When my daughter, Sophie, was admitted to a college we were very happy, but a little worried about becoming empty nesters(空巢老人). I knew I had to do something, starting with the summer before she was away from home.

Sophie had a pack of colourful blouses. I knew she wouldn’t wear them anymore, so I decided to make a quilt(被子) out of them. I tried to work on the quilt when Sophie ____________ – which turned out to be often. She was very busy with her friends. Even when she was at home, her door was shut more than usual. This made me feel a bit hurt. ____________, we didn’t have much time together before she went to college.

When we arrived at the college, a wave of emotion flooded me. Sophie saw it in my face. She took a beautiful ____________ from her bag. “I made this for you, Mom,” she said. Then I knew why she had been staying behind a ____________ door that summer. It was an album of photographs recording the life of our family over the last 17 years.

I broke into tears. Some of it was sadness at having to let her go, but some of it was ____________. I knew that our connection was more ____________ than ever as we would always be connected by the strongest link, the love that went into every stitch(针脚) of her quilt and every photo in my album.

In Sophie’s dormitory room I unfolded the quilt on her bed. For a moment she was speechless. Then she threw her arms around me. “Mom, I love you,” she said. One of her new friends was calling her outside. Sophie turned, and I let her go.

1.A. felt tired B. went out C. had time D. fell asleep

2.A. By the way B. What’s more C. For example D. After all

3.A. model B. dress C. book D. card

4.A. heavy B. broken C. closed D. narrow

5.A. joy B. surprise C. desire D. fear

6.A. important B. powerful C. serious D. difficult