could have lived to see his grandchildren and to enjoy this time because he always loved Christmas so much.It got very quiet for a moment and then she said，" Do you remember that time on Twelve Mile Road when you bought that tree with your paper route money？"

　　"Yes，" I said，" I've just been thinking about it you know."

　　She hesitated for a long moment，as though something was bottled up so deeply inside her soul that it might take surgery to get it out.Finally，great tears rolled down her face and she cried，" Oh, son, please forgive me.That time and that Christmas have been a burden on my heart for twenty­five years.I wish your dad were here so I could tell him how sorry I am for what I said."

　　【语篇解读】　本文是一篇记叙文。"我"和三个孩子以及"我"的母亲居住在一起。圣诞夜，"我"熬夜未睡，意外发现母亲也未入睡；回忆往事，她失声痛哭。

　　1．How many children did the author have?

　　A．One.　　　　　　　 B．Two.

　　C．Three. D．Four.

　　【解析】　细节理解题。根据第一段第一句中的"Lincoln was about seven，Brendan was three and Kristen was a baby"可知，作者有三个孩子，故C项正确。

　　【答案】　C

　　2．What do we learn about the author's father?

　　A．He lived with the author.

　　B．He loved his grandsons.

　　C．He loved his wife deeply.

　　D．He had passed away.

　　【解析】　推理判断题。根据第三段中的"and how I wished that dad could have lived to see his grandchildren"可推知，作者的父亲已经去世，故D项正确。

　　【答案】　D

3．Why couldn't the author's mother fall asleep?