Though we were poor and struggling, my sister managed to buy me a pair of "magic shoes" that changed
my life.
     Anne is six years older than me. Growing up, we were very poor, and my mother worked evenings at a
factory in a small town. Not seeing my mother much, Anne took over much of the maternal support. During
those teenage years, Anne was always there for me, not only as a big sister, but as a mother and my best
friend.
     When I was seventeen and had no money, I thought my only chance of going to college was if I could
win a scholarship. I had an important interview for such an award. Anne at that time was struggling surviving
on a part-time job. I told her of my interview, that General Motors was sending me a bus ticket, and I would
get to visit the city for my scholarship interview. I was excited about the adventure and asked her advice on
what to wear. I showed her my best outfit and how I planned to be careful, how I sat so that the hole in the
bottom of my shoe would not be seen, but I wasn't sure what I would do if it rained.
     Anne suggested that we go shopping, and we took the bus to a store and we found a beautiful pair of
leather shoes on sale. She told me to try them on, but I thought it was just for fun as neither of us had ever
owned anything that expensive before. But this time was different, Anne handed me the boxed shoes and said,
"Here, I'll buy these for you."
     "But…" was all I could say.
     "You deserve them," she replied. "I want to see you get that scholarship."
     I went to the interview and crossed my legs so that my beautiful new shoes shone with pride. I won the
scholarship and became an engineer. Now, after twenty years have passed, I still have that pair of shoes with
me, and I just wear them on those little occasions when I need to feel special. It's kind of like having magic
ruby slippers when you're homesick.

1. Why did the author say that Anne was like the author's mother?

A. Because she took care of the author.
B. Because Anne was much older than the author.
C. Because Anne looked like the author's mother.
D. Because Anne admired the author's mother.

2. Anne suggested that they go shopping in order to ____.

A. buy a pair of new shoes for the author
B. buy a pair of new shoes for herself
C. repair the author's poor shoes
D. try on different kinds of clothes

3. The interview was successful probably because ____.

A. the interviewers noticed her new shoes and liked them
B. the author looked especially beautiful wearing the shoes
C. the author was confident with the new shoes on
D. the shoes are a pair of "magic shoes"