The father’s role in the family is important. One researcher says babies who are cared for by their fathers have greater cognitive (認知的) development at one year of age than babies not cared for by their fathers. Another researcher reports that by spending time with their pre-school children, fathers can help to develop children’s language ability. Researchers also point out that for school-age children, fathers are one bridge with the outside world.
Fathers who value (重視) education have children who do better in school than those children whose fathers don’t value education. What’s more, fathers who spend quality time with their children may give their children happy memories which may last a lifetime.
While each father is a unique person who educates children in his own style, good fathers have something in common.
Good fathers attend their children’s school activities. They also involve the children in their lives and the adult world by taking them to see the workplace, or by taking them when the car needs to be repaired, etc.
Good fathers expect a great deal from their children, but also accept and support the unique individuals (個體) that their children are becoming.
Good fathers prefer explanations and reasoning to force.
Good fathers know their time with children is really an investment (投資) in them.
Being an involved father is good for children and good for fathers. Both children and fathers have the chance for growth and development. Today’s lifestyles are changing. More and more fathers are keeping a balance between their personal life, work, and family time.
【小題1】According to the passage, we can find that          .

The father’s role in the family is important. One researcher says babies who are cared for by their fathers have greater cognitive (認知的) development at one year of age than babies not cared for by their fathers. Another researcher reports that by spending time with their pre-school children, fathers can help to develop children’s language ability. Researchers also point out that for school-age children, fathers are one bridge with the outside world.
Fathers who value (重視) education have children who do better in school than those children whose fathers don’t value education. What’s more, fathers who spend quality time with their children may give their children happy memories which may last a lifetime.
While each father is a unique person who educates children in his own style, good fathers have something in common.
Good fathers attend their children’s school activities. They also involve the children in their lives and the adult world by taking them to see the workplace, or by taking them when the car needs to be repaired, etc.
Good fathers expect a great deal from their children, but also accept and support the unique individuals (個體) that their children are becoming.
Good fathers prefer explanations and reasoning to force.
Good fathers know their time with children is really an investment (投資) in them.
Being an involved father is good for children and good for fathers. Both children and fathers have the chance for growth and development. Today’s lifestyles are changing. More and more fathers are keeping a balance between their personal life, work, and family time.   
【小題1】According to the passage, we can find that          .

When I was in the third grade, I was chosen to be the princess in the school play. For weeks my mother had helped me practice my lines（臺詞）. But once on the stage, every word      from my head. Then my teacher asked me to change my role to be a narrator（解說者）for the play.        I didn’t tell my mother what had happened that day, she noticed my       and asked if I wanted to take a walk in the garden.
It was a lovely spring day. We could see dandelions（蒲公英）popping（炸開）     the grass in bunches（束）. I watched my mother bend down by one of the bunches. “I think I’ll dig up（挖光）all these weeds（野草）,” she said. “From now on, we’ll       have roses in this garden.”
“But I like dandelions,” I protested（抗議）. “All the flowers are        -- even dandelions!”
My mother looked at me seriously. “Yes, every flower gives pleasure in its own way, doesn’t it?” she asked thoughtfully. I nodded. “And that is        of people, too.” She added.
When I       that she had guessed my pain, I started to cry and told her the truth. “But you will be a wonderful narrator,” she said,       me of how much I loved to read stories aloud.
Thanks to my mother’s encouragement, I got to know everybody had his or her own      in the world, I felt proud of the role in the play.

Each day I took the same route to work and passed by a security guard (保安）.  1  greeted everyone walking by and made small talk with many of the passers-by and wishing them well. His simple “hello” made people feel   2 . His cheerful smile became a part of my day. When he was absent, many people noticed it, and I felt a little bit empty.

The first few times, I didn’t say hello back to him when he greeted me. I was   3  in my own world. On Monday the security guard asked me:“How was your weekend?” I told him about my visit to California, to see my mother, who had colon cancer. I  4 how I visited her each month. “The time with my mother is so precious(珍貴的),   5  I know that each time may be the last.”

He listened like a close friend I’d known for years. He felt my   6 and my love. He shared how he had lost his father to cancer two years before. He said, “I understand what you are going through. My father passed away while I was serving in Germany. Because of some reasons I was unable to fly back in time. I was unable to say goodbye to him. I wish I could have been with him, given him a hug, and told him I loved him. You are really lucky to have the gift of   7 .”

As I walked away, I realized I did not even know his name. The following day, on my way to work, I said: “After we spent all that time   8 yesterday, I still don’t know your name.” He answered, “Gary.” I responded back, “I’m Deborah.”

After that, we talked and shared stories about our weekends, dreams and families.

Later, Gary got   9  a new job and moved away. It’s been several years since I last spoke to him, yet the memory feels like yesterday. Gary reached out to me,   10  me and made my morning the best part of the day. I experienced the beauty of friendship and love.

In the business of life, we often forget to wish a stranger hello although how easy it is, and how great and lasting a   11  it can make. When you say hello to a stranger you become like a pebble(鵝卵石) thrown into a pond. With each ripple (波紋）you create, you spread love that continues to   12 . Make a point of saying hello to a stranger today. You will give the gift that keeps on giving.

1.                A．She            B．They           C．He  D．I

2.                A．nervous        B．funny          C．special   D．surprised

3.                A．lost            B．left            C．missed   D．dropped

4.                A．wondered      B．shared         C．realized  D．found

5.                A．because        B．so             C．a(chǎn)nd  D．but

6.                A．weakness       B．illness          C．sorriness  D．sadness

7.                A．god            B．time           C．nature   D．friendship

8.                A．thinking        B．calling          C．crying    D．talking

9.                A．offered         B．a(chǎn)fforded        C．invited   D．chosen

10.               A．moved         B．touched        C．told  D． helped

11.               A．progress        B．sense          C．trouble    D．difference

12.               A．receive        B．send           C．give  D．create