Knitting

My mother knew how to knit, but she nevertaught me. She assumed, as did many women of her generation, that knitting wasno longer a skill worth passing down from mother to daughter. A combination offeminism, consumerism and household gadgetry made many women feel that suchhomely accomplishments were no obsolete. My grandmother still knitted, though,and every Christmas she made a pair of socks for my brother and me, of redwool. They were the ones we wore under our ice skates, when it was reallyimportant to have warm feet.

Knitting is a nervous habit that happens to beproductive. It helped me quit smoking by giving my hands something else to do.It is wonderful for depression because no matter what else happens, you arecreating something beautiful. Time spent in front of the television or justsitting is no longer time wasted.

I love breathing life into the patterns. It'strue magic, finding a neglected, dog-eared old book with the perfect snowflakedesign, buying the same Germantown knitting worsted my grandmother used, in theexact blue to match my daughter's eyes, taking it on the train with me everyday for two months, working feverishly to get it done by Christmas, staying uplate after the stocking are filled to sew in the sleeves and weave in the ends.

Knitting has taught me patience. I know that ifI just keep going, even if it takes months, there will be a reward. When I makea mistake, I know that a temper tantrum will not fix it, that I just have to goback and take out the stitches between and start over again.

People often ask if I would do it for money,and the answer is always a definite no. In the first place, you could not payme though for the hours I put into a sweater. But more important, this is anactivity I keep separate from such considerations. I knit to cover my childrenand other people I love in warmth and color. I knit to give them somethingearthly that money could never buy.

Knitting gives me life an alternative rhythm tothe daily deadline. By day I can write about Northern Ireland or the New YorkCity Police Department and get paid for it, but on the train home, surroundedby people with laptops, I stage my little rebellion. I take out my old knittingbag and join the centuries of women who have knitted for love.

1. Which of the following reasons does NOTexplain the fact that "Knitting was no longer a skill worth passing downfrom mother to daughter"?

A) The struggle of women for equal rights.

B) The belief that it is good to buy and use alot of goods.

C) The plain feature of Knitting.

D) The introduction of domestic devices.

2.At what time did the author wear the stocksher grandmother had knitted for her?

A) In winter.

B) When she went skiing.

C) During the Christmas holiday.

D) When she needed to keep her feet warm forskating.

3."Knitting is nervous habit" means

A) knitting involves the work of one's nerves.

B) Knitting gets on one's nerves.

C) Knitting makes one nervous.

D) Knitting may act as a trigger for a nervousbreakdown.

4.Which of the following is false concerningknitting according the author?

A) It helps one give up one's bad habit.

B) It helps one get rid of one's bad mood.

C) It requires patience.

D) It is profit-making business.

5.What is NOT her purpose for knittingaccording to this passage?

A) It saves money.

B) It activate one's life.

C) It enriches one's life.

D) It is a pleasant pastime.