Andy is the most unreasonable, pigheaded life form in the world, and he makes me so angry I could scream! Of course, I love him like a brother. I have to because he is my brother. More than that, he is my twin!
That’s right. Andy and Amy (that’s me) have the same curly hair and dark eyes and equally stubborn characters. Yet, though we may look alike, on most issues we usually take completely opposite positions. If I say day, you can count on Andy to say night.
Just this week, the hot topic in school was all about the PTA’S proposal (提议) to adopt a school dress principle. Every student would be required to wear a uniform. Uniforms! Can you imagine? Oh, they would be uniforms in color. The dress style would be sort of loose and free.
Boys would wear white or blue button-down shirts, a school tie, blue or gray pants, and a navy blue blazer (运动夹克). Girls would wear white or blue blouses or sweaters, blue or gray pants or skirts, along with a navy blue blazer.
Socks or tights could be black, gray, blue, or white. The teachers are divided: Some are in favor of the uniforms, others are opposed. The headmaster has asked the students to express their opinions by voting on the issue before making their decisions. She will have the final word on the dress principle.
I think a dress principle is a good idea. The reason is simple. School is tough enough without worrying about looking cool every single day. The fact is, the less I have to decide first thing in the morning, the better. I can’t tell you how many mornings I look into my closet and just stare, unable to decide what to wear. Of course, there are other mornings when my room looks like a storm had hit it, with bits and pieces of a dozen different possible clothes on the bed and on the floor. I also wouldn’t mind not having to see guys wearing oversized jeans and shirts. And I certainly would welcome not seeing kids showing off designer-labeled clothes.
Andy is surprised at my opinion. He says he can’t believe that I would be willing to give up my all-American teenage birthright by dressing like — well, like a typical teenager. Last night, he even dragged out Mom and Dad’s high school photo albums. What a couple of peace-loving hippies (嬉皮士) they were!
“Bruce Springsteen never wore a school uniform. Bob Dylan wouldn’t have been caught dead in a school uniform!
If I have to wear a uniform, I won’t feel like me!” he declared.
To which I replied, “So your personal heroes didn’t wear school uniforms. Big deal! They went to high school about a million years ago! I feel sorry for you, brother dear. I had no idea that you are so fragile that you would be completely destroyed by gray or blue pants, a white or blue shirt, a tie, and a blazer.”
That really made him angry. Then he said, “You’re just mimicking (模仿) what you hear that new music teacher saying!”
“That is so not true. I’m saying exactly what I think,” I said, raising my voice in what mom would call “a very rude manner.”
“You have always been stupid, and you know it!” he shouted.
“Is that so? Anyone who doesn’t agree with you is automatically stupid. And that’s the stupidest thing of all!” I said.
Fortunately, the bell rang before we could do each other physical harm, and we went thankfully to our separate classes.
The vote for or against uniforms took place later that day. The results of the vote and the headmaster’s decision will be announced next week. I wonder what it will be. I know how I voted, and I’m pretty sure I know how Andy voted.
How would you vote — for or against?
Amy and Andy quarrel because                 .

A．they share a cupboard

B．Amy likes to show off

C．they both have the word for dress principle

D．they always take the opposite views on issues

The story is about                 .

A．a conflict of opinions between boys and girls

B．a historical event and is told in the third person

C．a personal experience and is told in the first person

D．a school policy decision that will affect parents and students

Amy’s position on school uniforms is most likely based on                 .

A．logical conclusions drawn from her own observation and personal experience

B．an emotional reaction to what she has been told by people in authority

C．her preference for designer-labeled clothes

D．not liking anything her brother likes

Which of the following is the best statement of Andy’s position?

A．School clothing should reflect parents’ values.

B．Teenagers should never follow the latest fashions in dress.

C．How one dresses should be an expression of one’s individuality.

D．Wearing school uniforms means one less decision every morning.

Which of these statements from the story is a form of an emotional appeal?

A．The teachers are divided: some are in favor of uniforms; others are opposed.

B．You are so fragile that you would be completely destroyed by gray or blue pants.

C．The results of the vote and the headmaster’s decision will be announced next week.

D．The hot topic in school was all about the PTA’s proposal to adopt a school dress principle.

What is the best title for the passage?

A．A School Dress Principle

B．My Stubborn Twin Brother

C．Endless Fights with My Brother

D．For or Against? — That Is the Question