As any homemaker who has tried to keep order at the dinner table knows, there is far more to a family meal than food. Sociologist Michael Lewis has been studying 50 families to find out just how much more.
Lewis and his co-workers carried out their study by videotaping the families while they ate ordinary meals in their own homes. They found that parents with small families talk actively with each other and their children. But as the number of children gets larger, conversation gives way to the parents’ efforts to control the loud noise they make. That can have an important effect on the children. “In general the more question-asking the parents do, the higher the children’s IQ scores,” Lewis says. “And the more children there are, the less question-asking there is.”
The study also provides an explanation for why middle children often seem to have a harder time in life than their siblings. Lewis found that in families with three or four children, dinner conversation is likely to center on the oldest child, who has the most talk about, and the youngest, who needs the most attention. “Middle children are invisible,” says Lewis. “When you see someone get up from the table and walk around during dinner, chances are it’s the middle child.” There is, however, one thing that stops all conversation and prevents anyone from having attention: “When the TV is on,” Lewis says, “dinner is a non-event.”

  1. 1.

    The writer’s purpose in writing the text is to _________.

    1. A.
      show the relationship between parents and children
    2. B.
      teach parents ways to keep order at the dinner table
    3. C.
      report on the findings of a study
    4. D.
      give information about family problems
  2. 2.

    Parents with large families ask fewer questions at dinner because _________.

    1. A.
      they are busy serving food to their children
    2. B.
      they are busy keeping order at the dinner table
    3. C.
      they have to pay more attention to younger children
    4. D.
      they are tired out having prepared food for the whole family
  3. 3.

    By saying “Middle children are invisible” in paragraph 3, Lewis means that middle children _________.

    1. A.
      have to help their parents to serve dinner
    2. B.
      get the least attention from the family
    3. C.
      are often kept away from the dinner table
    4. D.
      find it hard to keep up with other children
  4. 4.

    Lewis’ research provides an answer to the question _________.

    1. A.
      why TV is important in family life
    2. B.
      why parents should keep good order
    3. C.
      why children in small families seem to be quieter
    4. D.
      why middle children seem to have more difficulties in life
練習(xí)冊(cè)系列答案
相關(guān)習(xí)題

科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解

Thanksgiving(感恩節(jié)) Day was near. The first grade teacher gave her class a fun task——to draw a picture of something for which they were thankful.
Most of the class would celebrate the holiday with turkey(火雞) and other traditional goodies(好吃的東西) of season. These, the teacher thought, would be the subjects of her students’ art. And they were. But Douglas made a different kind of picture. He drew a hand. Nothing else. Just an empty hand. Douglas was a different kind of boy. Most of the time, as other children played together, Douglas was likely to stand close by her side. Everyone could guess the pain he felt from his eyes.
His picture interested other students. Whose hands could it be? One child guessed it was the hand of a farmer, because farmers raise turkeys. Another suggested a police officer, because the police protect and care for people. Still others guessed it was the hand of God, for Gold feeds us.
The teacher stopped at Douglas desk, bent down, and asked him whose hand it was. The little boy looked away and said, “ It’s yours, teacher.”
She recalled the times she had taken his hand and walked with him here and there. How often had she said, “Take my hand, Douglas, we’ ll go outside.” or, “ Let me show you how to hold your pencil.” Douglas was thankful for his teacher’s hand. It means much to Douglas. He might not always say thanks, but he’ll remember the hand that reaches out. She wiped her tears away and went on with her work.

  1. 1.

    What did most students think of when given the task?

    1. A.
      Hand
    2. B.
      Turkey
    3. C.
      God
    4. D.
      Farmer
  2. 2.

    Douglas drew an empty hand in order to_____.

    1. A.
      show thanks to his teacher
    2. B.
      ask for a turkey
    3. C.
      attract other students’ attention
    4. D.
      make the teacher cry
  3. 3.

    How did the teacher feel when Douglas told her the answer?

    1. A.
      Sad
    2. B.
      Happy
    3. C.
      Moved
    4. D.
      Interested.
  4. 4.

    The underlined word “recall” in paragraph 5 means_____.

    1. A.
      pass
    2. B.
      spend
    3. C.
      waste
    4. D.
      remember

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解

Heading off to college this year? Here are some fashion tips from our experts you should keep in mind:
Dress to impress.Stylist and business consultant Daniela Smith says,“Girls should keep in mind that your college professors will often be the bridge that connects you to your future career and your classmates will become your professional network,You don't need to dress like you're going to the office, but you.should display all ability to properly present yourself with appropriate maturity and confidence,and look put together.”
Logo mania(品牌狂熱癥).Wearing the loges of brands aimed at younger customers physically identifies you as part of that age group,so consider the targeted age group of the stores you shop at.It's tempting to load up on loges,especially well-known loges that signify high-end brands.But consider this:college is a time of self-discovery, a chance to develop your own personal style.Instead of wearing loges head to toe,“walking advertisement”-style,why not express who you really are?
Wear real pants! The combination of leggings and baggy shirts is all too common on college campuses.Smith points out that leggings,yoga pants,and Sweatpants ale entirely unacceptable in public unless you're exercising.Although leggings worn as pants are a common trend among high school and college girls,they are not an appropriate choice for daywear;As a young woman, your style choice should begin to reflect your maturity level.So,get rid of leggings and wear real pants!
Keep the cute factor to a minimum.Stay away from sweaters and T-shirts with smiling animals, cartoon characters,or Hello Kitty on them.Sure,kittens might be cute,but they're not doing you any favors in the style department.Dressing too cutesy can take years off your look,and not necessarily in a good way!

  1. 1.

    The second paragraph indicates the importance of______.

    1. A.
      impressing professors
    2. B.
      getting on well with classmates
    3. C.
      creating a professional image
    4. D.
      dressing appropriately
  2. 2.

    The author believes that college girls should______.

    1. A.
      choose a 1ogo that suits their age
    2. B.
      try to load up on well-known logos
    3. C.
      use logos to show who they are
    4. D.
      find their identity by trying different logos
  3. 3.

    The author recommends wearing real pants because______.

    1. A.
      leggings and baggy shirts are too common
    2. B.
      yoga pants and sweatpants are not as comfortable
    3. C.
      real pants can present you with appropriate maturity
    4. D.
      people like real pants better man the other pants
  4. 4.

    What's the writer's attitude towards sweaters with animals on them?

    1. A.
      They make people look lovely.
    2. B.
      They are very fashionable these days.
    3. C.
      They will show you're an animal lover.
    4. D.
      They are not suitable for college-aged students.
  5. 5.

    In which magazine would you most likely find this passage?

    1. A.
      Business Week
    2. B.
      Parents
    3. C.
      In style
    4. D.
      Travel & Leisure

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解

What kind of job do you want to do in the future ? One that earns the most money or one that gives you the highest social position? What about a job that makes you feel happy? Surprisingly, these three things do not always go together in the job world .
According to a general social survey by the National Organization for Research at the University of Chicago in the US, the ten happiest jobs are not those with better pay or higher social position. They are ordinary jobs.
But what is it that makes a “happy” job?
Researchers found that people are happier when they feel they are doing something worthwhile. Six of the top ten happiest jobs are based heavily on helping others, such as firefighters, teachers, and physical therapists(理療師 ).
Being able to express oneself is also important for people to feel satisfied . Take authors as an example. Their pay is “ridiculously low or non-existent”, but “the freedom of writing down the contents of your own mind leads to happiness ,”wrote business author Steve Denning on his blog on Forbes.com.
These jobs are greatly different to the top ten “hated jobs”, according a website survey earlier this year. Director of information technology, sales manager, technical specialist and others that are generally considered respectable jobs are on the list.
Todd May from The New York Times didn’t find the results strange. He argued that
“ a meaningful life must, in some sense then , make people feel worthwhile”. If a person doesn’t participate in the causes “ that are generally regarded as worthy, like feeding and clothing the poor, their life will lack meaning ,”he said . Work takes up the greater part of most people’s  lives . It’s no wonder that the people with the most worthwhile jobs are the happiest of all.
However, it’s important to remember that these two surveys are broad ones and that it doesn’t matter whether your dream job is on the two lists. Now it is the time to think about the future . After all, something that satisfies your mind will always bring you happiness.

  1. 1.

    According to the passage , which of the following is probably a happy job?

    1. A.
      A marketing manager
    2. B.
      An engineer of IT
    3. C.
      A teacher of art
    4. D.
      A technical expert
  2. 2.

    Steve Denning thinks that being an author is happy mainly because authors_____.

    1. A.
      are helpful to others
    2. B.
      can be free to express themselves
    3. C.
      earn much money
    4. D.
      are considered respectable
  3. 3.

    From the passage we learn that_________.

    1. A.
      the more you earn , the happier you are
    2. B.
      respectable jobs are happy jobs
    3. C.
      the higher your social position is , the happier you are
    4. D.
      most happy jobs are related to helping others
  4. 4.

    In the last paragraph the author stresses that_________.

    1. A.
      your future job should be one that makes you happy
    2. B.
      your dream jobs should be based on the two surveys
    3. C.
      the two surveys are of great importance
    4. D.
      it won’t be easy to find a job in the future

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解

A woman named Emily renewing her driver’s license at the County Clerk’s office was asked to state her occupation. She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.
“What I mean is,” explained the recorder, “do you have a job, or are you just a …”
“Of course I have a job,” said Emily. “I’m a mother.”
“We don’t list ‘mother’ as an occupation… ‘housewife’ covers it,” said the recorder.
One day I found myself in the same situation. The clerk was obviously a career woman, confident and possessed of a high sounding title. “What is your occupation?” she asked.
The words simply popped out. “I’m a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations.”
The clerk paused, ballpoint pen frozen in midair.
I repeated the title slowly, then I stared with wonder as my statement was written in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.
“Might I ask,” said the clerk with new interest, “Just what you do in this field?”
Coolly, without any trace of panic in my voice, I heard myself reply, “I have a continuing program of research (what mother doesn’t), in the lab and in the field (normally I would have said indoors and out). Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities (any mother care to disagree?), and I often work 14 hours a day (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most careers and rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money.”
There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk’s voice as she completed the form, stood up, and showed me out.
As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up (受鼓舞) by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants---ages 13, 7, and 3.
Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model (a 6 month old baby), in the child-development program, testing out a new vocal pattern.
I felt proud! I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable (不可缺少的) to mankind than “just another mother.”
Motherhood…What a glorious career! Especially when there’s a title on the door

  1. 1.

    What can we infer from the conversation between the woman and the recorder at the beginning of the passage?

    1. A.
      The recorder was impatient and rude
    2. B.
      The woman felt ashamed to admit what her job was
    3. C.
      The author was upset about the situation that mothers faced
    4. D.
      Motherhood was not recognized and respected as a job by society
  2. 2.

    How did the female clerk feel at first when the author told her occupation?

    1. A.
      curious
    2. B.
      indifferent
    3. C.
      puzzled
    4. D.
      interested
  3. 3.

    Why did the woman clerk show more respect for the author?

    1. A.
      Because the author cared little about rewards
    2. B.
      Because she thought the author did admirable work
    3. C.
      Because she admired the author’s research work in the lab
    4. D.
      Because the writer did something she had little knowledge of
  4. 4.

    What is the author’s purpose of writing the passage?

    1. A.
      To show how you describe your job affects your feelings toward it
    2. B.
      To argue that motherhood is a worthy career and deserves respect
    3. C.
      To show that the author had a greater job than Emily
    4. D.
      To show that being a mother is hard and boring work

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解

Taiwan police cannot decide whether to treat it as an extremely act of stealing or an even cheat. Either way, it could be the perfect crime, because the criminals are birds—homing pigeons !
The crime begins with a telephone message to the owner of a stolen car: if you want the car back, pay up. Then, the car owner is directed to a park, told where to find a bird cage and how to attach money to the neck of the pigeon inside. Carrying the money in a tiny bag, the pigeon flies off.
There have been at least four such pigeon pick-ups in Changwa. What at first seemed like the work of a clever stay-at-home car thief, however,  may in fact be the work of an even lazier and more inventive criminal mind—one that avoids not only collecting money but also going out to steal the car in the first place. Police officer Chen says that the criminal probably has pulled a double trick: he gets money for things he cannot possibly return. Instead of stealing cars, he lets someone else do it and then waits for the car-owner to place an advertisement in the newspaper asking for help.
The thought is supported by the fact that, so far, none of the stolen cars have been returned. Also, the amount of money demanded-under 3,000 Taiwanese dollars–seems too little for a car worth many times more.
Demands for pigeon-delivered money stopped as soon as the press reported the story. And even if they start again, Chen holds little hope of catching the criminal. “We have more important things to do,” he said.

  1. 1.

    After the car owner received a phone call, he _______.

    1. A.
      went to a certain pigeon and put some money in the bag it carried
    2. B.
      gave the money to the thief and had his car back in a park
    3. C.
      sent some money to the thief by mail
    4. D.
      told the press about it
  2. 2.

    The “l(fā)azier and more inventive” criminal refers to _______.

    1. A.
      the car thief who stays at home
    2. B.
      one of those who put the ads in the paper
    3. C.
      one of the policemen in Changwa
    4. D.
      the owner of the pigeons
  3. 3.

    The writer mentions the fact that “none of the stolen cars have been returned” to show _______.

    1. A.
      how easily people get fooled by criminals
    2. B.
      what Chen thinks might be correct
    3. C.
      the thief is extremely clever
    4. D.
      the money paid is too little
  4. 4.

    The underlined word “they” in the last paragraph refers to ____.

    1. A.
      criminals
    2. B.
      pigeons
    3. C.
      the stolen cars
    4. D.
      demands for money
  5. 5.

    We may infer from the text that the criminal knows how to reach the car owners because _______.

    1. A.
      he reads the ads in the newspaper
    2. B.
      he lives in the same neighborhood
    3. C.
      he has seen the car owners in the park
    4. D.
      he has trained the pigeons to follow them

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解

China has a growing love affair with the cars.This is clear at the Beijing Asian Games Village Automobile Exchange, where more and more people come to look and increasingly to buy.
Alice Wu is an editor at a Chinese Internet publication.She takes the subway to work, but she is certain she can cut her commute time if she drives herself.Wu says it takes her three hours to get to work now.If she had a car, she says, the same trip would only take her two hours.
The Asian Games Village Automobile Exchange is the biggest car dealership in Beijing.General manager Guo Yong says the business sells more than two thousand cars each week.Guo says it is much easier for Chinese consumers to buy a car now.In the past, it would take them several years to earn enough money to buy a new car.Now, he says, many people only need to save for one year.Also, the emergence of less expensive domestic brands like Chery and BYD means more Chinese can afford cars.
For decades, most Chinese city residents got about by bicycle or public buses and trains.Now, in many areas, the number of new cars is growing faster than the road system, leaving city streets jammed with traffic.Guo Liang has wanted to buy a car for a decade, and he will be the first in his family to own one.He is not deterred by Beijing's traffic jams.Guo says if the traffic is too bad, he will use the car for leisure or holidays with his family.Another customer, Zhang Menxin, works in Beijing, but is from Xi'an, more than 900 kilometers away.Zhang says it is very difficult to get a train ticket to return home for Chinese New Year.She adds that train is not convenient.If she had her own car, she says, she could go anytime she wanted to.
World Bank transportation specialist Shomik Mendhiratta says, “Getting a car makes people feel like they have arrived to the middle class, and it's got a huge status associated with it.It's a fantastic thing to have.”

  1. 1.

    The underlined word "deterred" in the 4th paragraph probably means           .

    1. A.
      encouraged
    2. B.
      attracted
    3. C.
      astonished
    4. D.
      discouraged
  2. 2.

    The reason why Zhang Menxin wants to buy a car is that          .

    1. A.
      it is hard and inconvenient for her to go home in Xi'an by train.
    2. B.
      she doesn't like to go to work by subway.
    3. C.
      she wants to use the car for leisure or holidays with her family
    4. D.
      the place where she works is far from her house
  3. 3.

    The best title for the passage should be "          "

    1. A.
      Cars made China a country on wheels
    2. B.
      More Chinese Hitting the road in their own cars.
    3. C.
      More cars sold by the Beijing Asian Games Village Automobile Exchange
    4. D.
      China is developing rapidly in the past few years.
  4. 4.

    According to what Shomik Mendhiratta in the last paragraph, the car is ____ for the person who owns it.

    1. A.
      of little value
    2. B.
      a means of transportation
    3. C.
      a status symbol
    4. D.
      a heavy burden

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:單選題

Some parts in South China have experienced________this year as they did last year.


  1. A.
    twice as much rain
  2. B.
    rain twice as much
  3. C.
    as twice much rain
  4. D.
    twice rain as much

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解

A: I once heard someone shout, “Look out.” I put my heard out of the window and a bucketful water fell on me. It seems that “Look out” may mean “Don’t look out”.
B: I was once on a ship and heard the captain shout, “All hands on deck(甲板).” I put my hands on the deck and someone walked on them.
C: I once called early on an English friend and the servant who came to the door said, “He’s not up yet. Come back in half an hour.” When I went again for him, she said, “He’s not down yet.” I said, “If he’s neither up nor down. Where is he?”

  1. 1.

    . In the dialogue the phrase “Look out” actually means “______”.

    1. A.
      Don’t look out
    2. B.
      Look out for the water
    3. C.
      Be careful
    4. D.
      Look everywhere
  2. 2.

    . The underlined word “them” in the dialogue means _______.

    1. A.
      my feet
    2. B.
      my hands
    3. C.
      the ship
    4. D.
      the deck
  3. 3.

    . “He is not up” and “He is not down” in the dialogue actually means     ______.

    1. A.
      He doesn’t stand up and doesn’t lie down
    2. B.
      He doesn’t come up and doesn’t go down
    3. C.
      He hasn't turned up and hasn't turned down
    4. D.
      He hasn't got up and he hasn't come downstairs
  4. 4.

    . The writer writes the dialogue to tell us that ______.

    1. A.
      English is very interesting if you like it and keep on using it
    2. B.
      it is impossible to learn English very well in a short time
    3. C.
      language keeps on developing and changing all the time
    4. D.
      words and phrases may have different meanings in different situations.

查看答案和解析>>

同步練習(xí)冊(cè)答案