maybe someday you will deliver a kindergartner with your own wide-set eyes and sudden grin to the first day of school. When you turn at the door to wave good-bye, he or she will be too deep in conversation with a new friend to notice. Even as you smile, you’ll feel something warm on your cheek⑦...

And then, you’ll know.

Love,

Mom

(521 words)

①blink [blɪŋk] vi. 眨眼 n. 眨眼；一瞬间

②siblings [ˑsɪblɪŋz] n. 兄弟，姐妹，同胞, 同属

③glitter [ˑɡlɪtə(r)] vi. 闪闪发光，闪烁，闪光

④luster [ˑlʌstə] n. 光彩，光泽 vi.有光泽，发亮 vt.使有光泽

⑤ splash [splæʃ] n. 溅，飞溅，斑点 v.溅，泼，溅湿

⑥ erupt [ɪˑrʌpt] vt. 喷出 vi.爆发

⑦cheek [tʃi:k] n. 颊

I. How well did you read?

1. [Evaluate the information] How many children does the author have?

A. 1. B. 2. C. 3. D. 4.

2. [Check the details]Which of the following has not been done by the author and her son?

A. Quarrel with the other children. B. Read stories together.

C. Recycle soda cans. D. Do family chores.

3. [Note the fact] What was the situation like with the author?

A. She has to work while taking care of children.

B. She does not care her career development at all.

C. She taught her youngest child herself at preschool time.

D. She made a living by recycling soda cans.

4. [Understand the main idea] Which of the following sentences best describes how the author felt?

A. “An image of myself while you’re in school has developed.”

B. “I was looking forward to today.”

C. “I was one of the lucky ones.”

D. “This time you were ready to let go before I was.”

5. [Draw a conclusion] The passage tries to show us________.

A. how excited a child will be on his first day to school

B. how many efforts a mother has made to raise a child

C. how deeply a mother loves her child

D. how a mother plans her future life after her children go to school

II. Read for words.

1. Choose one best paraphrase or Chinese meaning for the underlined words.

(1) …you gave me one of your characteristically fierce, too-tight hugs.

A. 特有地 B. 强烈地 C. 性格地

(2) Maybe someday you will deliver a kindergartner with your own wide-set eyes and sudden grin to the first day of school.

A. 教授 B. 接 C. 送

2. Choose one best paraphrase for the underlined expressions.

(1) I had learned a few things by the time you came along.

A. when you were born

B. when you decide whether to work or not

C. when you reach the school age

(2) By the time it was your turn, the glittering prizes of career advancement and a double income had lost their luster.

A. became more important

B. were not as attractive as before C. is made impossible

III. Answer the following questions by using the information in the passage.

1. Why did the author call her “Honey” and “Bud” in different situations?

2. Why did the author say “Even as you smile, you’ll feel something warm on your cheek...”?