IhadworriedmyselfsickoverSimon’smothercomingtoseeme.IwasanewteacherandIgaveanhonestaccountofthestudents’work.InSimon’scasethegradeswereawfullylow.Hecouldn’treadhisownhandwriting.Buthewasabrightstudent.Hediscussedadultsubjectswithnearlyadultcomprehension.Hisworkinnowayreflectedhisabilities.
SowhenSimon’smotherenteredtheroommypalms(手掌心)weresweating.Iwascompletelyunpreparedforherkissesonbothmycheeks.“Icametothankyou”shesaidsurprisingmebeyondspeech.BecauseofmeSimonhadbecomeadifferentperson.Hetalkedofhowhelovedmehehadbeguntomakefriendsandforthefirsttimeinhistwelveyearshehadrecentlyspentanafternoonatafriend’shouse.Shewantedtotellmehowgratefulshewasfortheself-respectIhaddevelopedinherson.Shekissedmeagainandleft.
Isatstunnedforabouthalfanhourwonderingwhathadjusthappened.HowdidImakesuchalife-changingdifferencetothatboywithoutevenknowingit?WhatIfinallycametorememberwasonedayseveralmonthsbeforewhensomestudentsweregivingreportsinthefrontoftheclassJeannespokequietlyandtoencouragehertoraisehervoiceIhadsaid“Speakup.Simonistheexpertonthis.Heistheonlyoneyouhavetoconvinceandhecan’thearyouinthebackoftheroom.”Thatwasit.FromthatdayonSimonhadsatupstraighterpaidmoreattentionsmiledmoreandbecamehappy.Anditwasallbecausehehappenedtobethelastkidinthelastrow.Theboywhomostneededpraisewastheonewhotookthelastseatthatday.
IttaughtmethemostvaluablelessonovertheyearsofmyteachingcareerandI’mthankfulthatitcameearlyandpositively.Asmallkindnesscanindeedmakeadifference.
36.WecaninferthatwhenSimon’smotherenteredtheroomthewriterfelt_______.
A.satisfied B.nervous C.happy D.surprised
37.WhydidSimon’smothercometovisitherson’steacher?
A.Becausesheworriedaboutherson’spoorwork.
B.Becauseshewantedtoshowhergratitudetotheteacher.
C.BecauseSimonaskedhertodoso.
D.Becauseshewantedtoknowherson’sperformanceintheschool.
38.Whattheteachersaidinparagraph3isintendedto_______.