For every parent of a missing child, the dream is always the same: You discover that your long-lost child has finally made it home, safe and sound.
Melissa Suzanne Highsmith, a woman who first went missing when she just learned to walk recently met up with her family. The woman, later renamed Melanie, had been living only half an hour away from her birth parents.
She and her birth father did DNA tests. Although Melissa is still waiting for the results of her own DNA test, her birth parents are certain they’ve found the right person because of her birthmark(胎记) and date of birth. With that said, family members and Melissa herself continue to process the unbelievably good news. “I feel like I am dreaming and I keep having to pinch(掐) myself to make sure I’m awake,” Melissa said.
How did she get lost? In 1971, Alta hired a new babysitter(临时保母) to care for her then 22-month-old daughter. Later, she returned to an empty house. It would take the next 51 years to uncover the truth—Melissa was abducted(诱拐) by the very woman who came to babysit her.
Now Alta has proudly announced “WE FOUND MELISSA!!!” on a post to a Facebook group. Included in her heartwarming post are these words: “WE KNEW beyond a shadow of a doubt that this was OUR GIRL.” The family also said that they never stopped looking for Melissa over the years and are “thrilled” about recent developments. “I’m just happy, and I can’t describe my feelings,” Alta said. “I’m so happy to see my daughter that I didn’t think I would ever see again.”
Clearly, a mother’s love cannot be diminished by time or distance. As evidenced in their Facebook post, Melissa and her family are now experiencing the joy of being together once again. They have also expressed gratitude for years of public support.
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1.How did Melissa’s birth parents recognize her?
A By providing information about the babysitter.
B By sharing her a story of her childhood.
C By checking their DNA test results.
D By noticing the mark on her skin.
解析:选D。D推理判断题。根据第三段第二句的“...her birth parents are certain they’ve found the right person because of her birthmark and date of birth”可知,还没等DNA检测结果出来,她的亲生父母就通过她身上的胎记以及她的生日确认了她的身份。故选D。
2.What does the underlined part imply?
A Melissa was missing.
B The parents moved house.
C The babysitter was being lazy.
D The babysitter was babysitting Melissa.
解析:选A。A推理判断题。根据第四段第一句“How did she get lost?”和最后一句的“Melissa was abducted by the very woman who came to babysit her.”可知,该段主要讲了梅丽莎是怎么失踪的——被临时保姆带走,因此这个空房子暗示梅丽莎被拐走了。故选A。
3.What does the underlined word “thrilled” mean?
A Ashamed.
B Embarrassed.
C Excited.
D Frightened.
解析:选C。C词义猜测题。根据划线部分后面的“I’m just happy, and I can’t describe my feelings”可知,母亲阿尔塔很高兴自己可以在51年后见到失踪的孩子。故选C。
4.What’s the suitable title for the passage?
A Woman Gets Missing At The Age Of 22.
B Woman Finds Her Real Family 51 Years Later.
C Babysitter Steals A Girl When Her Parents Aren’t At Home.
D Parents Have Been Looking For Their Daughter For 51 Years.
解析:选B。B主旨大意题。根据全文内容可知,本文讲了一岁多的小女孩失踪,51年后与家人重聚的故事。故选B。