I know it is wrong to envy your children. But when I see my son, Tonio and his y

I know it is wrong to envy your children. But when I seemy son, Tonio and his younger brother Sam going down a slide together, one’sarm around the other, I know I have missed something wonderful.

Not only did I never have a brother, but also I had nofriendships like theirs. My sister was old enough to help take care of me, soshe was more a mother than a playmate, and I was more a pest than afriend. A brother would have been wonderful, but it was not in the familyplanning.

Now I finally live with brothers, my sons, Tonio andSam. I am watching them build the kind of relationship that I once dreamedabout. They go to bed together. When one comes into our bed after a nightmare,my wife and I know that before morning his brother will follow.

Sam manages the world with more ease than his elderbrother, whose frustrations often bring him to tears. With a sincere “Smile,Tonio,” Sam is the one who comforts him. Tonio, on the other hand, has stoppedplaying with boys at his age who don’t like playing with Sam. They are alwaysbacking each other up.

I don’t know what kind of relationship they will havewhen they grow up. Parents always want their children to have what they nevercould. I want them to have each other. So I imagine them going to the samecollege, marrying sisters and living on the same block.

That’s why I was so worried the day Tonio startedkindergarten. I felt that I would lose something too. As we headed for schoolthat morning, both boys seemed relaxed, as if neither had any idea that the daywas going to be different, that starting then, Tonio would be leaving behindhis brother, his best friend, his right arm.

Tonio’s first day was chaotic, with hundreds ofchildren outside looking for their teachers. Before any of us could saygoodbye, Tonio disappeared with his new classmates. He turned to wave and thenwas gone. It was so sudden. Sam even didn’ t see him go. Although parents hadbeen asked to ease the craziness of the first day by statying out of theschool, I lifted Sam up and took him to Tonio’s classroom, looking for aglimpse of Tonio. Sam spotted him first.

My wife and I didn’t head back home immediately,stopping instead at a coffee shop to treat Sam to hot chocolate. We even lethim eat ice-cream with his fingers. Sam was still quiet, so I asked him if hemissed his brother already.

He didn’t answer. Instead he asked, “Daddy, is Toniogoing to be gone forever?”

“No, Sammy,” I said, feeling happy about his sweetquestion. “Not forever, just until three o’clock.”

I sometimes think that the greatest thing I have everdone is to help create these brothers. And I didn’t stop with them. We hadanother child, and for the third time in a row, it was a boy. It wasn’t longbefore his brothers climbed into the crib(婴儿床) to playwith him. I am surrounded by brothers.

1.What makes the author envy his sons?

A. He has no friends like Sam and Tonio.

B. He has only one brother in his family.

C. He doesn’t enjoy brotherhood as they do.

D. He doesn’t have a good relation with his sister.

2.What does the underlined word “pest” in paragraph 2mean?

A. a bad person     B. an annoyingperson

C. a good companion    D. a lovelybrother

3.What can we learn about the two little brothers?

A. Tonio often encouraged Sam when Sam burst intotears.

B. The two brothers went to the same kindergarten.

C. Neither of the brothers played with other children.

D. They supported each other in different ways.

4.The author was worried the day Tonio started hiskindergarten, because__________.

A. Tonio might not spend so much time with Sam

B. Tonio might not do well with his study

C. he was afraid he would lose Tonio forever.

D. he wanted Tonio to have what he didn’t have

5.On the first day of the kindergarten, __________.

A. Tonio had a nice day playing with his newclassmates

B. Sam was very sad because Tonio was gone forever

C. Sam was allowed to have ice-cream with fingers asusual

D. the father felt happy when he sensed Sam’s love toTonio

6.What does the title “Surrounded by Brothers”suggest?

A. The author experienced brotherly affection byraising his sons.

B. The author often plays with his sons whenever hehas time.

C. Parents want their children to stay at home andplay together.

D. The youngest son is always surrounded by his elderbrothers.

试题答案

【答案】

1.C

2.B

3.D

4.A

5.D

6.A

【解析】

试题