A generation of parents raised according to the permissive principles of postwar childcare experts is rediscovering the importance of saying "No" to their children．They are beginning to reclaim the house as their own．Even spanking（打屁股）is back．
While today's parents do not want to return to the Victorian era （时代）—when children were seen, spanked, but not heard—there is a growing acknowledgement that the laissez-faire approach produced a generation of children running rings around puzzled parents struggling to restore order．
Janthea Brigden, a trainer with Parent Network, says: " The problem is that parents don't want all that controlling things．What they want is to be able to discipline （管教） their children through teaching and encouraging．"
According to Steve Biddulph, the author of More Secrets of Happy Children, the permissive era was often just an excuse to ignore children．He believes discipline involves firm but friendly teaching and does not need to involve punishment．He teaches a method called "stand and think" , where a child is helped to figure out what is wrong and how to get it right．Mr．Biddulph understands parents using spanking, but lie is against it．"The happiest children are those who know Mum and Dad are in charge．As children grow into their teens, more negotiation can take place, such as: Prove you can be home safely by 1l pm, and we might let you stay out till midnight．"
" There is no good evidence that an occasional, properly administered spanking is harmful in any way．" says John Rosemond, an American who has won a huge following by calling for "parent power"．It is pure nonsense to believe that restricting children to their room as a punishment could make them have negative feelings about the room and cause sleep problems．
Mr．Rosemond tracks the overturning of traditional family values to the end of the Second World War．He blames the change of the American family into a child-centered, self-respect-oriented （以…为导向） unit on psychologists and social workers, who for 30 years have weakened traditional approaches．Previous generations of American parents raised children not by the book, but by self-evident truth, he says．Children should be seen and hot heard．If you make your bed, you'll have to lie in it．He says that those phrases contain time-honored understanding and principles that helped children to develop what we refer to as the "three Rs" of parenting: respect, responsibility and resourcefulness．
Which is closest to the meaning of the underlined word "laissez-faire" in the second paragraph?
| A．Let it be． | B．Go for it． |
| C．Get it right． | D．Take it easy． |
If his child did something wrong, Steve Biddulph would ______．
| A．give him a good beating |
| B．lock him up in a dark room |
| C．ask him to stand in a corner for hours |
| D．help him find out the problem and solution |
By mentioning the underlined part in the last paragraph, Mr．Rosemond ．
| A．blames parents for ignoring children's rights |
| B．reminds parents to communicate more with children |
| C．encourages parents to involve children more in family affairs |
| D．explains how previous generations of parents raised children |
What does the passage mainly talk about?
| A．The causes of discipline problems． |
| B．The best way to discipline children． |
| C．Different opinions on ways of parenting． |
| D．Differences between parents of different times |
A team of researchers from Oxford University has demonstrated a self-driving car that is different from such cars being tested by Audi, Ford, etc. It’ s much cheaper because it’s based on off-the-shelf(现成的) technology and controlled by an ordinary iPad. Instead of using GPS to understand the location, the car learns routes when a person is driving, and then asks after it’s got it down, if the driver would like the computer to take over.
As time passes, it’s becoming very clear that people believe computers would be better drivers than humans. This has been proven by extensive research that indicates that computers are able to react more quickly to driving conditions, make smarter decisions, don’t take risks, and don’t make mistakes in concentration. They don’t drink either, of course, which means accidents due to drunk driving could be reduced dramatically if the computer could take over when someone needs to get home from the bar. And the team says drivers don’t need their cars to know everything about every road, condition or possible danger. Instead, they just need to know how to get from one point to another, and to do a good job of it when asked.
To that end, the researchers have added cameras, lasers, a central computer to process information and a regular iPad. In practice, the car would learn how to get to and from places that the driver frequents, such as their work place, the local pub or grocery store. Once it has it down, the computer asks the driver if they’ d like a rest. If so, they simply tap the iPad, and the car takes over.
It’ s very simple and doesn’t require nearly the same number of devices as those being tested by other car companies. The researchers say people might be able to get the total price of the system below a hundred dollars. And of course, the iPad can be lifted out and carried away for other purposes when not being used as a driver assistant.The car tested by Oxford University are different from others in that they ________.
| A．use available low-cost technology |
| B．depend on GPS to understand the location |
| C．can choose the places for their owners to visit |
| D．can develop a good relationship with their owners |
Computers are believed to be better drivers than humans mainly because they ________.
| A．are more likely to take risks |
| B．are more familiar with every road |
| C．become more skilful at avoiding dangers |
| D．can respond to new situations more quickly |
We can infer from the passage that the iPad __________.
| A．cannot be removed from cars when it’s not used |
| B．has replaced cameras, lasers and a central computer |
| C．needs to be specially designed for a self-driving car |
| D．acts as a tool for drivers to control their self-driving cars |
What best describes the author’s tone in this passage?
| A．Objective. | B．Worried. |
| C．Serious | D．Subjective. |
In which column of a newspaper can we find this passage?
| A．Opinion | B．Fashion | C．Technology | D．Education |
Every year, I tell my sons what I'd like for Mother's Day: a letter, something written from the heart and offered freely rather than bought from a store and wrapped neatly. I don't always get my wish, nor do I always take the time to write to my own mother.
This year, my boys will be in two different states on Mother's Day. My mom and dad will be away together, and I'll be driving home from a writer's workshop in Massachusetts. Thinking of the fact that many friends have already lost their mothers and that a few have lost children, I am deeply grateful that what separates us, for now at least, is merely distance. It won't always be so, and there is no way to prepare for that fact other than to appreciate the moment that is. My sons know that they can please me on Sunday with a phone call or an e-mail, and that is enough as I love their words. The very best gift they can possibly give me is their own happiness, the very fact of their busy, full and well-lived lives.
Still, knowing that my years of staying with my sons are over, I do feel doleful. The truth is, I miss being the center of the universe to two little boys. And this holiday can be a bit painful.
I wonder if my own mother ever felt nostalgic (怀旧的，乡愁的) for the passing of my childhood. I wonder if she realizes that she is still at the center of my universe and always has been. I don't often pause to think about it, but of course she is the one who has been right there, at my side from the moment I drew my very first breath. How to ever fully appreciate the woman whose presence and love and example have shaped me into the adult I am? How to describe even a small part of the sharing, sacrificing, and support she has given me over the years?The author mainly wants to tell us through the first paragraph that_______.
| A．she hopes to get her son's letters very much |
| B．her sons don't often write to her on Mother's Day |
| C．Mother's Day is the very date that she longs for most |
| D．Children are often careless about their parents’ s request. |
The author is deeply grateful for the present life because_______.
| A．her sons don't live far away from her home |
| B．her parents and children are still alive |
| C．her parents are coming to her house to spend Mother's Day |
| D．her sons can please her on Sunday with a phone call |
According to the author，_____________________.
| A．young people nowadays tend to ignore their parents |
| B．parents should not give their children too much freedom |
| C．children's happiness and success are the biggest comfort to parents |
| D．parents are not the center of their children's universe when children grow up |
What does the underlined word "doleful" in Paragraph 3 mean?
| A．sad | B．excited | C．guilty | D．uncomfortable |
What will the author probably tell about after the last paragraph?
| A．She'll tell the reader about her mother's present situation. |
| B．She'll talk about how her mother educated and cared for her. |
| C．She'll describe the reunion of her family on Mother's Day. |
| D．She'll tell the reader about her mother's achievements in her career. |
I decided to cut my front lawn (草坪) today, especially since I live on a main street downtown with lots of traffic. I finished mine and decided to cut my neighbor — Joan’ grass while I was good at it. She is a sweet person who has gone through some trying times in the last year. Her brother passed away because of cancer last year, and her sister (who lives with her) was mentally challenged — yet so sweet!
It was a difficult time with physical and mental challenges that led her employer in our local hospital to let her go after 25 years of service! Lastly, my neighbor Joan, who is a nurse in our local hospital was diagnosed with esophageal(食道) cancer in December. She went through radiation and a long recovery — but thankfully she is in remission(缓解).
Anyway, in short I was leaving my house this afternoon and she stopped me to thank me for cutting her grass. She told me her dad passed away on Friday and she just arrived home from the funeral service, so she didn’t know when she would have time to cut her grass. So, when she arrived home and saw it cut she was more than happy and grateful! I said to her, "You are welcome.It’s just a small act of kindness for a neighbor."
I did it for exercise and pleasure, not knowing it meant more to her than just doing a neighbor a favor!Although a lot of unfortunate matters happened to Joan, she is still .
| A．pessimistic | B．optimistic |
| C．depressed | D．disappointed |
What’s the meaning of the underlined word "trying" in the first paragraph?
| A．Happy. | B．Exciting. | C．Simple. | D．Hard. |
What can we learn from the first three paragraphs?
| A．Joan is unlucky. |
| B．Joan lives happily. |
| C．Joan has retired. |
| D．Joan’ employer doesn’t like her. |
How does Joan feel about the author’s helping her cut grass?
| A．She feels sad. |
| B．She feels only happy. |
| C．She feels very happy and thankful. |
| D．She feels easy. |
It can be hard to meet people from another culture. From the beginning, people may send the wrong signal（信号）. Or they may pay no attention to signals from another person who is trying to develop a relationship.
Different cultures emphasize （强调）the importance of relationship building to a greater or lesser degree. For example, business in some countries is not possible until there is a relationship of trust. Even with people at work, it is necessary to spend a lot of time in “small talk”, usually over a glass of tea, before they do any job. In many European countries--like the UK or France—people find it easier to build up a lasting working relationship at restaurants or cafes rather than at the office.
Talk and silence may also be different in some cultures. I once made a speech in Thailand. I had expected my speech to be a success and start a lively discussion; instead there was an uncomfortable silence. The people present just stared at me and smiled. After getting to know their ways better, I realized that they thought I was talking too much. In my own culture, we express meaning mainly through words, but people there sometimes feel too many words are unnecessary.
Even within Northern Europe, cultural differences can cause serious problems. Certainly, English and German cultures share similar values; however, Germans prefer to get down to business more quickly. We think that they are rude. In fact, this is just because one culture starts discussions and makes decisions more quickly.
People from different parts of the world have different values, and sometimes these values are quite against each other. However, if we can understand them better, a multicultural environment（多元文化环境）will offer a wonderful chance for us to learn from each other.In some countries, eating together at restaurants may make it easier for people to ________.
| A．keep each other company | B．share the same Culture |
| C．get to know each other | D．develop closer relations |
The author mentions his experience in Thailand to show that _________.
| A．even talk and silence can be culturally different |
| B．too many words are of no use |
| C．people from Thailand are quiet and shy by nature |
| D．the English prefer to make long speeches |
According to the text, how can people from different cultures understand each other better?
| A．By sharing different ways of life. |
| B．By recognizing different values. |
| C．By accepting different habits. |
| D．By speaking each other’s languages. |
What would be the best title for the text?
| A．Multicultural Environment. |
| B．How to Understand Each Other. |
| C．Cross-Cultural Differences. |
| D．How to Build Up a Relationship. |
Erica and Steve Lineberry have been rock climbing since 2005. They were first introduced to it while visiting a family in Montana. Now they are at climbing centers, like Inner Peaks in Charlotte, three times a week, and on weekends they climb outdoors.
Steve said they first started climbing as part of their exercise. Years later, he lost 60 pounds. But as the couple’s interest in the sport grew, they consulted some mentors and started climbing outdoors.
Then Erica got pregnant. "Most people think that rock climbing and pregnancy don’t go very well together," Erica said. But with lots of places to go, Erica kept climbing through her pregnancy. Then her son, Canaan, was born. She says the baby immediately started participating in the family sport. "He went to the gym the first time with us at four weeks old, and then we took our first outdoor trip, just a day trip, at six weeks old with him."
Now Canaan is three-year-old, and Erica is once again pregnant: 7 months along. During her first pregnancy, she blogged about climbing while pregnant. Now her Cragmama.com website is a top resource for families who rock climb. Erica said, "I think a lot of people will say, they’ll wait a few years until they get into an easier age or an easier life phase with their kids. And I think if they wait for that they’re going to wait forever." Her message to women is to quickly climb back into the things you love; and that your life is not over once you are a mother.
Cragmama.com website is quickly becoming the face of mommy rock climbing. She contributes to a handful of climbing magazines. Outdoor equipment companies ask her to wear and use their gear(设备). And her website is a popular resource for families who are not only interested in climbing with their children, but also interested in taking on other adventures too.What does the author intend to tell in the passage?
| A．A family who love rock climbing. |
| B．A couple who learn how to climb. |
| C．A woman who is brave to climb. |
| D．A story about a pregnant woman. |
Which can replace the underlined word "mentors"?
| A．Friends. | B．Students. |
| C．Teachers. | D．Leaders. |
It can be inferred from the third paragraph that .
| A．Erica never cared about her unborn baby |
| B．rock climbing does good to pregnant women |
| C．Canaan fell in love with climbing at four weeks |
| D．Erica is really a courageous and fearless woman |
Who will visit Cragmama.com website?
| A．The women who expect to have babies. |
| B．The families who have brought up a child. |
| C．The women who have sympathy for Erica. |
| D．The families who take interest in rock climbing. |
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