My teenage son Karl became withdrawn after his father died. As a single parent,

My teenage son Karl became withdrawnafter his father died. As a single parent, I tried to do my best to talk tohim. But the more I tried, the more he pulled away. When his report cardarrived during his junior year, it said that he had been absent 95 times fromclasses and had six falling grades for the year. At this rate he would nevergraduate. I sent him to the school adviser, and I even begged him. Nothingworked.

One night I felt so powerless that I gotdown my knees and pleaded for help. “Please, God, I can’t do anything more formy son. I’m at the end of my rope. I’m giving the whole thing up to you.”

I was at work when I got a phone call. Aman introduced himself as the headmaster. “I want to talk to you about Karl’sabsences.” Before he could say another word, I choked up and all mydisappointment and sadness over Karl came pouring out into the ears of thisstranger. “I love my son but I just don’t know what to do. I’ve triedeverything to get Karl to go back to school and nothing has worked. It’s out ofmy hands.” For a moment there was silence on the other end of the line. Theheadmaster seriously said, “Thank you for your time,” and hung up.

Karl’s next report card showed a markedimprovement in his grades. Finally, he even made the honor roll. In hisfourth year, I attended a parent-teacher meeting with Karl. I noticed that histeachers were astonished at the way he had turned himself around. On our wayhome, he said, “Mum, remember that call from the headmaster last year?” Inodded. “That was me. I thought I’d play a joke but when I heard what you said,it really hit me how much I was hurting you. That’s when I knew I had to makeyou proud.”

1. By saying “Karl became withdrawn”, theauthor means that the boy changed entirely and __________.

A. preferred to stay alone at home

B. lost interest in his studies

C. refused to talk to others

D. began to dislike his mother

2. There was silence on the other end ofthe line because__________.

A. the speaker was too moved to sayanything to the mother

B. the speaker waited for the mother tofinish speaking

C. the speaker didn’t want the mother torecognize his voice

D. the speaker was unable to interruptthe mother

3. The sentence “…he even made the honorroll” means that “__________”.

A. he was even on the list to be praisedat the parent-teacher meeting

B. he was even on the list of studentswho made progress in grades

C. he was even on the list of studentswho had turned themselves around

D. he was even on the list of the beststudents at school

4. What is the main idea of this passage?

A. Children in single-parent familiesoften have mental problems.

B. Mother’s love plays an important rolein teenagers’ life.

C. Being understood by parents is veryimportant to teenagers.

D. School education doesn’t work withoutfull support from parents.

试题答案

答案：CADB