In the 1950s, I was an only child of a single mother, living in a modest cottage in New Zealand. There was no TV and very little 1 to spend on entertainment. 2 we had our books and enjoyed 3 better than reading aloud to each other. My mother read me The Faraway Tree Stories, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Treasure Island and poetry as well. 4 I turned seven, I was able to take my 5 at the reading role, and we spent many pleasant evenings laughing over 6 characters. In 1964, I was 18 and moved to Auckland, but we still phoned each other and talked about books. Years later, Mum’s eyesight began to 7 . She found it 8 difficult to read the small print of her beloved books. She enjoyed looking at magazines but missed 9 up with the latest books by her favourite 10 . Later, I became a Special Needs library assistant and my 11 was to select books for 12 impaired( 损伤的 )people. In time, I introduced my mother to large-print novles and audio-books, which gave her a great deal of 13 as her eyesight grew more dim( 模糊的 ). In her 70s, Mum’s choice of reading seemed to 14 to mainly murder mystery stories. I was 15 to see that, so I bought her a more “worthy”audio-book. The next day, I asked, “How are you getting on with that latest book?”“Oh, not so well, ”she replied 16 . I didn’t try to “improve”my mother’s literary 17 after that. A few years ago Mum 18 away. There are still so many thing I’d like to tell her. I’d like to 19 her for her early guidance in the 20 world of books. And I’m happy to say that I’m also into audio-books now. 1 . A . time B . money C . energy D . interest 2 . A . Though B . However C . But D . And 3 . A . something B . anything C . everything D . nothing 4 . A . When B . Unless C . If D . Until 5 . A . chance B . turn C . responsibility D . part 6 . A . real B . innocent C . funny D . happy 7 . A . fall B . fail C . lose D . drop 8 . A . increasingly B . quickly C . slowly D . suddenly 9 . A . catching B . keeping C . ending D . coming 10 . A . readers B . publishers C . authors D . assistants 11 . A . task B . dream C . plan D . promise 12 . A . mentally B . physically C . bodily D . visually 13 . A . anxiety B . joy C . passion D . sympathy 14 . A . narrow down B . open up C . change D . remove 15 . A . desperate B . content C . sad D . pleased 16 . A . positively B . awkwardly C . coldly D . eventually 17 . A . choice B . taste C . level D . degree 18 . A . went B . gave C . moved D . passed 19 . A . appreciate B . express C . thank D . impress 20 . A . wonderful B . abstract C . accessible D . ambiguous