Passage 2 On Mother’s Day when we visited Mom in the hospital,she told us she believed
Passage 2
On Mother’s Day when we visited Mom in the hospital,she told us she believed the multiple rounds of chemotherapy(化療),radiation,ICU(intensive care unit) stays,and surgeries had been worth it because they had bought her some time.“But now,it’s time to go home and ‘take care of business’.”
Shortly after coming home,Mom announced that she planned to make a quilt,which she had never done.When I asked why,she said,“Dying is boring,and it’s never too late to learn something new.” The idleness associated with incapacity was madding to her.Over the next few months Mom worked diligently on the quilt,a simple pattern called “Grandmother’s Garden”.
As she picked up a piece of calico(印花布),she would say,“This reminds me of the dress you wore the first day of school,” or “This blue was your father’s favorite color.” Each recollection opened the door for a conversation about those things that she wanted to share.
As the quilt grew,Mom weakened.It was a poignant reminder that time was passing too quickly.At last,she became too sick to work on the quilt.
Mom died before the quilt was finished,but it was all right.She had creatively used it as a tool to teach me her final lesson,that the “business” of dying is something best done at home and not in an intensive care unit.This is because the real “business” of dying is reaffirming relationships that have given one’s life meaning.
Without my knowledge,two Christmas later,my husband’s parents finished the quilt for me.It was the most wonderful gift imaginable.
Mom’s quilt has served our family in many ways she would have liked－picnic cloth,moving pad,bedspread,and wrap for her great-grandson.Each time,the quilt reminds me of the bond between generations and the important “business” of dying.
26.Mom decided to go home because .
A.She wanted to receive end-of-life care at home
B.it was Mother’s Day,and she missed her family
C.hospital treatment produced no effect
D.the family could not afford the medical fees
27.By making a quilt,Mom wanted .
A.to do something special as she approached death
B.to help with the family economy
C.to count her days remaining
D.to leave something valuable to the family
28.According to the passage,which of the following is TRUE?
A.Mom finished the quilt on her own without any help at all.
B.The author asked her husband’s parents to help with the quilt.
C.Mom had never once made a quilt before during her life.
D.Mom wanted the quilt to be used for her great-grandson.
29.The word “idleness” (underlined in Paragraph 2) probably refers to Mom’s being .
A.not busy B.lazy C.lacking value D.sleepy
30.The quilt is now used in many ways EXCEPT .
A.wrapping the child B.covering the bed
C.for picnic D.as the tablecloth