to lift my¬self with my right hand until I could get the bar with my other elbow (月寸）.Day after day we practiced, and she praised me for every rung (梯级）I reached.

I'll never forget the next time, crossing the rungs； I looked down at the kids who were standing with their mouths open.

One night, after a dance at my new junior high, I lay in bed crying. I could hear Mum came into my room. "Mum，" I said, weeping, "None of the boys would dance with me. "

For a long time, I didn't hear anything. Then she said, "Oh, honey, someday you'll be beating those boys off with a bat. " Her voice was slight and cracking. I looked out from my covers to see tears running down her cheeks.

Then I knew how much she suffered on my behalf. She had never let me see her tears.

4. What was the author's mother like?

A. Optimistic but mean.

B. Energetic and polite.

C. Determined and strict.

D. Outgoing but bad-tempered.

5. How did the mother do when the author met difficulties?

A. The mother encouraged her to deal with them.

B. The mother forced her to do more housework.

C. The mother solved them instead of her.

D. The mother turned to the teacher for help.

6. How did the kids behave when they saw the author cross rungs?

A. They laughed at her.B. They felt astonished.

C. They made friends with her. D. They asked her for advice.

7. What's the best title for the text?

A. Such a Great Mother B. My Poor Childhood

C. The Days with Mother D. My Mother's Life Road