“Hurry and finish breakfast, honey,” I urge my daughter. “We have some new music to learn today.”
The sun is not up, yet here we sit on the piano bench, mother and daughter, welcoming the new day in some.
“Are your fingers in a good position?” I gently instruct.
Blue eyes rolling, 7-year-old Emily sighs before repeating the song, adding a little “forte（强音）” to stress that this she does hit correct note.
“Be careful not to be too hard on her,” I tell myself. “Stress the positive and make it fun.”
“That was much better!” I say.
I think back to my own mother, 30 year ago, sitting beside me as I practiced the piano before sunrise. We were 6:30 people, meeting in the early morning each day. Despite（尽管）working a second-shift job and getting only six hours of sleep, Mon never missed a practice session(训练课). Her instruction was always subtle(巧妙的), her gentle manner filling me with love.
I give Emily a hug. She plays not perfectly at first, but eventually with much harmony and rhythm.
“Let’s play it again, Mom!” Emily’s eyes, the same pair that were rolling with frustration(挫败)just 20 minutes earlier, are now lit with the glow(光辉) of achievement. I, too, feel a love between generations strengthened years earlier on a piano bench in the early light of day.
“Mom, you should have heard her play at the concert!” I say. “She didn’t miss a note!” It is a week later, and I’m feeling the need to praise my young musician. I know exactly whom to call first.
“Well, of course she did a great job! You tell Emily that Grandma is proud of her. And don’t forget to give her a big, sweet kiss.”
Hanging up the phone, I walk into my bedroom, checking that the alarm is set for the next morning. We are, as we always have been, 6:30 people, mother and daughter, playing our instrument of love.
21. At first, it seemed that Emily______.
A. was very sleepy.
B. was in high spirits.
C. felt a bit upset.
D. showed great interest in music.
22. During the morning practice session, the author reminded herself to________.
A. be strict with her daughter.
B. be patient with her daughter.
C. be proud of her mother.
D. be thankful to her mother.
23. Who does the underlined word “We” in Paragraph 7 refer to?
A. The author and her daughter.
B. The author and her husband.
C. The author and her teacher.
D. The author and her mother.