13．For years I wanted a garden．I'd spend hours thinking of different things I could plant that would look nice together．
But then we had Matthew，and Marvin，and the twins----Alisa and Alan，and then Helen．I was too busy raising them to grow a garden．
Money was not enough．Neigher was time．Often when my children were little，one of them would want something that cost too much，I'd have to say，"Do you see a money tree outside？Money doesn't grow on trees，you know．"
Finally，all the children got through high school and college and were off on their own．I started thinking again about a garden．
Then，one spring morning，on Mother's Day，I was working in my kitchen．Suddenly，I looked out of the window and there was a new tree，planted right in my yard．There were things blowing around on it．Then I put my glasses on and I couldn't believe what I saw．There was a money tree in my yard!
I went out to look．It was true!There were dollar bills，one hundred of them，hanging all over that tree．There was also a note among them，"Thank you for your time，Mom．We love you!"
Later，my children bought me tools，ornaments（装饰品），a sunflower stepping stone and gardening books，A new page started in my life．
That was three years ago．My garden is now very pretty，just like I wanted．When I go out and take care of my flowers，I don't seem to miss my children as much as I once did．It feels like they're right there with me．Now every year when winter comes，I look out of my window and think of the flowers I'll see next spring in my little garden．I think about what my children did for me，and I get tears in my eyes-every time．
I'm still not sure that money grows on trees．But I know love does!
56．How many children did the writer have？B
A．Three
B．Five
C．Four
D．Six
57．What did the mother mean when she said"Money doesn't grow on trees"？B
A．She was too busy to plant a money tree at that time．
B．It wasn't easy for her to make money to raise all the children．
C．She had to save money so that she could have a garden．
D．They didn't have much money because the mother lost her job．
58．From Paragraph 5，we know that"A money tree"appeared in the writer's yardA．
A．one spring morning on a Mother's Day after the children left her
B．before her children were born
C．when the children were little
D．after the children went to school
59．The children planted a money tree in their mother's yard becauseD．
A．their mother needed money badly
B．they wanted to live together with their mother forever
C．it was time for them to give the money back to their mother
D．they wanted to show their love to their mother
60．According to the passage，we can know Mother's Day is inC．
A．January
B．August
C．May
D．October．
分析 多年以来，我一直想拥有个花园，在里面可以种植一些我喜欢种的植物．后来有了5个孩子：Matthew，Marvin，Alisa，Alan and Helen．孩子多，因为照顾孩子们，而且孩子们的花销也大，所以没有精力和足够的钱来实现自己的愿望．孩子们长大成人之后，一个个上完了中学与大学，并且独自生活了．在母亲节那天为我布置了一个漂亮的花园，实现了我的梦想．
解答 56．B．细节理解题．根据But then we had Matthew，and Marvin，and the twins----Alisa and Alan，and then Helen．可知后来有了Matthew，Marvin，Alisa，Alan and Helen，所以一共5个孩子．故选B．
57．B．句意猜测题．根据one of them would want something that cost too much，I'd have to say，"Do you see a money tree outside？Money doesn't grow on trees，you know．"可知对她来说挣钱养孩子不是很容易的事．故选B．
58．A．细节理解题．根据Then，one spring morning，on Mother's Day，I was working in my kitchen．Suddenly，I looked out of the window and there was a new tree，planted right in my yard．可知在一个春天的早晨，在母亲节那一天，在我的院子里看到了一棵摇钱树．故选A．
59．D．推理判断题．根据There was also a note among them，"Thank you for your time，Mom．We love you!"可知孩子们在妈妈的院子里种植摇钱树是为了显示他们对妈妈的爱．故选D．
60．C．推理判断题．根据one spring morning，on Mother's Day，可知母亲节是在春天，而春天一般是三、四、五月．故选C．
点评 这是一篇人生感悟类阅读短文．作者给我们讲述了她的母亲的故事，通过这个故事告诉我们子欲养而亲不待的道理，为人子的我们应该好好孝顺我们的长辈．本篇短文比较简单，容易理解，做题时，先细读短文，然后带着问题再读一遍，找出符合题目的解答即可．
