Unit 3 Family Matters Section Ⅰ Starting out & Understanding ideas(word教师用书 含答案解析)



家庭是与个人关系最密切的群体组织，在家庭中我们首先学会了关心爱护他人。家庭关系总体来说是稳固的，但也难免有一些不和谐或暂时的冲突。
We first learn about loving and caring relationships from our families. Family is defined(下定义) as a domestic(家庭的) group of people with some degree of kinship—whether through blood, marriage, or adoption.
Ideally each child is nurtured, respected, and grows up to care for others and develop strong and healthy relationships. This does not mean that it is always easy to make and keep friends; it just means that we share the goal of having strong relationships.
“Family” includes your siblings and parents, as well as relatives who you may not interact with every day, such as your cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and stepparents.
These are probably the people you are closest to and with whom you spend the most time. Having healthy relationships with your family members is both important and difficult.
Families in the 21st century come in all shapes and sizes: traditional, single parent, and blended (more than one family together in the same house)—just to name a few. No matter the “type” of family you have, there are going to be highs and lows—good times and bad.

Many times, however, families become blocked(阻止) in their relationships by hurt, anger, mistrust, and confusion. These emotions are natural and normal, and few families do not have at least a few experiences with them.
By making a few simple changes in the way we look at the world and deal with other people, it is possible to create happier, more stable relationships. Families need to be units of mutual(相互的) caring and support; they can be sources of lifelong strength for all individuals(个人；个体).
It is never too late to begin the process of improving family relationships—even if they are already of good quality—by developing some simple skills.
Whereas in other situations you can step back and assess the relationship, it is often hard to do this with your family. Your family may be a constant presence in your life, so when an argument or issue arises, it may seem impossible to handle.
Remember that communication is key to resolving conflict. While it may seem that your siblings are constantly present to annoy you or boss you around, they are also there to communicate.
Use your family’s presence to your advantage—communicate with each other, develop ways to value boundaries, and build trust and respect.
Section Ⅰ　Starting out & Understanding ideas


重点单词
基础词汇
1.approach v. 走近，靠近
2.chat n. 闲谈，聊天
3.focus v. (把……)集中(于)
4.career n. 职业，事业
5.lawyer n. 律师
6.assume v. 假定，假设，认为
7.studio n. (音乐)录音室
8.court n. 法院，法庭
9.daydream v. 做白日梦，幻想
10.talent n. 天赋，才能
11.curtain n. (舞台上的)幕，帷幕
拓展词汇
12.respect n．& v．尊敬，敬重→respectable adj.值得尊敬的→respectful adj.恭敬的；有礼貌的
13.ignore v．忽视，不理→ignorance n．愚昧；无知→ignorant adj.无知的；愚昧的
14.professional adj.职业的，专业的→profession n．职业；专业
15.suit v．适合→suitable adj.适合的；适宜的
16.option n．选择，可选择的东西→optional adj.可选择的
重点短语
1.as well as 除……之外(也)
2.turn to...for... 向……求助以获取……
3.go to university 上大学
4.focus on 致力于……
5.in surprise 吃惊地
6.be interested in 对……感兴趣
7.calm down 冷静下来
8.in the end 最终
9.be proud of 以……为骄傲
10.take one’s advice 接受某人的建议
11.jump in with both feet 踊跃参加，全心全意投入
12.make friends 交朋友
重点句型
1.完全倒装句：Oh look, here comes my boy(我的男孩来了).
2.动名词作主语：①Playing in a band(在乐队演奏) is not a job.
②Making music(作曲) is a job.

Read the text and do some True(T) or False (F) questions.
1．The boy wants to focus on his band and has a career in music when he leaves school.(　　)
2．His father advises the boy to become a policeman in the future. (　　)
3．The father wanted to be a football player when he was young.(　　)
4．The grandfather tells the boy to go to university and play music at the same time in order to have a good option in the future.(　　)
答案：1.T　2.F　3.F　4.T
Read the text carefully and answer the following questions.
1．Why does the boy come to his father?
A．He intends to have a talk with him.
B．He plans to drop out of university.
C．He wants to play chess with Grandfather.
D．He aims to find some help from his father.
2．What is Father’s reaction to the boy’s idea about his future?
A．Happy.　　　　　　　　 B．Surprised.
C．Angry. D．Calm.
3．Father wants his son to become a lawyer because ________．
A．his son is in deep love of law
B．his son can show his own talent
C．he benefits a lot from the career
D．lawyers are rich and respected by others
4．What does the conversation mainly about?
A．The relationship between family members.
B．Grandpa’s suggestion on what job the son should take in the future.
C．The disagreement between Father and Son in choosing a future job.
D．The future development of the boy’s music band.
答案：1－4.ABCC


approach　vt.& vi.走近，靠近
n．靠近；方法；途径
(教材P27) ...nervously approaching the table.
……紧张地走向桌子。
an approach to...　　 ……的方法；去……的道路
at the approach of 在……将要来到的时候
①Christmas Day is approaching. Have you prepared any presents for your parents?
圣诞节就要到了，你给父母准备好礼物了吗？
②(天津卷)Absorbed in painting, John didn’t notice evening approaching(approach)．
由于专心绘画，约翰没有注意到夜幕正在降临。
③Many kinds of birds fly south at the approach of winter.
很多鸟在冬天来临之际飞向了南方。
④All approaches to the airport were blocked by the heavy traffic.
所有去机场的路都被拥挤的车辆堵死了。
⑤The best approach to learning(learn) a foreign language is the study of the spoken language.
学习外语的最好的途径是学口语。

表示“方法；方式”的短语荟萃：
approach: an approach to (doing) sth.
way: in this way to do/of doing sth.
method: with this method of doing sth.
manner: in a．..manner of doing sth.
turn to　 求助于；致力于；从事于；查阅；翻到(书的某页)
(教材P27)You know you can always turn to your dad for a chat.
你要知道你随时都可以找你的父亲聊聊天。
[一词多义]——写出下列句中turn to的含义
(1)In this case we have no choice, but to turn to others.求助于
(2)If you turn to page 40, you will find it.翻到
(3)More and more people turn to computer science.从事于
(4)You shouldn’t always turn to the dictionary when you meet new words in reading.查阅
turn down　　　　　　 关小；拒绝
turn in 上交
turn on 打开(水、煤气、电灯等)
turn off 关上(水、煤气、电灯等)
turn out 结果是，证明是；生产出
turn up 开大；出现
①(陕西卷)He promised that he would come, but he hasn’t turned up yet.
他承诺会来，但他还没出现。
②Can you turn the TV down? I’m trying to get some sleep.
你能把电视声音调小些吗？我想睡会儿。
③You must turn in your paper on time.
你必须按时上交试卷。
④The experiment turned out to be a great success.
实验结果很成功。
⑤Don’t forget to turn off the light when you leave.
走时不要忘记关灯。
focus　 n．焦点；中心点
vt.(把……)集中(于)；聚焦
(教材P27)I want to focus on my band and have a career in music when I leave school.　
当我毕业的时候，我想专注于我的乐队并从事音乐事业。
(1)focus on　　　　 集中(注意力、精力等)于……
focus/fix one’s attention on sth.
把某人的注意力集中到……
(2)the focus of attention
关注的焦点
①As is known to us, children are the focus of families, shouldering the hope of their parents.
众所周知，孩子是家庭的中心，承载着父母的希望。
②To lead a happy life in the future, you should focus more on your career while you are young.
为了将来过上幸福的生活，趁着年轻你应该多关注你的事业。
③ He didn’t hear what I say because he was focusing his attention on the painting on the wall just now.
他没有听到我说什么，因为他刚才正把注意力集中在墙上的那幅画上。
assume　 vt.认为；假设，假定；承担
(教材P27)You just assume I want to be a lawyer, but that’s only because you are a lawyer.
你就认为我想当一名律师，可是那只是因为你是律师。
(1)assume...to be...　　　　 认为……是……；
假定……是……
It is assumed that... 人们认为……
(2)assuming that... 假定……(作状语)
(3)assumption n. 假定；假设
make an assumption 认为；假定
①People assume that what they do has little effect on the environment.
人们认为他们所做的对环境几乎没什么影响。
②We must assume him to__be(be) innocent until he is proved guilty.
在他被证明有罪之前我们必须假定他是清白的。
③Assuming(assume) that there weren’t the hard work of the dustman, what can you imagine our city will be like?
假设没有清洁工人的辛苦工作，你想想我们的城市会是什么样子？
④A lot of people make the assumption(assume) that poverty only exists in the Third World.
许多人认为贫穷只存在于第三世界。
respect　n．尊重；(pl.)敬意，问候
vt.尊敬，敬重；遵守
(教材P27)Lawyers help people and are respected by others.　律师帮助人们并受到他人的尊重。
(1)respect sb./sth. for sth.　 因某事尊敬/尊重
某人/物
(2)show/have respect for... 对……表示尊重/尊敬
win/gain/earn the respect of...
赢得……的尊重
(3)give/send one’s respects to 代某人向……问候
①Respect yourself, or no one else will respect you.
[谚语]君须自敬，人乃敬之。
②She has always been honest with me, and I respect her for that.
她一直对我很诚实，我因此非常敬重她。
③I have the greatest respect for all of my teachers.
我非常尊敬我所有的老师。
④The new teacher soon won the respect of his students.
这位新来的老师很快就赢得了学生们的尊重。
⑤Please send my respects(respect) to your family when you visit them.
当你看望你的家人时，代我向他们问好。
be interested in　 对……感兴趣
(教材P27)Yes, but I’m not interested in law.
是的，可是我对法律并不感兴趣。
(1)interest vt.　　　　　　 使感兴趣
n. 兴趣；利益
take/have (an)/no interest in sth.
对……感/不感兴趣
lose interest in 对……失去兴趣
develop one’s interest in 培养某人……的兴趣
(2)interested adj. 感兴趣的
interesting adj. 令人感兴趣的；有趣的
①As a teacher, what interests him most is the interest of his students.
作为一名教师，他最关心的是他学生的兴趣。
②I am not interested in the characters in the film, because it is not interesting．(interest)
我对这部电影中的角色不感兴趣，因为它很无趣。
③Now he no longer takes any interest in his stamp collection; he’s lost all interest in it.
他对集邮不再感兴趣了，他已经完全失去了集邮的兴趣。

What you’re interested in doesn’t interest me, because I have lost interest in what you think interesting.
你感兴趣的东西不会使我感兴趣了，因为我对你认为有趣的东西已经失去了兴趣。
ignore　 vt.不理睬；忽视
(教材P27)(ignoring Grandfather’s words) Stop daydreaming!
(不理会祖父的话) 不要白日做梦了。
(1)ignore danger/facts　　　 不顾危险/事实
ignore one’s advice/mistakes
忽视某人的建议/过错
ignore traffic rules 无视交通规则
(2)ignorant adj. 无知的；愚昧的
(3)ignorance n. 无知；愚昧
①I said hello to him, but he ignored me completely.
我向他问好，但是他完全不理睬我。
②He ignored(ignore) my advice so he failed in the game.
他无视我的忠告并因此输掉了比赛。
③Some people always do everything they like, but are ignorant(ignore) of others’ feelings.
一些人总是做他们喜欢做的事情，而对他人的感受却一无所知。
④That unsuitable remark exposed his ignorance(ignore) of the subject.
那番不妥的言论暴露了他对这一话题的无知。
in the end　 最后；最终
(教材P27)But in the end, you just advised me to think carefully.
但是最后，你只是建议我仔细考虑一下。
put/bring an end to(＝put/bring sth.to an end) 结束，终止
come to an end 结束，告终
end up with 以……结束
at the end (of) (……的)尽头
from beginning to end 从头到尾
by the end of 在……结束时；在……之前
①(安徽卷)Thankfully，I managed to get through the game and the pain was worth it in the end.
很幸运，我最后成功完成了比赛，我的努力没有白费。
②The meeting didn’t come to an end until midnight.
会议直到午夜才结束。
③I have listened to the English song from beginning to end．
我把这首英文歌从头到尾听完了。
④By the end of last year, he had learned(learn) two thousand English words.
到去年年底为止，他已学了2 000个英语单词。
⑤Both sides have been at war for three years and it’s hoped that the talk can bring an end to the war/bring the war to an end as soon as possible.
双方交战已经三年了，大家都希望这次会谈能尽快结束战争。

bring/put an end to是及物动词短语，可以用于被动语态； come to an end是不及物动词短语，主语是物，且不能用于被动语态。
suit　 v．适合；合适；相配　n．套装
(教材P27)Yes, and you have found the career that suits your talents.
是的，你已经找到了一份适合你才能的职业。
(1)suit sb.fine　　　　 很合某人的意；对某人很合适
(2)suitable adj. 适当的；相配的；恰当的
be suitable for... 适合于……
be suitable to do... 适合做某事
①As a student, you’d better choose the activities which interest you and suit you.
作为一名学生，你最好选择那些你感兴趣并适合你的活动。
②It suits(suit) me fine to see a movie this Saturday night.
对我来说本周六晚上看电影很合适。
③It is difficult to find a suitable(suit) place for a picnic in winter.
冬天很难找到一个适合野餐的地方。

fit
指大小、尺寸、形状合适，引申为“吻合”
suit
指款式、需要、口味、条件、地位、衣着适合某人，使人看上去有吸引力，另外，用于比喻意义时多用suit
match
多指大小、颜色、形状等相一致；匹配
[巧学活用]——选词填空(fit/suit/match)
I want to take this jacket because it fits me well and matches my trousers, though the colour doesn’t suit me.

完全倒装句
(教材 P27)Oh look, here comes my boy.
看，我的男孩来了。
本句是一个完全倒装句。其正常结构：Oh look, my boy comes here.。完全倒装的条件：
(1)表示地点、方位或时间的副词，如here, there, in, out, up, down, away, now, then 等以及表示方位的介词短语置于句首时；
(2)谓语动词一般为be动词或lie, come, go, stand等动词；
(3)句子的主语为名词。如果句子的主语为代词，主谓不倒装。
①(湖北卷)Into the complete silence of the waiting class came the teacher’s sweet voice，“Good morning, children.”
在全班同学静静的等待中传来了老师甜甜的嗓音：“孩子们，早上好。”
②By the window sat a young man with a magazine in his hand.
窗户边坐着一位年轻人，手里拿着一本杂志。
③—Look, here comes the bus．
——看，汽车来了。
—Here it comes．
——它确实来了。

完全倒装结构的时态只限于一般现在时或一般过去时。
[巧学活用]——句型转换
(1)A small boy rushed from behind the door.
→From behind the door rushed a small boy．
(2)A tall tree with a history of over 100 years stands in front of the house.
→In front of the house stands a tall tree with a history of over 100 years.
动名词短语作主语
(教材 P27)①Playing in a band is not a job.
在乐队演奏不是一份工作。
②Making music is a job.
作曲是一份工作。
这两句中的Playing in a band和Making music都是动名词短语作主语。
(1)动名词(短语)作主语表示习惯性、经常性的动作。
(2)动名词(短语)作主语时，谓语动词用单数形式。
(3)动名词(短语)作主语时，有时用 it作形式主语，而把真正主语置于句尾。常见句型：
It is useless/nice/good/worth/no use/no good/a waste of time＋doing...
①Seeing is believing.
[谚语]眼见为实。
②Walking in the sun in such a day is(be) a pleasant thing.
这么好的天气在阳光下散步是一件惬意的事情。
③It is no use/no good crying over spilt milk.
[谚语]覆水难收。
④It is a waste of time persuading(persuade) such a person to join us.
劝说这样的人加入我们真是浪费时间。


品句填词
1．As you approach(靠近) the town, you’ll see the college on the left.
2．When people chat(聊天), they talk to each other in an informal and friendly way.
3．She is now concentrating on a career(职业) as a fashion designer.
4．He could have made a fortune as a lawyer(律师)，but he chose to be a painter.
5．The court(法庭) declared that what the young man did was illegal.
6．She is proud that both her children have a talent(天赋) for music.
7．Many famous actors are on pins and needles before the curtain(帷幕) opens for a play.
8．Students have the option(选择) of studying abroad in their second year.
完成句子
1. 随着儿童节的临近，孩子们变得越来越兴奋。
With the approach of Children’s Day, children are becoming more and more excited.
2．只有你把注意力放在你的学习上你才能学好。
Only if you focus your attention on your study can you learn it well.
3．他不喜欢和我们去购物，因为他只对玩电脑游戏感兴趣。
He won’t enjoy shopping with us, since he is only interested in playing computer games．
4．令我吃惊的是，在教室的后面坐着几位外国人。
To my surprise, at the back of the classroom sat several foreigners．
5．众所周知，花太多时间在手机上会对你的成绩造成影响。
It should come as no surprise that spending too much time on the cell phone can affect your grades.
课文语法填空
Grandpa and Father are playing chess 1.when Son comes in. The son tells his father that he doesn’t want to go to university, which surprises his father. Father is a lawyer, and intends his son to choose the career as well, because it 2.pays(pay) well. However, the son is 3.interested(interest) in playing music. Father doesn’t understand his son and has 4.an argument with him. Grandfather has no 5.choice(choose) but to calm both of them down. He reminds Father of his decision when Father was his son’s age. At that time, Father chose a career 6.suiting(suit) his own talents. Grandpa didn’t force Father 7.to follow(follow) his will and was even proud of Father. Finally, Grandpa asks Son to take his advice 8.seriously(serious) that he should go to university and play music at the same time. 9.In his opinion, Son can make lots of new friends at university. Father accepts it, 10.saying(say) “You can make lots of new lawyer friends.”

单句语法填空
1．My kids spend hours chatting(chat) on the phone to their friends.
2．With the noise going on outside, only a minority of the students can focus on study.
3．He shows great respect for his parents, who he thinks have given him deep love and care.
4．With the exam approaching(approach), I find myself working harder than ever before.
5．Children often behave badly out of ignorance(ignore), so we should not be always hard on them.
6．(上海卷)Please turn to the police for help when you are in trouble.
7．There are only two options(option) for you, accept the challenge or give it up.
8．(重庆卷)I became interested(interest) in biology and chose to learn biology when I entered the college.
9．Nowadays, the government is building more suitable(suit) out­door places for body­building.
10．Generally speaking, it is__assumed(assume) that stress is caused by too much work.
阅读理解
A
My dad is a wonderful man. He worked hard all his life and has never let me down. If one person affected me to go to college and become a better person, it’s him.
I moved in with my dad a few years ago. Every morning he would wake up at 4 am. He would do some writing and then leave for work. He would get off work at 5 pm and spend the remaining day with his family. Any time I needed him, he was there for me. He was a great role model. My dad is a typical family man. He bends__over__backwards to support his family. He supported us financially and emotionally.
My dad is the reason why I try to support my son as best as I can. He is also the reason why I have decided to spend less time with friends and more time with family. Now I’m a much better woman. I have a son of my own. I once worked hard on my studies in school and now do well in my work. My dad became a manager in less than three years and I hope to do the same. I have worked for the same company for one and a half years now. I have got two raises(加薪).
I remember I worked quite hard in school. I never missed a day and I never went to school late. I graduated in July two years ago. This was only the first step to becoming a psychologist. My father is an expert in this field. But I’m proud that I never rely on his reputation(声望).
My father is more than 2，000 miles away, but I never forget what he did for us. Every time work gets really hard, I think of my dad. Every time I feel like giving up, I think of him.
【解题导语】　作者为她父亲而感到自豪， 并以他为榜样， 认真学习， 努力工作， 关心家人。
1．What is affected by the author’s father?
A．She wants a big family.
B．She makes a lot of friends.
C．She spends more time with her family.
D．She values(重视) family more than work.
C　解析：细节理解题。根据第三段的He is also the reason why I have decided to spend less time with friends and more time with family. 可知C项正确。
2．What does the underlined phrase “bends over backwards” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?
A．Be friendly to others.
B．Try to save every penny.
C．Do a lot of housework.
D．Make a great effort.
D　解析：词义猜测题。作者在本文高度地称赞父亲， 她父亲每天在早晨4点钟就起床写作， 再根据My dad is a typical family man. He bends__over__backwards to support his family. He supported us financially and emotionally. 可知父亲为了养家而努力。因此猜出bends over backwards意为“竭尽全力”。
3．What do we know about the author’s work?
A．She has become a famous psychologist.
B．She does well and has been awarded.
C．She plans to found her own workshop.
D．She never missed a day in her company.
B　解析：细节理解题。根据第三段的I once worked hard on my studies in school and now do well in my work.和I have got two raises(加薪)．可知B项正确。
4．We can infer from this passage that________．
A．the author is working in the same field as her father
B．the author regrets not spending too much time with friends
C．the author’s father went to work at 4 am every day
D．the author has moved back and is living with her father
A　解析：推理判断题。从第四段可知答案选A。
B
Making employees feel happy and healthy at work is good for many businesses. But it isn’t always an easy thing. A research suggests that just 33% of the U．S. employees consider themselves fully engaged(投身于) at work, while 16% are actively disengaged, and 51% are just showing up.
But there is an exception(例外). When it comes to employee engagement, it seems that employees in small companies are doing better. According to the same research, the largest U．S. companies have the lowest levels of engagement, while companies with fewer than 25 employees have the highest. And in one recent report, 75 percent of small business workers surveyed said they were “very” or “extremely” satisfied with their role as a small company employee.
Unlike big companies, small companies are often short of resources but the employees can get more surprises there. Small companies offer excellent career opportunities to their employees. The bosses often know their staff very well and understand their personal needs. Employees of small companies are more likely to receive free meals, paid leave, and they can even bring their pets to work.
But of course, there’re many other draws in small businesses. One of the top draws is flexible scheduling(弹性工时). Another is being able to really see the fruits of one’s labor. Besides, non－cash award is also a big draw. This could be something small that reflects employees’ interests and lifestyles.
While a parental leave might lead to some financial problems, small companies may do something to improve it.“It may be impossible for a five－person team to be reduced to four for six months，” writes Camilla Velasquez, head of HR management platform Justworks. “But it could be possible to allow new parents to take on reduced hours in a work－from－home environment.” This kind of method has been realized in some small companies.
【解题导语】　本文是一篇说明文。文章介绍了小型企业的员工比大型企业员工的幸福感更强，并分析了原因。
5．What can we infer from Paragraph 2?
A．Employees can develop better in small companies.
B．Employees can earn more money in small companies.
C．Employees in big companies are hard to be satisfied.
D．Employees in small companies are more engaged at work.
D　解析：推理判断题。根据第二段的When it comes to employee engagement, it seems that employees in small companies are doing better.可知，相对于大公司的员工来说，小公司的员工能更好地投入到工作中。
6．What does Paragraph 3 mainly talk about?
A．The benefits of working for small companies.
B．The differences between small and big companies.
C．What challenges staff in small companies may face.
D．Why small companies are short of resources.
A　解析：段落大意题。根据第三段的Small companies offer excellent career opportunities...可知，这些都是在小公司工作的好处，所以可知答案。
7．What does the underlined word “draws” in Paragraph 4 mean?
A．Choices.　　　　　　　　 B．Attractions.
C．Difficulties. D．Competitions.
B　解析：词义猜测题。根据下文的“flexible scheduling(弹性工时)”，“being able to really see the fruits of one’s labor”及“non－cash award”等推测，该词意为“吸引人的东西”。
8．What can be most probably inferred from the passage?
A．Small companies may have more employees with much happiness.　
B．Big companies should learn from some small companies.
C．Employees should have their own hobbies and lifestyles.
D．Employers should pay more attention to the staff’s needs.
A　解析：推理判断题。本文主要讲了跟大型企业相比，小型企业的员工可以享受更多更好的待遇，因而他们的幸福感更强。再根据第二段的And in one recent report, 75 percent of small business workers surveyed said they were “very” or “extremely” satisfied with their role as a small company employee. 可推测，小型企业的员工幸福感更强。
完形填空
Two years ago, my best friend Gina was killed in a car accident.What made things__1__was that her husband was badly ill with cancer.At that time，I made a __2__to take on their two sons，which changed the__3__of my life.But I didn’t hesitate(犹豫) for a moment，__4__I was a single mother of three children myself.I know I have done the__5__thing.I don’t see myself as a saint(圣人), just a good friend.I__6__that Gina would have done the same for my children.How many other people are__7__enough to experience a friendship like ours?
From then on，I decided to__8__her sons as best I could.With five children and two houses to look after, life was not so__9__．It divided my family into two and made me __10__ my favourite job.I got a new job in a restaurant and worked as a__11__ which helped pay the bills.Two years have passed，and we have__12__ it.We love each other and help each other.__13__can separate us from each other.
Gina’s boys call me Aunt Jane__14__Mum.They are right.I’m just their mum’s best friend.To my__15__， they are so close to me and my children. My __16__times are when we all sit round the table for a family dinner.We__17__to make sure that happens twice a week.In those__18__， I feel Gina and her husband are there with us again.How could I__19__ regret a decision like that？I get to feel close to my best friends every day.Through the boys, they__20__．
【解题导语】　本文是一篇记叙文。文章讲述了作者在好友去世后毅然承担起了抚养其两个孩子的责任。
1．A.funny　　　　　　　　　 B．worse
C．strange D．better
B　解析：由该空后的her husband was badly ill with cancer可知，让事情变得“更糟糕的(worse)”是她的丈夫身患癌症。
2．A.rule B．mistake
C．difference D．promise
D　解析：由下文内容可知，作者作出“承诺(promise)”收养了好友的两个孩子。
3．A.end B．truth
C．course D．history
C　解析：由下文的It divided my family into two等信息可知，收养他们的两个孩子改变了作者的生活“轨迹(course)”。
4．A.unless B．as if
C．because D．even though
D　解析：“尽管(even though)”作者自己是一个有三个孩子的单身母亲，但对于收养这两个孩子却从未犹豫过。
5．A.right B．stupid
C．dangerous D．interesting
A　解析：由该空后的I don’t see myself as a saint(圣人), just a good friend.可知，作者认为自己所做的事情是“正确的(right)”。
6．A.doubt B．believe
C．suggest D．remember
B　解析：由文章开头的my best friend可知，作者“相信(believe)”好友Gina也会像自己一样去做的。
7．A.lucky B．strong
C．busy D．serious
A　解析：由上文内容可知，作者在好友出事后，毅然承担起了抚养其两个孩子的责任，因为她们之间的这段友情来之不易，有多少人能像她们这样“幸运(lucky)”呢？
8．A.make fun of B．take pride in
C．take care of D．look down upon
C　解析：下文的With five children and two houses to look after是提示。
9．A.poor B．easy
C．happy D．safe
B　解析：作者要照顾五个孩子，兼顾两个家庭，生活很不“容易(easy)”。
10．A.look for B．pick up
C．show off D．give up
D　解析：由下文的I got a new job可知，作者“放弃(give up)”了自己喜爱的工作。
11．A.doctor B．writer
C．waitress D．teacher
C　解析：由该空前的a new job in a restaurant可知，C项内容符合此处语境。
12．A.made B．got
C．forgotten D．caught
A　解析：由该空后的We love each other and help each other.可知，两年已经过去了，作者和孩子们互助互爱，兑现了自己当初的承诺。make it成功做成某事，达到预定目标。
13．A.Anything B．Nothing
C．Something D．Everything
B　解析：“没有什么(Nothing)”能够将我们分开。
14．A.because of B．along with
C．except for D．instead of
D　解析：由该空后的They are right.I’m just their mum’s best friend.可知，Gina的孩子们只是称呼作者简阿姨“而非(instead of)”妈妈。
15．A.regret B．shame
C．pleasure D．sadness
C　解析：由该空后的they are so close to me and my children可知，他们和作者以及作者的孩子们关系十分亲密，这让作者感到十分“高兴(pleasure)”。
16．A.favourite B．working
C．difficult D．travelling
A　解析：由该空后的when we all sit round the table for a family dinner可知，这是作者“最喜欢的(favourite)”时刻了。
17．A.fail B．try
C．choose D．refuse
B　解析：作者和孩子们“试图(try)”确保“全家人”能够每周两次聚在一起用餐。
18．A.months B．holidays
C．programmes D．moments
D　解析：由上文的a family dinner和twice a week可知，这里是说作者和孩子们相聚在一起的“时刻(moments)”。
19．A.ever B．even
C．never D．still
A　解析：由该空前的I feel Gina and her husband are there with us again可知，每当家庭聚餐时，作者就感觉Gina和她的丈夫又跟他们聚在了一起，所以这里是说：“我”怎么会后悔当初的决定呢？ever在此起加强语气的作用。
20．A.die off B．call out
C．live on D．calm down
C　解析：看到Gina的孩子们，作者感觉好朋友就在自己的身边，他们“仍旧活着(live on)”。