My mother preferred to know where we were at all times. She had to know who our friends were and where we were going. We had to clean clothes and take a bath every day. The other kids got to wear the same clothes for days. We could not lie in bed "sick" in order to miss school.

　　The worst is yet to come. We had to be in bed by nine each night and get up at eight the next morning. We couldn't sleep till noon like our friends. So while they slept，my mother was brave to break the Child Labour Laws. She made us work. We had to wash dishes，make beds，and learn to cook and all kinds of things at home. I believe she lay awake thinking up all things for us to do.

　　My mother was a complete failure as a mother. Two of her children received higher education. None of us have ever been taken away by the police or divorced (离婚). She forced us to grow up into educated and honest adults. I am now trying to raise my three children this way. I am filled with pride when my children call me "mean". Why? Because now I thank God every day for giving me the meanest mother in the world.

　　【语篇解读】　本文主要讲了作者的妈妈对他们很严格，包括不让他们吃糖，要求他们按时睡觉，让他们刷碗等。虽然作者小时候很讨厌妈妈，但是当作者长大后才明白，妈妈这样做是为了让他们变得更优秀，作者因此很感激妈妈。

　　1．Why couldn't the author eat candy for breakfast?

　　A．Her mother couldn't afford (买得起) for candy.

　　B．She preferred porridge，eggs or toast to candy.

　　C．Her mother thought it not good to eat candy for breakfast.

　　D．Her mother had to give candy to the author's sister and two brothers.

　　答案与解析：C　推理判断题。通读全文，根据对文章的整体理解可知，作者的妈妈对他们很严格，早上不准他们吃糖是因为她认为糖果对身体不好。故选C项。

　　2．The author's mother made her children work because ________.

　　A．she had trouble falling into sleep

　　B．she had no time to do the housework

　　C．she was teaching her children to live by themselves

　　D．she couldn't keep such a big family without her children's help

　　答案与解析：C　推理判断题。通读全文，根据对文章的整体理解可知，作者的妈妈让他们做家务是想让他们学会自理。故选C项。

3．What can we infer from the text?