For years I wanted a garden. I’d spend hours thinking of different things I could plant that would look nice together.
But then we had Matthew, and Marvin, and the twins Alisa and Alan, and then Helen. I was too busy raising them to grow a garden.
Money was not enough. Neither was time. Often when my children were little,one of them would want something that cost too much, and I’d have to say, “Do you see a money tree outside? Money doesn't grow on trees, you know.”
Finally, all the children got through high school and college and were off on their own. I started thinking again about a garden.
Then, one spring morning, on Mother’s Day, I was working in my kitchen. Suddenly, I looked out of the window and there was a new tree, planted right in my yard. There were things blowing around on it. Then I put my glasses on—and I couldn’t believe what I saw.
There was a money tree in my yard!
I went outside to look. It was true! There were dollar bills*, one hundred of them, hanging all over that tree. There was also a note among them, “Thank you for your time, Mom. We love you!”
Later, my children bought me tools, ornaments, a sunflower stepping stone and gardening books. A new page started in my life.
That was three years ago. My garden’s now very pretty, just like I wanted. When I go out and take care of my flowers, I don’t seem to miss my children as much as I once did. It feels like they’re right there with me. Now every year when winter comes, I look out of my window and think of the flowers I’ll see next spring in my little garden. I think about what my children did for me, and I get tears in my eyes—every time.
I’m still not sure that money grows on trees. But I know love does!
【小題1】How many children did the writer have?
【小題2】 What did the mother mean when she said “Money doesn’t grow on trees”?
| A．She was too busy to plant a money tree at that time. |
| B．She had to save money so that she could have a garden. |
| C．It wasn’t easy for her to make money to raise all the children. |
| D．They didn’t have much money because the mother lost her job. |
【小題3】 The “money tree” appeared in the writer’s yard _________.
| A．before her children were born |
| B．one spring morning when the children were little |
| C．a(chǎn)fter the children went to school |
| D．on a Mother’s Day after the children left her |
【小題4】 The children planted a money tree in their mother’s yard because _________.
| A．their mother needed money badly |
| B．they wanted to show their love to their mother |
| C．it was time for them to give the money back to her |
| D．they wanted to live together with their mother forever |
