For as long as I could remember, my younger brother, Max, had wanted a new bike. The old one he had was too small and had a broken wheel. We lived in a small house on Maple Street with our parents and our dog, Sparky. Papa worked at the local factory, and Mama stayed home to take care of us. Money was always tight, but we never felt poor. Mama and Papa always made sure we had what we needed.
I remember that every Friday night, Mama would sit down at the kitchen table and carefully plan out the week's expenses. There would be various piles of coins and bills. "For the rent," Mama would say, placing a few bills aside. "For groceries," she would continue, making another pile. "For Max's new bike fund," she would say with a smile, adding a few coins to a small jar in the middle of the table. We all watched with eager eyes as the jar slowly filled up week by week.
One day, Papa came home with exciting news. "I got a bonus at work!" he announced. "We can finally buy Max his new bike." Max's eyes lit up with joy. We all went to the bike shop the next day. Max picked out a shiny red bike with a bell and training wheels. He couldn't stop smiling as he rode it around the block for the first time.
Years later, when I was in college, I received a scholarship. When the check came, I called Mama and Papa to tell them the good news. "I'm sending you some money to help out," I said. When the check arrived, Mama looked at it and smiled. "Thank you, dear," she said. "We will put it to good use."
It was then that Mama revealed something surprising. "We never actually had a bike fund," she said. "We just wanted to teach you all the importance of saving and being patient." I was shocked. "But we bought Max's bike with the bonus," she explained. "It was our way of showing you that good things come to those who wait and work hard."
1. What did Max want for a long time?
a. A new dog
b. A new bike
c. A new house
2. COMPLETE THE SENTENCE.
Every Friday night, Mama would (-)
a. Plan out the week's expenses
b. Go to the factory
c. Take the dog for a walk
3. What did Papa announce one day?
a. He got a new job
b. He got a bonus at work
c. He won the lottery
4. What was in the middle of the table during Mama's planning?
a. A small jar for Max's new bike fund
b. A bowl of fruit
c. A stack of books
5. Why was the author shocked at the end of the story?
a. Mama said they never had a bike fund
b. Mama said they were moving to a new house
c. Papa said he lost his job
