My father died when I was five. It was hard on us all. My brother, who is eight years older than me, began to take care of my mother and me.
He took on more responsibilities than expected. I remember he made sure the rubbish was taken out, and the yard was cleaned. He did on his own, without being told to do so.
Because of my father’s death, mom had to get a full time job. Brother would get me up for school and make me breakfast. While I was eating, he would lay out my clothes, make my bed, and gather my school books up.
Hand in hand we would walk to the bus stop. As we waited, he would play games my father used to play with me. When we returned from school, we were alone for about half an hour, until mom was home from work. Before I did my homework, he would sit me down with three cookies and a glass of milk. Then he would prepare something for mom to cook dinner.
Mom would greet us with a hug and kiss. This was our time to have some fun outside. This was my brother’s time to be a kid.
One Saturday in June several years later, my mother and I were at a store where the Father’s Day cards were sold. I stared at the cards. Mom said, "Cindy, I know this is hard time for you."
"No, mom. That’s not it. Why don’t they have Brother’s Day cards?"
She smiled, "You’re right, your brother has exactly been a father to you. Go ahead to choose a card."
I did so, and on Father’s Day, my mother and I sat my brother down and gave him the card.
As he read it, I saw the tears in his eyes. Mom said, "Son, your father is proud of you, seeing that he raised a good man, and that you do your best to fill his shoes. We love you and thank you."
23. Who asked the brother to take on more responsibilities?
A. The father. B. The mother. C. He himself. D. Cindy.
24. What did the brother do for the whole family?
① He got Cindy up for school.              ② He prepared for dinner.
③ He did the dishes every day.            ④ He gathered up Cindy’s books.
⑤ He played games with Cindy.            ⑥ He helped Cindy with the homework.
A. ①②③④ B. ①②④⑤ C. ①③④⑤ D. ②③⑤⑥
25. Cindy’s brother returned to be a kid when _____________.
A. he played games with her at the bus stop.
B. they stayed home alone waiting for mom.
C. he offered delicious cookies and milk.
D. they had fun outside after mom came back.
26. While reading the card, Cindy’s brother felt _____________.
A. down B. embarrassed C. moved D. angry
27. What’s the best title for the passage?
A. My Childhood B. My Second Father C. A Valuable Card D. A Careful Brother
【文章大意】本文是记叙文，讲述了父亲去世后，大＂我＂八岁的哥哥主动承担起了照顾家庭重任的故事，表现了哥哥的责任感，赞美了亲情，表达了对哥哥的爱和敬意。
23. C【解析】题意：谁让哥哥承担更多的责任?考查细节理解。根据He did on his own, without being told to do so.可知哥哥主动承担了照顾家庭的责任，故选C。
24. B【解析】题意：哥哥为全家做了什么?考查细节理解。①他让辛迪上学。②他准备晚餐。③他每天都餐具。④他收集了辛迪的书。⑤他与辛迪玩游戏。⑥他帮助辛迪写作业。根据Brother would get me up for school and make me breakfast. While I was eating, he would lay out my clothes, ,make my bed, and gather my school books up.和Before I did my homework, he would sit me down with three cookies and a glass of milk. Then he would prepare something for mom to cook dinner.可知没有提及洗餐具和帮弟弟写作业，①②④⑤符合短文内容，故选B。
25. D【解析】题意：妈妈回来后，辛迪的哥哥在外面玩得很开心，回到了童年。考查细节理解。A. 他在公共汽车站和她玩游戏。B. 他们独自呆在家里等妈妈。C. 他提供美味的饼干和牛奶。D. 妈妈回来后，他们在外面玩得很开心。根据Mom would greet us with a hug and kiss. This was our time to have some fun outside. This was my brother’s time to be a kid.可知妈妈回来后是哥哥到外面玩的时间，they had fun outside after mom came back.符合句意，故选D。
26. C【解析】题意：辛迪的哥哥在读卡片时感到很感动。考查细节理解。根据As he read it, I saw the tears in his eyes.可知哥哥感动得哭了，故选C。
27. B【解析】题意：这篇文章最好的题目是什么?考查标题归纳。根据短文内容，讲述了哥哥在父亲去世后主动承担责任照顾全家的故事，结合妈妈的话She smiled, "You’re right, your brother has exactly been a father to you. Go ahead to choose a card."可知长兄如父，My Second Father符合文意，故选B。