Perhaps you have seen them on the playground, at preschool drop-off or piano lessons, or even in TV shows like Up All Night. They are the stay-at-home dads, and lately, it seems they’re everywhere.
The latest research shows that 32 percent of dads regularly care for their children, and among those with preschool-age kids, one in five dads is the primary caregiver. In families where mom works, that figure rises to nearly one in three. Stay-at-home dads have become so common that even toy makers like Mattel are catering to(迎合) them.
A recent study finds that today’s full-time fathers aren’t trying to be “Mr. Moms”. Instead, they’re carving out their own unique roles as parents. I spoke with some experienced stay-at-home dads, who agreed that their parenting styles are different. “I do let the kids take more risks on the playground, while my wife tends to get nervous that they’ll fall and hurt themselves,” says Kyle, 38, an artist.
Besides, as there are more and more stay-at-home dads, they are turning to each other for support. They have created Meet Up groups and held Dads Nights Out. Kyle admits he had noticed a change recently. “Several years ago, I was checking out at a store with the kids, and the cashier was very curious why I was buying food instead of my wife. I told her that I was a full-time dad, and she commented, ‘Wow, I have never met one of you before.’ Now, my next-door neighbor is a dad who works from home and we often trades off watching the kids after school. ”
As for my own husband, although he admits that being a full-time dad is encouraging, he’s also proud of the strong bond with our daughter, which will offer her benefits that last for years. Children wit caring dads tend to have higher intelligence and more confidence, and do better in school. They also are less likely to experience depression or get into trouble, and have better social skills.Why toy makers catering to stay-at-home dads?
| A．Kids like playing with them. |
| B．They influence the choices their children make. |
| C．They are the money-makers in their families. |
| D．Kids like toys bought by them. |
According to Paragraph 3, stay-at-home dads _______.
| A．can never replace moms’ love. |
| B．can be as good as moms at parenting. |
| C．try to learn from moms about parenting. |
| D．have different parenting styles from moms. |
What change has Kyle noticed recently?
| A．The founding of Meet Up groups. |
| B．The change of people’s attitude towards them. |
| C．The increase in the number of stay-at-home dads. |
| D．The development of new communication methods. |
Children with full-time dads are more likely to be ______.
| A．smart and positive. | B．energetic and brave |
| C．sociable and patient. | D．confident and careful. |
阅读理解D
The deserts of the world are not all covered with sand. Many of them have surfaces of rock or clay(黏土) or small stones. They are not flat, either. They often have high hills and deep valleys. There is some plants’ life in many parts of the desert. There is little rain in the desert, but it does fall often enough for most plants.
The deserts of the world are not uninhabited(无人居住的). People also live outside oases(绿洲), but these people are not farmers. They have camels, goats, donkeys, sheep, etc. These animals can live on the desert plants and do not need much water.
The people of the desert have to move constantly from place to place, they must always look for grass or desert plants for their animals. They usually live in tents. When there is no more food for their animals, they fold up their tents, put them on their camels and donkeys, and move to another place. In good years, when there is enough food for their animals, they trade their skins and their goats and camel hairs with the people of oases for wheat and fruit. But in bad years, when there is not enough food for their animals, the people of the desert would attack the oases people. But they are also hospitable, no man in the desert would ever refuse to give a stranger food and water.According to the passage, deserts are mostly made up of ________.
| A．clay | B．rock | C．stones | D．sand |
The underlined word “hospitable” has the meaning of being ________.
| A．kind | B．brave | C．cruel | D．strange |
In the desert ________.
| A．It rains in spring only. |
| B．it rains for a short time every month |
| C．the rainfall is just enough for the plants |
| D．there is some rain, but far from enough |
People live ______.
| A．only inside the oases | B．both inside and outside the oases |
| C．only outside the oases | D．in places with regular rainfalls. |
阅读理解C
Robots are smart. With their computer brains, they help people work in dangerous places or do difficult jobs. Some robots do regular jobs. Bobby, the mail carrier, brings mail to a large office building in Washington D.C. He is one of the 250 mail carriers in the United States.
Mr. Leachim, who weighs two hundred pounds and is six feet tall, has some advantages as a teacher. One is that he does not forget details. He knows each child’s name, the parents’ names and what each child knows and needs to know. In addition(另外), he knows each child’s pets and hobbies. Mr. Leachim does not make mistakes. Each child goes and tells him his or her name, then dials an identification number. His computer brain puts the child’s voice and number together. He identifies the child without mistakes. Then he starts the lesson.
Another advantage is that Mr. Leachim is flexible. If children need more time to do their lessons, they can move switches. In this way they can repeat Mr. Leachim’s lesson over and over again. When the children do a good job, he tells them something interesting about their hobbies. At the end of the lesson the children switch Mr. Leachim off.The first paragraph of the passage tells us ________.
| A．human beings are not as smart as robots |
| B．robots can help people in many different ways |
| C．robots will take the place of man to rule the earth |
| D．we can only use robots to do some regular jobs |
Mr. Leachim’s ________ makes him a good teacher.
| A．advantages | B．knowledge | C．appearance | D．energy |
The word “flexible” in the last paragraph means ________.
| A．not strict | B．not hard |
| C．changeable | D．suitable |
Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A. There are 250 robot teachers in the United States.
B. Bobby works in a large office building in Washington D.C.
C. Mr. Leachim is run(开动) and controlled by electricity.
D. The lessons taught by Mr. Leachim are given on a TV set.
阅读理解B
Alexander the Great was a mighty(强大的) king and conqueror(征服者). He was one of the greatest military geniuses(军事天才) the world has ever known. He was born in Pella, Macedonia. Alexander grew to be a handsome, brilliant(卓越的) man. Aristotle, the famous philosopher（哲学家）, came from Greece to teach him---geography, politics, literature, medicine and science. Alexander’s father, King Philip II of Macedon, taught him to plan and win battles.
The young prince became King when he was 20. He then began the series of marches that continued until he ruled almost all of the then-known world. On his great war horse, Bucephalus, he first took over Greece. He went on to conquer southeastern Europe, Asia Minor, Egypt and India. On his way he crushed(征服) the Persian Empire, and was made King of Egypt and Asia. He and his troops traveled over 11,000 miles(17,700 km). He spread Greek customs and ideas wherever he went.
In India his men refused to go further. They were tired and frightened, and wanted to go home. Worn out, Alexander agreed to turn back. He died of fever in Babylon, at the early age of 33.Alexander and his troops traveled and fought probably ________ then.
| A．by ship | B．by simple truck |
| C．on their horses | D．on foot |
What’s the main idea of the second paragraph?
| A．He spread Greek customs and ideas wherever he went. |
| B．He began great marches and ruled a lot of countries. |
| C．How he took over one country after another. |
| D．In which order he crushed these countries after another? |
Which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A．He died in his late thirties. |
| B．Bucephalus was probably a big ship. |
| C．He conquered all the countries then known in the world. |
| D．Alexander was very ready to listen to anybody including his officers and soldiers. |
What’s the best title of this passage?
| A．How Alexander the Great Became King? |
| B．Great Tragedy |
| C．Good Education Makes a Great Man |
| D．Alexander the Great |
阅读理解 A
As you research music, you will find music that is familiar to you. You will find music which tells of interesting places and exciting things to do. You will find music which expresses feelings that are often your own.
Music is an expression of people. As you research, you will find music of people at work and play. You will find music expressing love of the country, love of nature, and love of home.
Music is also an expression of the composer(作曲家). The composer expresses his own musical ideas. He studies the materials of music and discovers ways of using them. He looks for new kinds of musical expression.
Music can suggest actions and feelings which we all share. We can enjoy playing and singing music, dancing and listening to the music of the people and the composers of different times and places.In the first paragraph, the author tells us to ________.
| A．be friendly to music |
| B．find entertainment in music |
| C．express your feelings in music |
| D．discover the things and places in music |
From the second paragraph, we know that ________.
| A．if we love music, we will love the country, nature and home |
| B．you may listen to music at work or at play |
| C．music sings of the country, nature and home |
| D．music can express how people live, work and think |
The last paragraph shows that music makes it possible ________.
| A．that people of different time and places can get together |
| B．to bring understanding between people of different times and places |
| C．that people can enjoy playing and singing music, dancing and listening to the music at the same time |
| D．that music can express actions and feelings at the same time |
Which of the following statements is NOT true? Music expresses
| A．people’s musical ideas | B．people’s love of te country |
| C．ehe composer’s feelings | D．the feelings of our own |
Most people feel lonely sometimes, but it usually only lasts between a few minutes and a few hours. This kind of loneliness is not serious. In fact, it is quite normal. For some people, though, loneliness can last for yeas. Now researchers say there are three different types of loneliness.
The first kind of loneliness is temporary（暂时的）. This is the most common type. It usually disappears quickly and does not require any special attention. The second kind, situational loneliness, is a natural result of a particular situation, for example, family problem, the death of a loved one, or moving to a new place. Although this kind of loneliness can cause physical problems, such as headaches and sleeplessness, it usually does not last for more than a year.
The third kind of loneliness is the most severe. Unlike the second type, chronic（长期的）usually lasts more than two years and has no specific cause. People who experience habitual loneliness have problems socializing and becoming close to others. Unfortunately, many chronically lonely people think there is little or nothing they can do to improve their condition.
Psychologists agree that one important factor in loneliness is a person's social contacts, e.g. friends, family members, co-workers, etc. we depend on various people for different reasons. For instance, our families give us emotional support, our parents and teachers give us guidance, and our friends share similar interests and activities. However, psychologists have found that, though lonely people may have many social contacts, they sometimes feel they should have more. They question their popularity.
Psychologists are trying to find ways to help habitually lonely people for two reasons: they are unhappy and unable to socialize and there is a connection between chronic loneliness and serious illness
such as heart disease. While temporary and situational loneliness can be normal, healthy part of life, chronic loneliness can be a very sad, and sometimes dangerous condition. How would you treat temporary loneliness according to the passage?
| A．Talk to friends | B．Just ignore it |
| C．Go to see a doctor | D．Ask your teachers for guidance |
|
Why do psychologists want to help chronically lonely people?
| A．Chronic loneliness can cause family problems |
| B．Chronic loneliness can cause serious illness |
| C．Chronic loneliness can not be overcome |
| D．A, B and C are all correct |
What is the best title for the passage?
| A．Three Kinds of Loneliness |
| B．Loneliness and Diseases |
| C．Loneliness and Social Contacts |
| D．Chronic Loneliness |