现代大学英语精读5lesson2课文two_kinds

Two Kinds Amy TanMy mother believed you could be anything you wanted to

TwoKinds AmyTan MymotherbelievedyoucouldbeanythingyouwantedtobeinAmerica.You couldopenarestaurant.Youcouldworkforthegovernmentandgetgoodretirement. Youcouldbuyahousewithalmostnomoneydown.Youcouldbecomerich.You couldbecomeinstantlyfamous. 1 “Ofcourse,youcanbeaprodigy,too,”mymothertoldmewhenIwasnine. “Youcanbebestanything.WhatdoesAuntieLindoknow?Herdaughter,sheisonly besttricky.” Americawaswhereallmymother’shopeslay.ShehadcometoSanFranciscoin 1949afterlosingeverythinginChina:hermotherandfather,herhome,herfirst husband,andtwodaughters,twinbabygirls.Butsheneverlookedbackwithregret. Thingscouldgetbetterinsomanyways. Wedidn’timmediatelypicktherightkindofprodigy.Atfirstmymotherthought 2 IcouldbeaChineseShirleyTemple.We’dwatchShirley’soldmoviesonTVas thoughtheyweretrainingfilms.Mymotherwouldpokemyarmandsay,“Ni kan.Youwatch.”AndIwouldseeShirleytappingherfeet,orsingingasailorsong,or pursingherlipsintoaveryroundOwhilesaying“Oh,mygoodness.” “Nikan,”mymothersaid,asShirley’seyesfloodedwithtears.“Youalready knowhow.Don’tneedtalentforcrying!” SoonaftermymothergotthisideaaboutShirleyTemple,shetookmetothe beautytrainingschoolintheMissionDistrictandputmeinthehandsofastudent whocouldbarelyholdthescissorswithoutshaking.Insteadofgettingbigfatcurls,I 3 emergedwithanunevenmassofcrinklyblackfuzz.Mymotherdraggedmeoffto thebathroomandtriedtowetdownmyhair. “YoulooklikeaNegroChinese,”shelamented,asifIhaddonethisonpurpose. 4 Theinstructorofthebeautytrainingschoolhadtolopoffthesesoggyclumpsto 5 makemyhairevenagain.“PeterPanisverypopularthesedays”theinstructor assuredmymother.Inowhadbadhairthelengthofaboy’s,withcurlybangsthat hungataslanttwoinchesabovemyeyebrows.Ilikedthehaircut,anditmademe