1 . It’s not unusual to see an unreasonable child lying on the ground drumming his heels. Beside him is a desperate mother yelling at the top of her lungs. Raising a well-behaved kid is really a head-scratching thing.
If you took all the parenting styles around the world and ranked them by their gentleness, the Inuit(因纽特人) approach would certainly rank near the top. All the moms mention one golden role: Don’t shout or yell at small children.Inuit’s no-yelling policy is their central component to raising cool-headed kids. The culture views scolding, or even speaking to children in all angry voice, as inappropriate, although little kids are pushing parents' buttons.
Playful“storytelling”is another trick to sculpting kids’behavior. But this storytelling differs hugely from those fairy tales full of moral lessons. Parents“retell” what happened when a boy threw a tantrum(发脾气)by way of what Shakespeare would understand all too well: putting on a“drama”. After the child has calmed down, the parents will review what happened when the child misbehaved, usually starting with a question: “Can you show us how to throw a tantrum?”Then the child has to think what he should do. If he takes the bait and performs the action, the mom will ask a follow-up question with a playful tone. For example: “Does that seem right?”or“Are you a baby?”She is getting across the idea that“big boys”won’t throw a tantrum.
Kids’brains are still developing the circuitry needed for self-contro1. What you do in response to your children’s emotions shapes their brains. So next time, seeing your boy misbehave, try using the Inuit’s storytelling approach. And don’t forget to keep coo1. After all, boys will be boys.
1. Which of the following best explains“pushing parents’ buttons”underlined in Paragraph 2?| A．Talking with parents. | B．Playing with parents’buttons. |
| C．Exposing parents’faults. | D．Making parents annoyed. |
| A．It aims at playing a trick on kids. | B．It raises kids’awareness of morality. |
| C．It comes after a child misbehaves. | D．It analyzes Shakespeare’s dramas. |
| A．Cautious. | B．Tolerant. |
| C．Uncaring. | D．Skeptical. |
| A．Inuit’s approach to parenting. |
| B．Values of reading literary works. |
| C．Causes of children’s misbehavior. |
| D．Parents’responses to“storytelling”. |
2 . In 2011，Amy Chua put out the book，Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother，which is her memoir（回忆录）about the challenges of being a parent and trying to keep to the strict upbringing（养）she knew as a child. Controversy over the book arose because many readers did not get the impression that Chua was trying to be humorous about her parenting methods. There was also miscommunication about the purpose of the book. Many received it as a guide for other parents on how to use strict methods to punish and motivate their children. However，Chua has always claimed the aim of her book was only to share her successes and failures as a parent in a culturally diverse world.
In the book，Chua compares Western and Chinese beliefs and methods of parenting. In general，Chinese parents believe a child's academic success is directly linked to parenting skills. It is common for such parents to take severe measures to make their children do exactly what they say. In contrast，Western parents worry more about their children's self-esteem（自尊），which drives their parenting methods. As a result，parenting methods have become less strict and children are not held to the high standards they were in the past.
Interestingly，in the West，many people agree that Western parenting methods could use improvement. Some even say that the laid-back Western methods can be just as damaging as the overly strict ones Chua connects with Chinese culture because more and more children are not learning how to face and overcome challenges. However，experts also say that being too strict with children can cause rebellion（反叛），low self-esteem and poor parent-child relationships.
What everyone can agree on is that there is no perfect way to parent. What's more a method that works with one child will not necessarily work with another. Parents are challenged with finding the best method that helps each child learn to be a responsible and confident person.
1. What do we know about Amy Chua's book?| A．It amused readers greatly. |
| B．It caused a serious debate. |
| C．It's about a tiger and its mother. |
| D．It's popular with both parents and kids. |
| A．To share her experience as a mom. |
| B．To tell interesting stories to children. |
| C．To introduce her research on parenting. |
| D．To help other parents educate their children. |
| A．What is most important for children. |
| B．How to help children to succeed in school. |
| C．The importance of mastering parenting skills. |
| D．Differences between upbringing in China and the West. |
| A．Children's academic success. |
| B．More positive attitudes toward life. |
| C．Bad relationships between parents and children. |
| D．Children's lack of experience in dealing with difficulties. |
| A．One parenting method doesn't work with all children. |
| B．A perfect way to parent is easy to find as long as parents work hard. |
| C．Western parenting methods are better than those in China. |
| D．Chinese parents are more worried about their children's self-esteem. |
3 . Career success could be predicted as early as kindergarten, according to a 20year study recently published in the American journal Public Health.
Researchers from Pennsylvania State University and Duke University tracked more than 700 children from across the US between kindergarten and age 25 and found a significant connection between their social skills as kindergarteners and their success as adults two decades later.
In the research, teachers assessed how the kindergarteners interacted with each other socially using a range of criteria like whether they cooperate with their peers without being encouraged, whether they're helpful to others, whether they're good at understanding feelings, and whether they can solve problems on their own.
Researchers then kept track of whether the students go on to graduate from high school on time, get a college degree, and find and keep a fulltime job by 25. They also monitored the participants' involvement with crime, drug abuse, public assistance, and mental health issues.
The results showed that socially capable children are far more likely to earn a college degree and have a fulltime job by 25 than those with limited social skills. Those with limited social skills also have a higher chance of getting arrested, binge drinking, and applying for public housing.
“This study shows that helping children develop social and emotional skills is one of the most important things we can do to prepare them for a healthy future,” said Kristin Schubert, program director at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which funded the research, in a release. “From an early age, these skills can determine whether a child goes to college or prison, and whether they end up employed or addicted.”
The good news, according to Damon Jones, lead author of the study, is that intervention (干预) at a young age can help improve social and emotional skills.
“This research by itself doesn't prove that higher social ability can lead to better outcomes later on, ” he said. “But when combined with other research, it is clear that helping children develop these skills increases their chances of success in school, work, and life.”
1. What did the 20year study find?| A．Social skills play a key role in children's development. |
| B．Helpful children understand others' feelings better. |
| C．Most kindergarteners can solve problems alone. |
| D．Outgoing children cooperate with their peers easily. |
| A．When the researchers began their study. |
| B．How the researchers conducted the study. |
| C．How long it took to complete the study. |
| D．What factors were studied by the researchers. |
| A．Teach them some basic living skills. |
| B．Tell them to keep off alcohol. |
| C．Coach them in their lessons. |
| D．Teach them how to cooperate with others. |
| A．teenagers | B．doctors |
| C．educators | D．general readers |
4 . There are disadvantages and advantages to all parenting styles.There is no such thing as perfect parenting.The two main styles of parenting are tolerant (宽容的) and strict.
One of the advantages of strict parents is that they push their children to high standards.This is especially true with regard to academics.
Children with strict parenting can learn selflessness.If a child's needs are always met in a family with tolerant parents，the child may be spoiled (被宠坏的) and selfish.Strict parents get their children to focus their attention more on the benefits of the family members and learn to share with others.
| A．Strict parents demand the best grades from their children. |
| B．Both styles of parenting have their advantages and disadvantages. |
| C．While there are disadvantages，there are also advantages of strict parenting. |
| D．Another advantage of strict parents is that they help their children build confidence. |
| E．So children growing up in a family with strict parenting are more likely to be selfless. |
| F．One of the most beneficial things about strict parenting is that it often teaches discipline. |
| G．An important advantage of strict parenting is that parents set good examples to their children. |
1. What do the young people in Western society think highly of?
| A．Earning much money | B．Enriching their experiences | C．Going to famous universities |
| A．Before they go to university | B．When they are 16 years old. | C．Before they enter high school. |
| A．Build good relationships with others |
| B．Develop their characters better |
| C．Help decide future careers. |
| A．In Africa | B．In China | C．In Thailand |
6 . Kindergarten outside? Yes，indeed. It’s part of a growing worldwide trend toward outdoor education. The schools are called Forest Kindergartens.
Now the numbers are small in the U. S.，but the idea is well established in Europe, with schools in Scotland, England, and Switzerland. By far most of such schools are in Germany, which has more than 400W aldkindergartens.
Children attending such particular school enjoy a good amount of outdoor education each day,rain or shine. Some lessons are focused on nature ； others are academic topics delivered in a natural setting. In all cases，students are active — not sitting at desks or on mats on the floor but walking, running, jumping, solving problems like how to get the mud off the bottoms of their shoes before their parents find out.
At these forest kindergartens, students learn science by observing and doing it, learn math by applying it to the natural world around them，learn letters and words by putting them together using sights and sounds. The children learn to make comparisons using natural things like apples and rocks. They develop an appreciation for animals and plants in their natural environment — not just by looking at pictures in a book or on a computer screen.
Some of the science activities involve teamwork, like explaining the best way to move a heavy object, showing how a lever(杠杆)works. In other sessions，teachers encourage students to develop their motor skills by building wooden tools such as hammers and knives.
These students also learn how to get along with one another, individually and in a group. They also develop healthy levels of self-confidence,just from being able to do the everyday activities that the school offers.
In a time when so many children are being classified as obese because of long time watching television and playing video games, these outdoor schools help children learn just as much, if not more，from opening their eyes to the world around them.
1. Which of the following country has the most Forest Kindergartens?| A．The U. S. | B．Germany. | C．The U. K. | D．Switzerland |
| A．To analyse how children learn socially. |
| B．To compare different teaching approaches. |
| C．To show how children learn academically. |
| D．To describe how active children are in the class. |
| A．Children are doing an experiment with chemicals. |
| B．Teachers are writing something on the blackboard. |
| C．Smart phones are widely used to help children learn. |
| D．Everything in nature is likely to be applied to teaching. |
| A．Negative. | B．Doubtful. | C．Positive. | D．Uncertain. |
7 . Parents are often frightened to talk to their kids about money. In fact kids need to understand how to save and manage their money. Proper preparation for your children, even at a young age, can start them down the path of a successful financial life.
Talk early and often.
Children start learning about money long before their first savings account, job or credit card.
Everyday activities are teachable moments.
Talk about giving.
Children should learn that money doesn’t always need to be used for them.
Websites like www. charitynavigator. org and www. guide. star. org provide information and ratings.
If they open a savings account, they can place their savings in the bank to earn a small amount of interest. Besides, they can learn about fees, account maintenance (维护) and even interest. It can provide a motivation (动机) for them to save money. You can offer them a prize if they put the money into savings.
| A．It can also provide help for others. |
| B．Open a checking and savings account. |
| C．Children are eager to know about money. |
| D．Parents should help their children know how to use money. |
| E．Here are some tips that might help you teach your kids about money. |
| F．A trip to the grocery store is a good time to explain price comparison and value. |
| G．Begin the conversation even before they’re in school by talking about work and money. |
8 . A campaign (活动) is being launched to encourage children to surrender 30 minutes of screen time a day to head for the great outdoors.
The newly formed Wild Network—a collaboration of nearly 400 organizations—is attempting to attract youngsters away from television and computer screen and to fields, woods and parks. Members of the network include the National Trust, RSPB, Play England and the NHS. Organizers say it is the UK’s biggest ever campaign to reconnect children with nature and outdoor play, and claim it could help improve fitness, mental alertness (机敏) and general wellbeing.
A documentary film, Project Wild Thing, will forecast the launch at more than 50 cinemas across the UK from Friday. It looks at the increasing link between children and nature.
Andy Simpson, chairman of the Wild Network, said, “The tragic truth is that kids have lost touch with nature and the outdoors in just one generation. Time spent outdoors is down, roaming (漫步) ranges have fallen largely, activity levels are declining and the ability to identify common species has been lost.”
Suggestions of how to get more time in nature include collecting conkers (七叶树果), camping or snail racing, and observing autumn colour on trees.
From January, the network will aim to make suggestions to politicians on how government can do more to get children muddy and bright-eyed.
This is not the first time the message of less screen, more play has been brought up. Children in the 1980s were requested to do the same by the BBC TV series Why Don’t You, which somewhat confusingly called on its viewers to “switch off your TV set and go to do something less boring instead”.
1. What does the underlined word “surrender” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?| A．Give up | B．Get around |
| C．Take up | D．Run away |
| A．To make children read more books. |
| B．To help children distinguish (辨别) the natural world. |
| C．To encourage children to participate in outdoor activities. |
| D．To get children out of too much homework from school. |
| A．The outdoors can be beneficial to children’s wellbeing. |
| B．The Network advocates (提倡) keeping children’s distance from TV. |
| C．It is the first time for less screen, more play to be brought up. |
| D．The government should do more to get children to go outdoors. |
| A．Government took measures to get children muddy and bright-eyed. |
| B．A BBC TV series called on its viewers to shut off their TV sets. |
| C．More children went out to keep in touch with nature. |
| D．Wild Network launched a campaign to encourage children to go outdoors. |
9 . Encouraging early reading skills can build a path to a lifelong love of reading and can help your child get a head start in school. While reading to your child is still the most important thing you can do to build reading skills, there are many techniques that can help.
Make reading fun. Play games with your child as you read. Many traditional children’s games can be adapted to encourage reading skills. While reading or during play, tell your child, “I spy with my little eye, something that begins with the letter ‘b’.” Help the child find something on the page or in the room that begins with that letter. For example, “I see a barn.” This can also be used to teach beginning letter sounds. “I spy with my little eye, something that begins with the sound‘s’.” Help the child find a word that begins with the “s” sound.
In this variation(变化) on the popular game, instruct the child that, “Simon says, ‘point to something that starts with the letter ‘n’.’” The child can then find an object in the room or a body part, such as the nose, that starts with the letter presented. This can also be used to teach beginning sounds.
Make a game out of rhyming (押韵) words by making up silly words to rhyme with the child’s name or favorite toys. This sets the stage for rhyming real words by showing the child the similarities of sounds. As the child masters making up the words, begin rhyming real words to one another.
Tips to raise a successful reader:
Put books in places where the child plays. If books are easily accessible, children are more likely to pick them up.
Let children “read to you” by looking at pictures. Making up stories to go along with illustrations helps children discover how words relate to pictures.
Take books along on trips or even short visits to the doctor’s office or grocery store.
Have children help you shop. Reading grocery lists and looking for specific items help build vocabulary.
1. Which of the following statements is TRUE?| A．A good reading habit can benefit your child at school. |
| B．Computer games help children develop reading skills. |
| C．You should be careful as for what books to read. |
| D．Children enjoy reading poems to their parents. |
| A．The most important thing is to make reading funny. |
| B．Children have a preference for stories with pictures. |
| C．Rhyming games should begin only with real words. |
| D．Children tend to read more if books are at hand. |
| A．Interest is the best teacher |
| B．Practice makes perfect |
| C．Good methods are half done |
| D．Failure teaches success |
| A．Parents. |
| B．Children |
| C．Educators. |
| D．People in general. |
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