英語四級基礎(chǔ)閱讀訓(xùn)練 Text 3

Text 3

Directions: In this part, you will have 15 minutes to go over the passage quickly and answer the questions on Answer Sheet 1. For questions 1-7, choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). For questions 8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.

That's Enough, Kids

It was a lovely day at the park and Stella Bianchi was enjoying the sunshine with her two children when a young boy, aged about four, approached her two-year-old son and pushed him to the ground.

I'd watched him for a little while and my son was the fourth or fifth child he'd shoved, she says. "I went over to them, picked up my son, turned to the boy and said, firmly, 'No, we don't push.'" What happened next was unexpected.

The boy's mother ran toward me from across the park, Stella says. "I thought she was coming over to apologise, but instead she started shouting at me for 'disciplining her child'. All I did was let him know his behavior was unacceptable. Was I supposed to sit back while her kid did whatever he wanted, hurting other children in the process?"

Getting your own children to play nice is difficult enough. Dealing with other people's children has become a minefield.

In my house, jumping on the sofa is not allowed. In my sister's house it's encouraged. For her, it's about kids being kids: "If you can't do it at three, when can you do it?"

Each of these philosophies is valid and, it has to be said, my son loves visiting his aunt's house. But I find myself saying "no" a lot when her kids are over at mine. That's OK between sisters but becomes dangerous territory when you're talking to the children of friends or acquaintances.

Kids aren't all raised the same, agrees Professor Naomi White of Monash University. "But there's still an idea that they're the property of the parents. We see our children as an extension of ourselves, so if you're saying that my child is behaving inappropriately, then that's somehow a criticism of me."

In those circumstances, it's difficult to know whether to approach the child directly or the parent first. There are two schools of thought.

I'd go to the child first, says Andrew Fuller, author of Tricky Kids. "Usually a quiet reminder that'we don't do that here' is enough. Kids have finely tuned antennae（直覺）for how to behave in different settings."

He points out that bringing it up with the parent first may make them feel neglectful, which could cause problems. Of course, approaching the child first can bring its own headaches, too.

This is why White recommends that you approach the parents first. "Raise your concerns with the parents if they're there and ask them to deal with it," she says.

Asked how to approach a parent in this situation, psychologist Meredith Fuller answers: "Explain your needs as well as stressing the importance of the friendship. Preface your remarks with something like：'I know you'll think I'm silly but in my house I don't want...'"

When it comes to situations where you're caring for another child, White is straightforward:"Common sense must prevail. If things don't go well, then have a chat."

There're a couple of new grey areas. Physical punishment, once accepted from any adult, is no longer appropriate. "Now you can't do it without feeling uneasy about it," White says.

Men might also feel uneasy about dealing with other people's children. "Men feel nervous," White says. "A new set of considerations has come to the fore as part of the debate about how we handle children."

For Andrew Fuller, the child-centric nature of our society has affected everyone. "The rules are different now from when today's parents were growing up," he says. "Adults are scared of saying, 'Don't swear', or asking a child to stand up on a bus. They're worried that there will be conflict if they point these things out—either from older children, or their parents."

He sees it as a loss of the sense of common public good and public courtesy（禮貌）, and says that adults suffer form it as much as children.

Meredith Fuller agrees. "A code of conduct is hard to create when you're living in a world in which everyone is exhausted from overwork and lack of sleep, and a world in which nice people are perceived to finish last."

It's about what I'm doing and what I need, Andrew Fuller says. "The days when a kid came home from school and said, 'I got into trouble,' and dad said, 'you probably deserved it,' are over. Now the parents are charging up to the school to have a go at teachers."

This jumping to our children's defense is part of what fuels the "walking on eggshells" feeling that surrounds our dealings with other people's children. You know that if you remonstrate（勸誡）with the child, you're going to have to deal with the parent. It's admirable to be protective of our kids, but is it good?

Children have to learn to negotiate the world on their own, within reasonable boundaries, White says."I suspect that it's only certain sectors of the population doing the running to the school—better-educated parents are probably more likely to be too involved."

White believes our notions of a more child-centred society should be challenged. "Today we have a situation where, in many families, both parents work, so the amount of time children get from parents has diminished," she says.

Also, sometimes when we talk about being child-centred, it's a way of talking about treating our children like commodities（商品）. We're centred on them but in ways that reflect positively on us. We treat them as objects whose appearance and achievements are something we can be proud of, rather than serve the best interests of the children.

One way over-worked, under-resourced parents show commitment to their children is to leap to their defence. Back at the park, Bianchi's intervention（干預(yù)）on her son's behalf ended in an undignified exchange of insulting words with the other boy's mother.

As Bianchi approached the park bench where she'd been sitting, other mums came up to her and congratulated her on taking a stand. "Apparently the boy had a longstanding reputation for bad behaviour and his mum for even worse behaviour if he was challenged."

Andrew Fuller doesn't believe that we should be afraid of dealing with other people's kids. "Look at kids that aren't your own as a potential minefield," he says. He recommends that we don't stay silent over inappropriate behaviour, particularly with regular visitors.

1.What did Stella Bianchi expect the young boy's mother to do when she talked to him?

A.Make an apology.　　　B.Come over to intervene.

C.Discipline her own boy.　D.Take her own boy away.

2.What does the author say about dealing with other people's children?

A.It's important not to hurt them in any way.　　B.It's no use trying to stop their wrongdoing.

C.It's advisable to treat them as one's own kids.　D.It's possible for one to get into lots of trouble.

3.According to Professor Naomi White of Monash University, when one's kids are criticised, their parents will probably feel______.

A.discouraged　　B.hurt　　C.puzzled　　D.overwhelmed

4.What should one do when seeing other people's kids misbehave according to Andrew Fuller?

A.Talk to them directly in a mild way.　　　B.Complain to their parents politely.

C.Simply leave them alone.　　　　　　　D.Punish them lightly.

5.Due to the child-centric nature of our society,______.

A.parents are worried when their kids swear at them

B.people think it improper to criticise kids in public

C.people are reluctant to point out our kids' wrongdoings

D.many conflicts arise between parents and their kids

6.In a world where everyone is exhausted from overwork and lack of sleep,______.

A.it's easy for people to become impatient　　B.it's difficult to create a code of conduct

C.it's important to be friendly to everybody　　D.it's hard for people to admire each other

7.How did people use to respond when their kids got into trouble at school?

A.They'd question the teachers.　　　B.They'd charge up to the school.

C.They'd tell the kids to calm down.　D.They'd put the blame on their kids.

8.Professor White believes that the notions of a more child-centred society should be________________.

9.According to Professor White, today's parents treat their children as something they_______________.

10.Andrew Fuller suggests that, when kids behave inappropriately, people should not________________.

1.【答案】A

【解析】依據(jù)第三段第一句"The boy's mother ran toward me from across the park," Stella says. "I thought she was coming over to apologise, but instead she started shouting at me for 'disciplining her child'.”通過這段話可知，Stella本以為孩子的母親是來道歉的，但事實(shí)并非如此。據(jù)此判斷，應(yīng)選擇A。

2.【答案】D

【解析】依據(jù)第四段第二句“Dealing with other people's children has become a minefield.”通過這句話可知，管教別人的孩子如同進(jìn)入雷區(qū)。據(jù)此判斷，應(yīng)選擇D。

3.【答案】B

【解析】依據(jù)第七段最后一句“We see our children as an extension of ourselves, so if you're saying that my child is behaving inappropriately, then that's somehow a criticism of me.”通過這句話可知，我們將孩子看成是自己的延續(xù)，如果你說我的孩子做得不對，那就有些在批評我的意思了。據(jù)此判斷，應(yīng)選擇B。

4.【答案】A

【解析】依據(jù)第九段第二句“Usually a quiet reminder that 'we don't do that here' is enough.”通過這句話可知，通常，一個溫和的提醒"我們不能那樣做"就夠了。據(jù)此判斷，應(yīng)選擇A。

5.【答案】C

【解析】依據(jù)第十六段“Adults are scared of saying, 'Don't swear,' or asking a child to stand up on a bus. They're worried that there will be conflict if they point these things out—either from older children, or their parents.”通過這段話可知，成年人害怕說“不要罵人”，或者在公交車上要求一個孩子站起來。他們擔(dān)心這樣做會引起矛盾，或者來自孩子，或者來自他們的父母。據(jù)此判斷，應(yīng)選擇C。

6.【答案】B

【解析】依據(jù)第十八段“A code of conduct is hard to create when you're living in a world in which everyone is exhausted from overwork and lack of sleep, and a world in which nice people are perceived to finish last.”通過這段話可知，當(dāng)你生活在每個人因?yàn)檫^度工作和缺乏睡眠而疲憊不堪，而且好人總是被發(fā)現(xiàn)排到最后的世界時，行動守則很難創(chuàng)建。據(jù)此判斷，應(yīng)選擇B。

7.【答案】D

【解析】依據(jù)第十九段“The days when a kid came home from school and said, 'I got into trouble,' and dad said, 'you probably deserved it,' are over.”通過這段話可知，在過去，當(dāng)孩子告訴父母遇到麻煩時，父親會說"或許你是活該"，這樣的時代已經(jīng)過去了。據(jù)此判斷，應(yīng)選擇D。

8.【答案】challenged

【解析】依據(jù)第二十二段“White believes our notions of a more child-centred society should be challenged.”通過這句話可知，懷特認(rèn)為我們這個更多地以孩子為中心觀點(diǎn)的社會應(yīng)該受到挑戰(zhàn)。據(jù)此判斷，本題答案是challenged。

9.【答案】can be proud of

【解析】依據(jù)第二十三段最后一句“We treat them as objects whose appearance and achievements are something we can be proud of, rather than serve the best interests of the children.”通過這句話可知，我們將他們看成可以因其外貌和成就而感到驕傲的東西，而不是為了滿足孩子們最佳的興趣。據(jù)此判斷，本題答案是can be proud of。

10.【答案】stay silent

【解析】依據(jù)最后一段最后一句“He recommends that we don't stay silent over inappropriate behaviour, particularly with regular visitors.”通過這句話可知，他建議我們不應(yīng)該對不良行為忍氣吞聲，尤其是對那些“慣犯”。據(jù)此判斷，本題答案是stay silent。

參考譯文

夠了，孩子們！

那天天氣不錯，斯特拉·比安奇（Stella Bianchi）帶著兩個孩子在公園里享受陽光。這時，一個四歲左右的男孩跑向她兩歲的兒子并把他推倒在地。

“我已經(jīng)盯他一陣了，我兒子是他推倒的第四、五個孩子，”她說?！拔蚁蛩麄冏呷ィ鹞业膬鹤?，轉(zhuǎn)頭對那男孩嚴(yán)厲地說‘不要這樣，我們不能推別人?！苯酉聛韰s發(fā)生了令人意想不到的事情。

“男孩的媽媽穿過公園跑到我的身邊，”斯特拉說?！拔乙詾樗沁^來道歉的，但是她卻開始朝我大聲叫嚷，說我‘管教她兒子’。我所做的不過是讓他知道自己的行為是不受歡迎的。難道我就該坐那里不動，看她的孩子為所欲為，一直傷害其他孩子嗎？”

本來管好自己的孩子已經(jīng)很難了，再管教別人的孩子就如同進(jìn)了雷區(qū)。

在我家，不允許孩子跳到沙發(fā)上。在我妹妹家，卻鼓勵孩子們這樣做。對她而言，孩子畢竟是孩子：“三歲的時候不這樣玩，那要到什么時候呢？”

這些觀點(diǎn)都有道理，而且不得不承認(rèn)，我兒子喜歡去他姨媽家玩。而我妹妹的孩子在我家玩過頭時，我總是阻止他們。這在姐妹之間是沒問題的，但是當(dāng)你跟朋友或者熟人的孩子這樣說時，這就成為禁區(qū)了。

“孩子成長的方式不同，”莫納什大學(xué)（Monash University）的娜奧米·懷特（Naomi White）教授也同意這一點(diǎn)?！暗藗兌及押⒆涌闯墒歉改傅呢?cái)富。我們將孩子視為自己的延續(xù)，所以如果你說我的孩子做得不對，那就有些批評我的意思了。”

在那些情況下，很難明白是直接去找孩子還是先找父母。對此，存在兩種觀點(diǎn)。

“我會先找孩子，”《狡猾的孩子》的作者安德魯·福勒（Andrew Fuller）說?！巴ǔ睾偷靥嵝岩痪洹覀儾荒苣菢幼觥蛪蛄?。孩子們對不同情況下如何表現(xiàn)有著不錯的直覺?！?/p>

他指出先同父母提出問題的話，會讓孩子覺得自己被忽視了，這可能會導(dǎo)致一些問題。當(dāng)然，先接近孩子也會有令人頭疼的問題。

這也就是懷特建議大家先接近父母的原因了。她說：“如果父母在場，向他們提出你的顧慮并讓他們來解決?！?/p>

在被問到如何在這種情況下接近孩子的父母時，心理學(xué)家梅瑞迪斯·福勒（Meredith Fuller）回答說：“在說明你的需要的同時，著重強(qiáng)調(diào)友誼的重要性。你可以這樣開頭‘我知道你會認(rèn)為我很無聊，但是在我家，我不想……’”

在你護(hù)著另一個孩子的時候，懷特直截了當(dāng)?shù)卣f："理智占據(jù)上風(fēng)。如果情況不妙，不妨聊聊天?！?/p>

現(xiàn)在有些新的灰色地帶。過去任何一個大人都會進(jìn)行體罰，但現(xiàn)如今不合適了?！艾F(xiàn)在你要是這樣做，會感到心神不安的。”懷特說。

人們在教育別人家的孩子時也可能會覺得不安。“人們覺得緊張，”懷特說，“新的思考已經(jīng)在如何處理孩子問題的爭論中成為惹人注意的一部分。”

對安德魯·福勒而言，以孩子為中心的社會本質(zhì)已經(jīng)影響到每個人?！艾F(xiàn)在的規(guī)則與家長們當(dāng)年成長時的規(guī)則不同了?！彼f，“成年人害怕說，‘別罵人’，或者讓孩子在公交車上站起來。他們擔(dān)心如果說出這些事情會引起矛盾——不管是與年紀(jì)大點(diǎn)的孩子還是他們的家長。”

他認(rèn)為這是一種公共美德和公共禮貌的喪失，并談到成人與孩子們承受的一樣多。

梅瑞迪斯·福勒對此表示同意：“在你生活的世界中，每個人因?yàn)檫^度工作和缺乏睡眠而疲憊不堪，而且好人總是被發(fā)現(xiàn)排到最后時，便很難形成一種行動守則?！?/p>

“這是我現(xiàn)在做的和我需要做的事情?！卑驳卖敗じ＠照f，“過去孩子回家說，‘我有麻煩了’，而父親會說‘也許你是活該’，這種日子已經(jīng)結(jié)束了?，F(xiàn)在家長會沖到學(xué)校去向老師抱怨?！?/p>

教育別人家的孩子時，這種貿(mào)然保護(hù)孩子的行為有幾分地燃起了“如行走在蛋殼之上”的感覺。你知道，要是你勸誡孩子，你就得跟孩子的家長交涉。保護(hù)自己的孩子的確令人欽佩，但是這樣做好嗎？

“孩子必須自己學(xué)會在合理的范圍內(nèi)與這個世界溝通，”懷特說?！拔覒岩芍皇且徊糠秩藭_到學(xué)校這樣做——受過良好教育的家長可能更容易牽涉其中?！?/p>

懷特相信我們這個社會更加以孩子為中心的觀點(diǎn)應(yīng)該受到挑戰(zhàn)。她說：“現(xiàn)在的情況是，我們很多家庭，父母雙方都在工作，所以可以分給孩子的時間減少了?！?/p>

“同時，有時當(dāng)我們談?wù)撘院⒆訛橹行臅r，只是將孩子看做是商品的一種方式。我們以肯定我們自己的方式去關(guān)心孩子，我們將他們看成可以因其外貌和成就而感到驕傲的東西，而不是為了滿足孩子們最好的興趣?！?/p>

工作過度、資力不足的家長對孩子履行義務(wù)的一種方法就是貿(mào)然保護(hù)孩子?；氐焦珗@的故事，比安奇替兒子出頭最終以兩位母親的毫無形象的“口水戰(zhàn)”而收尾。

當(dāng)比安奇回到她一直坐的公園長凳上時，其他一些孩子的母親走過來，祝賀她可以站出來反抗?！昂茱@然，那個男孩行為惡劣不是一時了，而在他遇到反對時，他母親做得更差?！?/p>

安德魯·福勒相信我們不應(yīng)該擔(dān)心處理與別人的孩子的事情。他說：“將別人的孩子看成潛在的雷區(qū)?！彼ㄗh我們不應(yīng)該對不良行為忍氣吞聲，尤其是對那些“慣犯”。