There is a fine line between being a concerned parent and one that doesn’t know when to let go.
As my daughter, Nicole, prepares to leave home for college, I’m 36 how hard it is to stay on the right side of this line. 37 I tightly hold the string (绳) connecting us, Nicole, 38 to taste her independence, 39 hard at it, trying to get out of my control. We act as if we were dancing kind of tango (探戈舞). So we reached a(n) 40 . She accepted that as her mother, I had a right to express my idea and 41 suggestions. I accepted that I had to trust her 42 and respect her choices. I bit my lip a few times and Nicole shot me a few glares, 43 our agreement held.
Thank God! She was finally accepted by a great university. When the time came for registration (注册), we went to an introductory meeting together, but then parents and students were 44 . “You may be paying the tuition (学费).” a university 45 told the parents, “but choosing classes really is the students’ 46 . ”
Obviously, I wasn’t the only parent having a hard time 47 . The night before, I had carefully read the course catalog (目录) and 48 classes I thought looked good. As Nicole went 49 to meet her adviser, we agreed to meet for lunch before registration. “ 50 those courses I marked.” I called to her.
We met three hours 1ater in the 51 hall. Nicole was excited and said to me, “Mum, I have my 52 schedule figured out. It’s great. Look at what I’m taking.” I examined the 53 . Nicole had not taken a single one of the classes I had 54 . Every class she had chosen exactly suited her interests. Though somewhat disappointed, I felt 55 that my daughter had grown into an able girl.
36．A．discovering B．expecting C．wondering D．discussing
37．A．Since B．Unless C．While D．Before
38．A．willing B．delighted C．eager D．content
39．A．works B．pulls C．pushes D．blows
40．A．destination B．explanation C．conclusion D．agreement
41．A．shared B．offered C．afforded D．created
42．A．consideration B．suggestion C．judgment D．development
43．A．so B．and C．or D．but
44．A．separated B．warned C．informed D．persuaded
45．A．producer B．translator C．designer D．official
46．A．responsibility B．activity C．ability D．quality
47．A．letting out B．1etting go C．letting alone D．1etting down
48．A．improved B．took C．attended D．marked
49．A．through B．around C．off D．by
50．A．Think about B．Pick out C．Get through D．Carry on
51．A．meeting B．dinning C．dancing D．reading
52．A．entire B．potential C．regular D．original
53．A．program B．notice C．schedule D．course
54．A．forced B．provided C．organized D．suggested
55．A．nervous B．proud C．regretful D．anxious