[2026 天津期中]How much is a mother's love? Check the bill.
One day Billy came up to his mother in the kitchen. At that moment, his mother was preparing supper for the whole family, and he handed her a piece of paper. She took and read the note. At first, she couldn't believe it. She wanted to shout at him. But then she remembered her mother's words, “My darling daughter, one day, your child will do something you couldn’t think out. You will feel angry and you will feel disappointed. But then you will feel something only a mother has. And that is a mother’s love.”
Billy felt very proud. He looked at his mother and saw how she looked at the note. Then without a word, she picked up a pen, turned over the paper, wrote something, and handed back the paper to him. When Billy finished reading his mother’s words, there were big tears in his eyes, and he said, “Mum, I love you!”
What did Billy write to his mother? The note said:
For cutting the grass: 5For cleaning up my room this week: 1
For going to the store for you: 0.5For getting a good report card: 5
Total: 11.5
Now let's look at what his mother wrote back that made Billy change his mind:
For 9 months I carried you while you were growing inside me: no charge
For all the nights that I sat up with you to take care of your illnesses: no charge
For the toys, food, clothes, and even wiping your nose: no charge
Son, I am your mother and I love you. Your health, your happiness and your smile are more important than any amount of money. Thank you.
( )1. Billy handed his mother a piece of paper. He wanted to _________.
A. show his mother his handwriting
B. check his homework with his mother
C. ask some money for doing housework
D. ask his mother for help with his report
( )2. Billy's mother felt _________ at first after she read the words on the note.
A. noisy B. angry
C. relaxed D. nervous
( )3. _________ helped Bill's mother have a good idea.
A. Billy's grandmother
B. Billy's grandfather
C. Billy's brother
D. Billy's neighbour

( )4. “No charge” in the passage means “_________” in Chinese.
A. 失控 B. 失去
C. 免谈 D. 免费

1. C 细节理解题。根据“What did Billy write to his mother? The note said...”和第一个文本框可知,比利给妈妈纸条是想向妈妈要做家务的钱。故选 C 项。
2. B 细节理解题。根据“She wanted to shout at him.”可知,看完纸条后,比利的妈妈最初感到生气。故选 B 项。
3. A 细节理解题。根据“But then she remembered her mother's words...”可知,比利的外婆帮比利的妈妈想出了一个好主意。故选 A 项。
4. D 词义猜测题。根据“Son, I am your mother and I love you ... more important than any amount of money.”可知,此处表示妈妈为孩子做的所有事情都是免费的,因此 no charge 意为“免费”。故选 D 项。