Question

In this age of Internet chat, videogames and reality television, there is no shortage of mindless activities to keep a child occupied. Yet, despite the competition, my 8-year-old daughter Rebecca wants to spend her leisure time writing short stories. She wants to enter one of her stories into a writing contest, a competition she won last year.

　　As a writer I know about winning contests, and about losing them. I know what it is like to work hard on a story only to receive a rejection slip from the publisher. I also know the pressures of trying to live up to a reputation created by previous victories. What if she doesn’t win the contest again? That’s the strange thing about being a parent. So many of our own past scars and dashed hopes can surface.

　　A revelation (啟示) came last week when I asked her, “Don’t you want to win again?” “No,” she replied, “I just want to tell the story of an angel going to first grade.”

　　I had just spent weeks correcting her stories as she spontaneously (自發地) told them. Telling myself that I was merely an experienced writer guiding the young writer across the hall, I offered suggestions for characters, conflicts and endings for her tales. The story about a fearful angel starting first grade was quickly “guided” by me into the tale of a little girl with a wild imagination taking her first music lesson. I had turned her contest into my contest without even realizing it.

　　Staying back and giving kids space to grow is not as easy as it looks. Because I know very little about farm animals who use tools or angels who go to first grade, I had to accept the fact that I was co-opting (借用) my daughter’s experience.

　　While stepping back was difficult for me, it was certainly a good first step that I will quickly follow with more steps, putting myself far enough away to give her room but close enough to help if asked. All the while I will be reminding myself that children need room to experiment, grow and find their own voices.

1.What did the author say about her own writing experience?

A. She was constantly under pressure of writing more.

B. Most of her stories had been rejected by publishers.

C. Her way to success was full of pains and frustrations.

D. She did not quite live up to her reputation as a writer.

2.Why did Rebecca want to enter this year’s writing contest?

A. She wanted to share her stories with readers.

B. She had won a prize in the previous contest.

C. She was sure of winning with her mother’s help.

D. She believed she possessed real talent for writing.

3.The author took great pains to refine her daughter’s stories because ________.

A. she wanted to help Rebecca realize her dream of becoming a writer

B. she believed she had the knowledge and experience to offer guidance

C. she did not want to disappoint Rebecca who needed her help so much

D. she was afraid Rebecca’s imagination might run wild while writing

4.What’s the author’s advice for parents?

A. Children should be given every chance to voice their opinions.

B. Children should be allowed freedom to grow through experience.

C. Parents should keep an eye on the activities their kids engage in.

D. A writing career, though attractive, is not for every child to pursue.

 

Answer 1

【答案】

 

1.C

2.A

3.B

4.B

【解析】

試題分析：文章通過講作者的女兒想參加一個作文比賽，作者以為女兒想保留自己前一年所得的第一，結果女兒告訴他她只是想告訴人們一個上小學一年級的天使的故事，這讓作者感慨萬分。在幫孩子改作文的同時，也讓作者明白了一個道理,那就是：不要過度地干涉孩子們的事，要讓孩子們有通過自己經歷而成長的空間。

1.根據文章的第二段前半部分。大意是：“作為一個作家，我享受過奪得競賽優勝的喜悅，也品嘗過失敗的滋味。我知道辛辛苦苦寫出來一個故事，結果卻得到一張出版商的退稿信時的感受。我同樣知道奪得優勝后再想保住這份榮譽的壓力，可知作者的寫作成功之路充滿了痛苦和挫折。故選C。

2.根據第三段，she replied, “I just want to tell the story of anangel going to first grade.”意思是她想告訴人們一個上小學一年級的天使的故事，也即想與人們(至少是讀到它的人)分享這個故事，故選A。

3.根據第四段第二句說作者自認為是一個有經驗的作家，之后寫到女兒的作品被作者按自己的經驗、想法改造成了另外一個故事，進而把比賽當成了自己的比賽。由此可見，作者當初之所以要主動指導女兒，是自信自己的知識和經驗可以對女兒提供幫助，只是結果不盡如人意。故選B。

4.根據第四段里的children need room to experiment孩子應被給予通過經歷實現成長的空間。故選B。

考點：科教類短文閱讀。