12．Over the years，I bought countless pairs of shoes that brightened my mood，picked out dresses that improved my figure，and turned over my credit card for lots of cosmetics （化妝品） that I had hoped would make me look fresher and happier.But all those things failed to bring relief to my pain inside.
But one afternoon in October 2021，I walked out of one store with something more valuable than anything money could buy.I found hope in the unlikeliest place after months of hopelessness，thanks to a woman who decided to start a conversation with me in the store's café.
It had been a painful time for me.Married a little over four years，I had suffered five heartbreaking miscarriages （流產(chǎn)） and，at 42，was slowly accepting the cruel idea that I might never be able to have a child.
On that fateful day，a smartly dressed，slightly older woman seated beside me offered to share the photos and stories of her adopted daughter to break the silence in the half-empty café.Her girl was about seven years old.
"She's pretty，" I said. "But what made you decide to adopt her？" I asked，uncertain whether I had stepped into an area which seemed too personal. "I don't want work to be my whole life，" she said.I wasn't sure whether she saw the tears welling up in my eyes as I replied， "I don't either，but I'm afraid it's too late!" "I was 51 when I adopted Melanie，" she said， "And it's the most rewarding and exciting thing I've ever done."
When our checks came，she handed me her business card，and I finally learned her name — and in that minute，I saw a happier and more satisfied myself，a reborn "mother-to-be".
（1）What did the older woman intend to do when talking with the author？
A．Advise the author to forget her pain.
B．Share her feelings of being an adoptive mother.
C．Show off her beautiful daughter to the author.
D．Advertise the benefits of adopting a Chinese girl.
（2）Which of the following best describes the older woman？
A．Inspiring.
B．Patient.
C．Outgoing.
D．Responsible.
（3）Why did the author see a happier self after the encounter？
A．She could adopt children because she was still young.
B．The older woman set an example as a good mother.
C．She realized life was more important than work.
D．Her hope of owning a child was built up again.
