People in the United States honor their parents
with two special days：Mother’s Day, on the second Sunday in May, and
Father’s Day, on the third Sunday in June. These days are set aside to show
love and respect for parents. They raise their children and educate them to be
responsible citizens. They give love and care. These two days make us think
about the changing roles of mothers and fathers. More mothers now work outside
the home. More fathers must help with child care.
These two special days are celebrated in many
different ways. On Mother’s Day people wear carnations. A red one
symbolizes a living mother. A white one shows that the mother is dead. Many
people attend religious services to honor parents. It is also a day when people
whose parents are dead visit the cemetery. On these days families get together
at home, as well as in restaurants. They often have outdoor barbecues for
Father’s Day. These are days of fun and good feelings and memories.
Another tradition is to give cards and gifts.
Children make them in school. Many people make their own presents. These are
valued more than the ones bought in stores. It is not the value of the gift
that is important, but it is “the thought that counts”. Greeting card stores, florists,
candy makers, bakeries, telephone companies, and other stores do a lot of
business during these holidays.
1. Which of the following is NOT a reason for
children to show love and respect for parents?
A. Parents bring up children.
B. Parents give love and care to children.
C. Parents educate children to be good
persons.
D. Parents pass away before children grow up.
2. What do you think “florists” do?
A. They sell
flowers.
B. They make and sell bread.
C. They offer enough room for having family
parties.
D. They sell special gifts for Mother’s Day and
Father’s Day.
3.Which do you think is right about “carnation”?
A. It has only two kinds of colors.
B. It refers to the special clothes people wear
on Mother’s Day or Father’s Day.
C. It’s a kind of flower showing love and best
wishes.
D. People can wear carnations only on the second
Sunday in May.
4.What do you know from the passage?
A. Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are both in
May.
B. Fewer women worked outside the home in the
past.
C. Not all the children respect their
parents.
D. Fathers are not as important as mothers at
home.
5. On Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, .
A. people usually have family parties B.
everyone goes to visit the cemetery
C. children always go to parents’ home D.
hand-made cards are the most valuable gifts
