Parents and kids today dress alike, listen to the same music, and are friends. Is this a good thing? Sometimes, when Mr. Ballmer and his 16-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, listen to rock music together and talk about interests both enjoy, such as pop culture, he remembers his more distant relationship with his parents when he was a teenager.
“I would never have said to my mom,’ Hey, the new Weezer album is really great. How do you like it?’” says Ballmer. “There was just a complete gap in taste.”
Music was not the only gulf(分歧). From clothing and hairstyles to activities and expectations, earlier generations of parents and children often appeared to move in separate orbits.
Today, the generation gap has not disappeared, but it is getting narrow in many families. Conversations on subjects such as sex and drugs would not have taken place a generation ago. Now they are comfortable and common. And parent-child activities, from shopping to sports, involve a feeling of trust and friendship that can continue into adulthood.
No wonder greeting cards today carry the message, “To my mother, my best friends.”
But family experts warn that the new equality can also result in less respect for parents.
“There’s still a lot of strictness and authority on the part of parents out there, but there is a change happening,” says Kerrie, a psychology professor at Lebanon Valley College. “In the middle of that change, there is a lot of confusion among parents.”
Family researchers offer a variety of reasons for these evolving(演化的) roles and attitudes. They see the 1960s as a turning point. Great cultural changes led to more open communication and a more democratic process that encourages everyone to have a say.
“My parents were on the ‘before’ side of that change, but today’s parents, the 40-year-olds,were on the ‘after’ side,” explains Mr. Ballmer. “It’s not something easily accomplished by parents these days, because life is more difficult to understand or deal with, but sharing interests does make it more fun to be a parent now.”
SYDNEY 2005-01-01 08:33—Mother of two, Jillian Searle, had to choose between her children when she made a life-or-death decision.
Swept up by mountainous tsunami (海啸) waves at a Thai resort ( 旅游胜地), she could not hold on to both her young sons and survive . Fighting to stay above the waters , she had to choose which one would have to take his chances in the swirling torrent (漩流).
“I knew I had to let go of one of them and I just thought I’d better let go of the one that’s the older,” she told Sky News television in a report broadcast on Thursday. She said she was accompanied by the two boys, Lachie, 5, and two-year-old Blake, and their father, Brad, who had watched the drama helplessly from their first-floor hotel room, when the waves struck. “And I was screaming, trying to find him, and we thought he was dead,” she told reporters on arrival back in Australia. Lachie was found alive about 2 hours later clinging to a door and, looked uninjured as his mother spoke to reporters.
British surfer (冲浪运动员) Martin Markwell is also a lucky man. He had always dreamed of catching that perfect wave –but when it finally came along, it was a nightmare. He was on his surfboard when he was swept up by a tsunami wave.
“It was really terrible because I was surfing, I was really surfing on a wave I wasn’t supposed to be on,” he said. “As an experienced surfer, when I saw the wave come I realized something was wrong, but I couldn’t escape because my surfboard was tied to my ankle.”
His wife Vicki and son Jake looked on in horror from a hotel balcony as he crashed towards the shore. Luckily , he stayed on top of his board until he reached the hotel , jumped off and got to safety as the ocean rolled back to feed a much larger tsunami wave on its way . The family regrouped and ran to safety just minutes before a giant tsunami wave 10 meters high.When the waves struck, the father Brad .
| A．reported the disaster to Sky News television |
| B．was watching a drama play on TV in the hotel |
| C．tried to find his son lost in the waters |
| D．watched things going on , unable to do anything |
The underlined word “him” refers to .
| A．an old man | B．Lachie | C．Brad | D．Blake |
Which of the following is wrong ?
| A．Lachie and Martin were both with their family members when the disaster happened. |
| B．Lachie and Martin both survived from the high waves when tsunami struck. |
| C．Lachie and Martin were both travelers from Europe on holiday in Thailand. |
| D．Lachie and Martin were both alive owing to their good luck. |
The best title of this news story would be .
| A．Narrow Escape | B．Disaster Caused by Tsunami |
| C．Exciting Surfing Experience | D．Struggle Against Tsunami |
How did a ban on smoking in public places come into place?
In 1998 the Smoking Kills White Paper set out a national strategy (策略) to reduce smoking prevalence (流行) and passive smoking, including in public places. The measures were voluntary and poorly carried out. After a public conference in England in 2004, the Government decided to choose for lawmaking. Scotland went first, with a ban in 2006, followed by the other nations a year later.
What is the current law?
Any person who smokes in enclosed (封闭的) public places, including pubs, offices, on public transport and work vehicles, is breaking the law. It does not extend to private houses. It is also an offence for people in charge of premises (营业场所) to permit others to smoke in them.
How was it received?
It was welcomed by most organizations except for some pub owners and restaurateurs. Many workplaces in the UK had already introduced smoke-free policies consistent with the legislation (法律，法规) before it was carried out, while others have gone beyond its basic requirements.
All railway facilities, including platforms, footbridges and other areas--whether or not fitting the definition of an enclosed public space--are covered, as are all football grounds and some cricket and athletics stadiums. School grounds are not required to be smoke-free under the legislation, but the majority now are.
How has it been forced?
Compliance (服从) in public premises has been high, with inspections suggesting that 99 per cent of places were sticking to the rules. The number of people charged for smoking in cars has been very low, which was due to the problems defining and identifying "work" vehicles. They said that a total ban on smoking in vehicles would end this confusion.
Has it improved health?
Studies in early adopters of the law, including in Scotland, suggest a reduction in hospital admissions for heart disease, which has been shown to be linked to passive smoking. There is also strong evidence of improved rates of smoking end and a drop in the number of cigarettes consumed by those who continue to smoke. When did the first law come out to ban smoking in public places?
| A．1987 | B．1998 | C．2004 | D．2006 |
Which of the following behaviors may NOT be against the law?
| A．Jack often smokes in the office when he is alone. |
| B．A taxi driver is smoking with a lady in his car. |
| C．Tom smokes while thinking of his future at home. |
| D．Max smokes for relaxation during time-out in the stadium. |
Who might feel unhappy about the law according to the article?
| A．A restaurant owner. | B．A company manager. |
| C．A car owner. | D．A policy maker. |
What can you infer from the article?
| A．Most heart diseases have been proved to be linked to passive smoking. |
| B．A new law will soon come out with a total ban on smoking in vehicles |
| C．Cigarette-making factories will disappear soon. |
| D．Most of the school grounds are not smoke-free, as it is not banned in the law. |
Driving a car is not just handling controls and judging speed and distance. It requires you to predict what other road users will do and get ready to react to something unexpected , When alcohol is consumed, it enters your bloodstream and acts as a depressant (抑制药)，damaging eyesight, judgment and co-ordination (协调)，slowing down reaction time and greatly increasing the risk of accidents. Even below the drink driving link , driving will be affected.
Alcohol may take a few minutes to be absorbed into the bloodstream and start action on the brain. Absorption rate is increased when drinking on an empty stomach or when consuming drinks mixed with fruit juice. To get rid of alcohol from the body is a very slow process and it is not possible to speed it up with any measures like taking a shower or having a cup of tea or coffee.
The present Road Traffic Ordinance states clearly that the limit of alcohol concentration (浓度) is:
● 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100ml of blood ;or
● 22 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath ;or
● 67 milligrams of alcohol per 100ml of urine(尿液)
Drivers who cause traffic accidents, or who commit a moving traffic offence(罪) or are being suspected of drink driving will be tested.
Any drive found drinking beyond the limit will be charged. The driver declared guilty may be fined a maximum of HK﹩25,000 and be sentenced to up to 3 years in prison and punished for 10 driving-offence points; or temporarily banned from driving.
The same punishment applies to failing to provide specimens (样本) for breath, blood or urine tests without good excuse.
Drink driving is a criminal offence. Be a responsible driver, think before you drink. For the safety of yourself and other road users, never drive after consuming alcohol.The first paragraph is mainly about_____________.
| A．the introductions of driving skills | B．the damage of drinking to your body |
| C．the effect of drinking on driving | D．the process of alcohol being absorbed |
The underlined word “it” in the second paragraph refers to “________”.
| A．alcohol | B．absorption | C．blood | D．process |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．Drinking below the drink driving limit has no effect on driving |
| B．Alcohol is taken in more quickly when drunk with fruit juice. |
| C．Having a cup of tea helps to get rid of alcohol from the body. |
| D．50 milligrams of alcohol per 100ml of breath is below the drink limit |
A driver suspected of drink driving_________.
| A．should provide specimens for testing. |
| B．will be forbidden to drive for 3 years |
| C．will be punished for 10 driving-offence points |
| D．should pay a maximum fine of HK＄25,000 |
I have always loved kids. However, the children here at Shanti Bhavan are unlike any that I have ever met. They have a strong drive and determination and are thankful for the wonderful opportunity they have been given. While at Shanti Bhavan, I taught 3rd graders writing, language, and literature, 8th, 9th, and 10th graders public speaking, 9th and 10th graders basketball, and piano lessons. I found teaching the children was the most rewarding experience of my life. They are really fast learners and really have an interest in knowledge. It was easy to get on with such polite, well-mannered, and hard-working students. They dream big and I only hope that I can continue to be a part of helping them achieve their goals.
As far as my day-to-day living went, I was perfectly comfortable here and came to consider it as a second home. My room was clean and comfortable and the staff could not have been nicer.
In addition, I really appreciated the support of all the teachers. They were so welcoming and kind that it truly cleared away my fears and culture shock. They often gave me advice and befriended me and I owe much to them for their warmth.
I honestly feel that Shanti Bhavan is the most beautiful place on earth. It has love and learning, and I am very sad to be leaving. I am looking forward to my return to this newly found family as soon as possible. Thank you so much Miss Beena and Mrs. Law for all of your love and support. The experience that I worked with them will always come into my mind. This has been the greatest experience of my life.What can we learn from the first paragraph?
| A．Kids liked basketball lessons best. |
| B．Kids at Shanti Bhavan helped the author a lot. |
| C．The author is a fast learner and dreams big. |
| D．The author taught different lessons at the same time. |
What does the author think of the students at Shanti Bhavan?
| A．Generous | B．Clever | C．Brave | D．Funny |
Which of the following words can best describe the author’s day-to-day living at Shanti Bhavan?
| A．Lonely | B．Simple | C．Disappointed | D．Comfortable |
Which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A．The author will come back soon. |
| B．The author has decided to settle at Shanti Bhavan. |
| C．The author once felt uneasy at Shanti Bhavan. |
| D．The author was forced to come to Shanti Bhavan at first. |
In tradition (传统的) education, the teacher may feel that the students are not very grown up. Usually, teachers are older than students, and teachers feel that students are young and do not know much about the world. The teachers feel that they must tell the students what to do most of the time, and that they must also make the students study specific (特殊的) things. In open education, the teacher’s methods are very different. These teachers feel that the students are human beings (人) first, and students second. They expect the students to be responsible for the things that they do, just as adults are. A student’s ideas and feelings are just as important as the teacher’s. The teacher allows the students to decide what they want to do, and does not make them study what they do not want to. The teacher lets them decide what to study and how much to study. It’s very important for the teacher to show how he or she feels about students.Which is the topic for the passage?
| A．Traditional Education |
| B．Open Education |
| C．The Students Are Human Beings First |
| D．Two Kinds of Different Education |
What’s the theory of open education?
| A．The students are human beings first, and students second. |
| B．The students should be responsible for what they do. |
| C．The students’ ideas and feelings are very important. |
| D．The teachers should allow the students to do what they want to do. |
In traditional education, the teachers consider that __________.
| A．they should praise the students all the time |
| B．they should tell the students what to do all the time |
| C．the students should know much about the world |
| D．the students should learn much about the world from their teachers |
We can infer (推断) that ____________.
| A．students needn’t study as hard as they did before |
| B．students can learn more about the world in open education |
| C．most of the teachers don’t agree with the idea of open education |
| D．most of the students prefer traditional education to open education |
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