Passage One
段落一
My mother was born in a small town in northern Italy. She was three when her parents immigrated to America in 1926. They lived in Chicago when my grandfather worked making ice cream.
母亲生于意大利北部的一座小城镇。1926年,在她3岁的时候随父母移民到了美国。他们住在芝加哥,外祖父的工作是制作冰激凌。
Mama thrived in the urban environment. At 16, she graduated first in her high school class, went onto secretarial school, and finally worked as an executive secretary for a railroad company.
母亲在都市环境中成长起来。她16岁中学毕业,毕业成绩是全班最高的,后来上了秘书学校,最后在一家铁路公司担任行政秘书。
She was beautiful too. When a local photographer used her pictures in his monthly window display, she felt pleased.
母亲长得也很美。那时当地有位摄影师把她的照片放到一月一换的橱窗里展览,她心里很高兴。
Her favorite portrait showed her sitting by Lake Michigan, her hair went blown, her gaze reaching toward the horizon.
母亲最心爱的照片是她坐在密歇根湖畔照的,照片上,她的头发被风吹起,眼睛眺望着远方。
My parents were married in 1944. Dad was a quiet and intelligent man. He was 17 when he left Italy.
我的父母是在1944年结婚的。父亲话不多,人很聪明,17岁离开意大利。
Soon after, a hit-and-run accident left him with a permanent limp. Dad worked hard selling candy to Chicago office workers on their break.
不久,发生了一起肇事逃逸的车祸,使父亲只能终身跛行。他工作勤奋,在芝加哥办公楼的工作人员休息时,他兜售糖果。
He had little formal schooling. His English was self-taught. Yet he eventually built a small successful wholesale candy business.
父亲没受过正规教育,他的英语是自学的。然而他开了一家小型的糖果批发店。
Dad was generous and handsome. Mama was devoted to him.
父亲为人慷慨,相貌英俊。母亲深深地爱着他。
After she married, my mother quit her job and gave herself to her family.
婚后,母亲辞去工作,一心照顾家庭。
In 1950, with three small children, dad moved the family to a farm 40 miles from Chicago. He worked land and commuted to the city to run his business.
1950年,父亲带着 3个孩子把家搬到了离芝加哥40英里的一家农场。他一面在农场干活,一面往返芝加哥做他的糖果生意。
Mama said goodbye to her parents and friends, and traded her busy city neighborhood for a more isolated life. But she never complained.
母亲也告别了父母、朋友及快节奏的城市生活,过起了离群索居的日子。但她从无怨言。
Questions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you have just heard.
基于你听到的回答问题26至28。
Question 26 What does the speaker tells us about his mother's early childhood?
问题26. 关于作者母亲的早期童年生活,作者说了什么?
Question 27 What do we learn about the speaker's father?
问题27. 关于作者的父亲,我们有什么了解?
Question 28 What does the speaker say about his mother?
问题28. 作者说了他母亲的什么事?