Across Britain, burnt toast will be served to mothers in bed this morning as older sons and daughters rush to deliver their supermarket bunches of flowers. But, according to a new study, we should be placing a higher value on motherhood all year.

Mothers have long known that their home workload was just as heavy as paid work. Now, the new study has shown that if they were paid for their parental labours, they would earn as much as £172,000 a year.

The study looked at the range of jobs mothers do, as well as the hours they are working, to determine the figure. This would make their yearly income £30,000 more than the Prime Minister earns.

By analyzing the numbers, it found the average mother works 119 hours a week, 40 of which would usually be paid at a standard rate 79 hours as overtime. After questioning 1,000 mothers with children under 18, it found that, on most days, mums started their routine work at 7 am and finished at around 11 pm.

To calculate just how much mothers would earn from that labour, it suggested some of the roles that mums could take on, including housekeeper, part-time lawyer, personal trainer and entertainer. Being a part-time lawyer, at £48,98 an hour, would prove to be the most profitable of the “mum jobs”, with psychologist(心理学家) a close second.

It also asked mothers about the challenges they face, with 80 per cent making emotional(情感的) demand as the hardest thing about motherhood.

Over a third of mums felt they needed more training and around half said they missed going out with friends.

The study shows mothers matter all year long and not just on Mother’s Day. The emotional, physical and mental energy mothers devote to their children can be never-ending, but children are also sources of great joy and happiness. Investing(投入) in time for parenting and raising relationships is money well spent.

1.How much would a mother earn a year if working as the Prime Minister?

A. £30,000. B. £142,000.

C. £172,000. C. £202,000.

2.The biggest challenge for most mothers is from .

A. emotional demand

B. low pay for work

C. heavy workload

D. lack of training

3.What is stressed in the last paragraph?

A. mothers’ importance shows in family all year long.

B. The sacrifices mothers make are huge but worthwhile.

C. Mothers’ devotion to children can hardly be calculated.

D. Investing time in parenting would bring a financial return.

4.What can we conclude from the study?

A. Mothers’ working hours should be largely reduced.

B. Mothers should balance their time for work and rest.

C. Mothers’ labour is of a higher value than it is realized.

D. Mothers should be freed from housework for social life.

It is widely acknowledged that it is by no means an easy task to bring up a child well.And our ancestors already understood it well.“It takes an entire village to raise a child.”That’s an old proverb that is being quoted more and more often these days.And I’m pleased about that.

Today,more and more schools are reaching out to involve parents, community members and businesses to help shape a child’s future.

Parents need to be involved in their children’s education in many ways.Helping children with homework and studying,going on a field trip,teaching a craft(手工艺)or coaching a child's sports team are all great ways to be involved with your child's education.And don’t forget to communicate with teachers — they need and respect your input.Studies show that children learn more and schools function better when parents and schools work together.It’s important to stay in touch with your child's education all through his or her school career.

Communities can help children create and achieve new goals.Help with homework, read to a child,coach a children's team,or provide emotional support.Help solve problems and build self-esteem(自尊).Kids need role models and advisers can be role models by sharing their experiences and wisdom.

Businesses can also help shape our children’s future.invite a class from your local school to visit your workplace.You may be providing a glimpse that opens a new world of possibilities.Show students what goes on during a typical day.Give a mini course for students:how to use a computer;how products are made;how machinery works.You may have a developing electrician,teacher,nurse,or even a newspaper reporter on your hands.

It really does take an entire village to raise a child.So share the responsibility— and the joy— of bringing a child to his or her full potential.

1.The implied advice in the proverb“It takes an entire village to raise a child.” is that ____________.

A. All the people in a village should give food to a child

B. More than one party is responsible for a child’s future

C. Children should be brought up in the village where they were born

D. Schools should be set up in the village where a child was raised

2.According to the text,_____________ should talk with teachers to keep in touch with children’s growth?

A. community members

B. businesses

C. organizations

D. parents

3.The text was written mainly for ______________.

A. newspaper reporters and developing electricians

B. school teachers and students

C. parents and members in organizations

D. education experts and government officials

4.Students can get developed in practical working s kill through ___________.

A. business training

B community activities

C. parental involvement

D. school teaching

5.Which of the following can be the main idea of idea text?

A. Parents play an important part in children’s education.

B. Communities have no effect on the way to new and high ideals.

C. Parents and other organizations should all be responsible for children’s growth

D. Businesses may arrange softie training courses for students.

Now many young people are traveling around the world on their own, not because they have no one to travel with, but because they prefer to go alone.

Kristina Wegscheider from California first traveled alone when she was at college and believes that it is something everyone should do at least once in their life. “It opens up your mind to new things and pushes you out of your comfort zone.” Wegscheider has visited 46 countries covering all seven continents.

In foreign countries, with no one to help you read a map, look after you if you get ill, or lend you money if your wallet is stolen, it is challenging. This is what drives young people to travel alone. It is seen as character building and a chance to prove that they can make it on their own.

Chris Richardson decided to leave his sales job in Australia to go traveling last year. He set up a website, The Aussie Nomad, to document his adventures. He says he wished he had traveled alone earlier. “The people you meet, the places you visit, or the things you do, everything is up to you and it forces you to grow as a person,” said the 30-year-old man.

Richardson describes traveling alone like “a shot in the arm”, which “makes you a more confident person that is ready to deal with anything”. He said, “The feeling of having overcome something on my own is a major part of what drives me each day when I’m dealing with a difficult task. I walk around with my head up because I know deep down inside that nothing is impossible if you try.”

The great 19th century explorer John Muir once said, “Only by going alone in silence can one truly get into the heart of the wilderness.”

1.Which of the following will Kristina Wegscheider agree with?

A. Traveling alone is a necessary experience for everyone.

B. It is more meaningful to travel in foreign countries.

C. It is comfortable to travel around without a friend.

D. Traveling abroad helps people to find new things.

2.Traveling alone is challenging because ________.

A. you have to make things on your own

B. it is hard for you to prove yourself to others

C. you can only depend on yourself whatever happens

D. it will finally build your character

3.What can we infer about Chris Richardson?

A. He started traveling alone at an early age.

B. He was once shot in the arm.

C. He used to work as a salesman.

D. His website inspires others a lot.

4.What is the best title for the passage?

A. Travel Abroad B. Travel Alone

C. Travel Light D. Travel Wide and Far

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