A small, white envelope has peeked through the branches of our Christmas tree for the past 10 years. It has no name, no identification, no inscription . My husband Mike hated Christmas. He hated the overspending and the crazy running around at the last minute for the gifts given in desperation because you couldn't think of anything else. So one year I searched for something special to give Mike. The inspiration came in an unusual way. Our son Kevin was 12 and was on the school wrestling team. Shortly before Christmas, there was a non-league match against a team of poor kids. They were dressed in ragged sneakers, and presented a sharp contrast to our boys in their golden uniforms and sparkling new wrestling shoes. As the match began, I was alarmed to see that the other team was wrestling without helmets . Their team obviously could not afford them. We beat them hands down . Mike shook his head sadly. "I wish just one of them could have won," he said. Mike loved kids and enjoyed coaching football and baseball. That's when the idea for his present came. That afternoon, I went to a sports store and bought a load of wrestling headgear and shoes. I sent them anonymously to the poor team. On Christmas Eve, I placed a small, white envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what I had done and that this was his gift from me. Mike's smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year. In the years that followed, I sent a group of mentally handicapped youngsters to a hockey game, and a check to a pair of elderly brothers whose home had burned to the ground the week before Christmas. The white envelope became the highlight of Christmas. Mike died last year, but on Christmas Eve I still placed an envelope on the tree. The next morning it was joined by three more. Each of our three children had placed a white envelope on the tree for their dad. Mike's spirit, like the Christmas spirit, will always be with us. By Nancy W. Gavin When Mike said those words after the match, he meant that _ . A) there was a big contrast in skills in the two teams B) defeat was always a hard lesson to take for kids C) dress and shoes could affect a sports players' confidence D) the defeat might cause the poor kids to lose faith in themselves
D
In the past, American families tended to be quite large. Parents raising five or more children were common. Over the years, the size of the family has decreased. One reason for this is an increase in the cost of living. On the average, children attend schools for more years than they used to, making them financially dependent on their families longer. Moreover, children nowadays are better dressed and have more money to spend on entertainment. The parents usually take the responsibility for all the expenses. Meanwhile, families are less close than they used to be. More and more American mothers work away from home. The break up of the family occurs when the parents divorce. A lot of children in the U. S. live part of their young lives with only one parent. Broken families usually result in problems for children and parents alike. Children blame themselves when their parents separate. They grow up feeling unsettled as they are moved back and forth between parents. Usually one parent is responsible for raising the children. These single parents must care for the children's emotional and psychological needs while also supporting them financially. This is very demanding and leaves very little time for the parent's own personal interests. Single parents often marry other single parents. In this type of family, unrelated children are forced to develop brother or sister relationship. The situations of many American families today are not good. However, recent signs indicate that things are getting better. The divorce rate is declining. The rate of childbirth is rising. Perhaps Americans have learned how important families are. To parents who take the responsibility for children's expenses, the cost of living increases because _ . A) children attend school for more years B) children are better dressed C) children spend more money on entertainment D) all of the above
D
Q: Several different stories are told about the origin of Saint Valentine's Day. One legend dates as far back as the days of Roman Empire . According to the story, Claudius, the Emperor of Rome, wanted to increase the size of the army. He knew that it would be easier to get young men who were not married to join the army. Therefore, he made a rule that no young men could marry until he had served in the army for a certain number of years. A priest named Valentine broke the rule and secretly married a great number of young people. Finally, Claudius found out about Valentine and put the priest in prison, where he remained until his death on February 14. After his death, Valentine was made a saint and the day of his death was named Saint Valentine's Day. It became the custom for lovers to send each other message on this day. Now Saint Valentine's Day is a time for people to send one another their greeting of many kinds. February 14, Valentine's Day, is sweetheart's day, on which people in love with each other express their tender emotions . People sometimes put their love message in a heart-shaped box of chocolates or a bunch of flowers tied with red ribbons . Words of letters may be written on the flower-covered card, or something else. Whatever the form may be, the message is almost the same "Will you be my Valentine?" February 14 is chosen as Valentine's Day because _ . A) people want to remember Valentine B) lovers express their tender emotions on this day C) people send one another greeting of many kinds on this day D) people want to fix a date for lovers to express their emotion
A: A
*Question*
#Ruffi Ruff! Where's Scruff? Reading level: Baby--reschool Hardcover: 16 pages Language: English Availability: In Stock.Sold by Amazon-com.Gift--wrap available. Book Description: It's bath time for Scruff.But does anyone know where he's hiding? Have the cows seen him? Moo--no! How about the pigs? Oink--no! But not for toddlers.If they look carefully, they'll find Scruffhiding on every pop--up page! #You and Me, Baby Reading level: Baby--Grade 1 Hardcover: 40 pages Language: English Availability: In Stock.Ships from and sold byAmazon.com.Gift--wrap available. Only 4 left in stock--rder soon. #The Giving Tree Reading level: Ages 4~8 Hardcover: 64 pages Language: English Availability: Sold all the year round and choose One--Day Shipping at checkout. Book Description: Once there was a tree...and she loved a little boy.Every day the boy would come to the tree to eat her apples, swing from her branches, or slide down her trunk...and the tree was happy. #Where the Wild Things Are Reading level: Ages 6~10 Hardcover Comic: 62 pages Language: English Availability: In Stock.Ships from and Sold by Amazon-com.Gift--wrap available.Order it at once, and choose One--Day Shipping at checkout. #Goodnight Moon(Board book) Reading level: Baby--Preschool Board book: 30 pages Language: English Availability: In Stock.Ships from and sold by Amazon-com. Book description: Perhaps the perfect children's bedtime book.Goodnight Moon is a short poem of goodnight wishes from a young rabbit.He says goodnight to every object in sight and within earshot, including the "quiet old lady whispering hush." Which book has the most pages? A) The Giving Tree B) You and Me, Baby C) Goodnight Moon D) Where the Wild Things Are
**Answer**
A