Question

【题目】Only two countries in the advanced world provide no guarantee for paid leave from work to care for a newborn child. Last spring one of the two，Australia， gave up the bad distinction by setting up paid family leave starting in 2011．I wasn’t surprised when this didn’t make the news here in the United States—we’re now the only wealthy country without such a policy．

The United States does have one explicit family policy， the Family and Medical Leave Act， passed in 1993．It entitles workers to as much as 12 weeks’ unpaid leave for care of a newborn or dealing with a family medical problem． Despite the modesty of the benefit， the Chamber of Commerce and other business groups fought it bitterly， describing it as “government-run personnel management” and a “dangerous precedent（先例）．” In fact， every step of the way， as (usually) Democratic leaders have tried to introduce work-family balance measures into the law， business groups have been strongly opposed.

As Yale law professor Anne Alstott argues， justifying parental support depends on defining （定义） the family as a social good that， in some sense， society must pay for. Parents are burdened in many ways in their lives: there is “no exit” when it comes to children. Society expects—and needs—parents to provide their children with continuity of care． And society expects—and needs—parents to persist in their roles for 18 years， or longer if needed.

【1】What do we learn about paid family leave according to Paragraph 1？

A．It came as a surprise when Australia adopted the policy.

B．Setting up this policy made Australia less influential.

C．It has now become a hot topic in the United States.

D．No such policy is applied in the United States.

【2】What makes it hard to take work-family balance measures in the States？

A．The incompetence of the Democrats.

B．The opposition from business circles.

C．The lack of a precedent in American history.

D．The existing Family and Medical Leave Act.

【3】What is Professor Anne Alstott’s argument for parental support？

A．Children need continuous care.

B．Good parenting benefits society.

C．The cost of raising children has been growing.

D．The U．S．should keep up with other developed countries.

【4】Why is the author against classifying parenting as a personal choice？

A．Parenting is regarded as a moral duty.

B．Parenting relies largely on social support.

C．Parenting produces huge moral benefits.

D．Parenting is basically a social responsibility.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】D

【2】B

【3】B

【4】D

【解析】

试题分析：本文讲述了美国是发达国家中唯一没有带薪产假的国家，民主党视图引入这项政策，但商业集团强烈反对。文章最后讲述了耶鲁法学院教授Anne Alstott的看法。

【1】细节理解题。由第一段尾句I wasn’t surprised when this didn’t make the news here in the United States—we’re now the only wealthy country without such a policy．可知，美国没有这项政策，故选D。

【2】细节理解题。由第二段尾句Democratic leaders have tried to introduce work-family balance measures into the law，business groups have been strongly opposed.可知，民主党领导人已经努力将这项政策引入法律，但是商业集团强烈反对，故选B。

【3】细节理解题。由第三段parental support depends on defining（定义）the family as a social good that，in some sense，society must pay for．可知，良好的抚养能造福于社会，故选B。

【4】推理判断题。根据最后一段中As Yale law professor Anne Alstott argues， justifying parental support depends on defining （定义） the family as a social good that， in some sense， society must pay for.可知，Anne Alstott认为父母抚养是社会必须付的成本，把抚养作为个人选择忽视了好的抚养的社会利益。故选D。