【推荐2】Children whose fathers make time to play with them from a very young age may find it easier control their behavior as they grow up, research suggests.

To understand what effect playtime with dads can have on kids, the researchers analyzed nearly 80 studies, undertaken between 1977 and 2017 — most of them in Europe or North America. They were most interested in understanding how playtime between dads and their kids translated into kids’ development.

On average, they found that most fathers play with their children every day. Even with the smallest children, however, father-child play tends to be more physical. With babies, that may simply mean picking them up or helping them to gently raise their arms and legs; with toddlers (学步儿童), physical play includes rough-and-tumble activities, like chasing (追赶) game.

The study found that the kids who enjoyed playtime with their fathers were less likely to lose their tempers with other kids and exhibited better behavior. The researchers found that this was beneficial kids’ development, as this type of play was associated with better self-control and behavioral outcomes.

“Physical play creates fun, exciting situations in which children have to apply self-regulation.” said Ramchandani, Professor at the University of Cambridge. “They learn from their mistakes and the reactions they get from others. If they react the wrong way, they might get scolded, but it’s not the end of the world — and next time they might remember to behave differently.”

However, the researchers stress that children who only live with their mothers need not be at a disadvantage. “Different parents may have slightly different inclinations when it comes to playing with children, but part of being a parent is stepping outside your comfort zone. Children are likely to benefit most if they are given different ways to play and interact,” said Ramchandani.

1. What did the researchers focus on during the research?

A．How father-child play affected kids’ growth.

B．What role mothers played during the activities.

C．How often fathers and children played together.

D．What lessons they could learn from the past studies.

2. How did children learn to regulate themselves?

A．With the help of their partners.	B．Through a trial-and-error practice.
C．Through strict physical training.	D．Under their parents’ patient direction.

3. What does the underlined word “inclinations” in the last paragraph refer to?

A．Tendencies.

B．Explanations.

C．Decisions.

D．Contributions.

4. What does the author intend to tell us through the text?

A．Fathers should learn to control their tempers.

B．Mother-child play needs to be more physical.

C．Fathers spend more time with kids than mothers.

D．Father-child playtime helps kids develop self-control.

【推荐3】Even though my grandfather, whom I called Papaw, was a farmer, my grandma would iron his work clothes every day. But as the years passed, I began to question this practice. Why in the world did Papaw need his work ironed? Most days, he never saw anyone but me and maybe a few other farmers.

One day when I was about 13, I asked Grandma about it. I wanted to know why she thought she should spend time and effort pressing clothes that were seldom seen and would be filthy in just a short time in the field. She told me that Papaw was the most handsome man in the world. She said he was her best friend and the love of her life. She loved every chance she got to show him off and make the rest of the world jealous(嫉妒的) that he was hers.

Later that day, I looked closely at Papaw. He sure didn’t look all that handsome to me. His hair was thin on top. I really didn’t see how anyone could consider this man the most handsome one in the world. So I asked Grandma about it again a few days later. I told her that I had closely watched him and most certainly didn’t see him as the most handsome man on the earth. She smiled and gave me a girlish smile.

“You just aren’t looking in the right light. He has the most beautiful blue eyes I have ever seen. His face lights up when he smiles. I iron his clothes every day because he is a man worthy of respect. I want him to look the part every day.” I decided to forget I had ever asked. How could this old woman think that a common old man with false teeth was beautiful?

Years went on, and I watched Grandma and Papaw grow old together. I was probably 30 when it dawned on me what beauty really was — it was Grandma’s ironing Papaw’s pants.

1. What did the author think of Grandma’s ironing clothes for Grandpa at first?

A．It was not necessary at all.	B．It was wise of Grandma to do that.
C．It was a funny way to show love.	D．It was important for Grandpa to meet others.

2. What does the underlined word “filthy” in paragraph 2 mean?

A．Worn.

B．Dirty.

C．Useless.

D．Ignored.

3. How did the author find Papaw’s appearance?

A．Ugly.

B．Special.

C．Ordinary.

D．Very handsome.

4. Which of the following can best explain the story?

A．Beauty lies in the lovers’ eyes.	B．Love requires trust.
C．Love will find its way out.	D．Love and a cough cannot be hidden.

【推荐3】A waitress who lost her job during the coronavirus pandemic has kick-started her own career as a business woman and baker. She turned one of her lockdown hobbies into a business that brings her a lot of money.

Mona Route, 27, was let go from her server job at an airport in Melbourne, Australia, when COVID-19 hit in March 2020, and the new-found time on her hands left her feeling “so bored”. With nothing else to do, Mona decided to take up baking as a hobby to pass the time and soon found herself trying out experimental dessert recipes—which eventually led her to start her own cookie business.

Mona’s various cookie recipes became her “cheat meal” when she was on her mission to lose weight, and the massive snacks are made up of baked cookie dough (面团) that surrounds a sweet filling. The cookies quickly became a hit with her family and friends, and when her dad suggested she start selling the sweet treats, the woman set up Mona’s Treats with 15 unique cookie flavors to choose from.

The keen baker created an account on the Internet and spent 282 on ingredients for her first industrial-sized batch. At first, Mona was selling around 30 to 40 cookies a month, but she now has a monthly average of 450 orders—leaving her waking up at 2 am to keep up with demand. During the height of lockdown, Mona was selling as many as 700 cookies a month. Mona currently makes an impressive 1,700 every month from selling cookies in addition to her main occupation, and has turned over 14,000 since she started up.

The cook, who runs her business from her parents’ kitchen, is even hoping to transition into baking full-time when she can reach 1,500 orders a month. She said, “Hopefully one day I can do this in a commercial kitchen.”

1. What made Mona feel “so bored”?

A．Working as a waitress at an airport.

B．Doing cookie business all day.

C．Experimenting with massive recipes.

D．Having too much free time.

2. What do we know from Paragraphs 3 and 4?

A．Mona set up her own company.

B．Mona’s business began to take off.

C．Mona was successful in losing weight.

D．Mona’s business was against her family’s will.

3. Which of the following best describes Mona?

A．Hardworking and creative.	B．Kind and generous.
C．Confident and determined.	D．Ambitious and independent.

4. What can we learn from Mona’s experience?

A．Well begun, half done.	B．Practice makes perfect.
C．Actions speak louder than words.	D．Misfortune may be an actual blessing.