Annual holidays have become a luxury and are no longer a staple of family life, according to government research.
A getaway of a week or more is no longer considered essential by many families and is often beyond their reach, said the analysis of what parents and children say they really need.Fashionable clothes for the children, expensive birthday parties and lots of toys are also on the list of luxuries families don't have to have.Instead, recession-hit parents are thinking of the future, and the things they want for their children centre around learning to behave properly, good education and good health.
Their picture of what a family ought to have includes a space to eat together away from the television, plenty of fruit and vegetables, and bicycles so children can get exercise.
The breakdown of necessities and luxuries was prepared by researchers from the Department for Work and Pensions(DWP)who were trying to establish an up-to-date picture of what parents say they really need.
Their findings show how families have scaled down their expectations in the face of economic difficulties-how parents are now concentrating their attention and money firmly on the long-term interests of their children.Many believe that while it is vital for a family to do things together, day trips or weekend breaks are enough.
Spending on furniture or decorating the house was also considered luxurious, unless the state of the home was so bad it became difficult to invite visitors in.
Instead, researchers said:A family home should have an area where the family can eat together, not on their laps in front of a television.Families should be able to go on outings, overnight trips and possibly short holiday:the fact of being able to share these experiences is more important than the precise activity and its cost.
(1)
It can be inferred that ________.
[ ]
A.
a week or more holiday is considered beyond many families' reach
B.
children hardly ever need fashionable clothes and lots of toys
C.
what a family should have is basic things that they must have
D.
annual holidays were once considered necessary and vital
(2)
In the opinion of most parents, ________.
[ ]
A.
families can watch TV together in order to keep up their relationship
B.
day trips or weekend breaks are enough for families to share experiences
C.
their expectations should be increased in the face of economic difficulties
D.
a week's holiday is an essential minimum during the financial crisis
(3)
Which of the following is TRUE of the researchers from the DWP?
[ ]
A.
They confirm many families still need at least a week away on holiday each year.
B.
They learn it is insignificant for a family to do things with each other regularly.
C.
They want to know what parents really need in the face of economic difficulties.
D.
They found spending on furniture or decorating the house was thought valuable.
(4)
We can conclude from the last paragraph ________.
[ ]
A.
being able to share experiences is important for families
B.
a family needs at least a week away on holiday each year
C.
a family home should have a comfortable area to watch TV
D.
going on outings and overnight trips is wasting time for families
(5)
What does the author mainly discuss in the text?
[ ]
A.
Cycling is very important for children's health.
B.
Family holidays once a year have become a luxury.
C.
It is vital for parents to eat together with children.
Most Americans don’t like to get advice from members of their family.When they need advice, they don’t usually ask people they know.Instead, many Americans write letters to newspapers and magazines in which advice is given on many subjects, including family problems, the use of language, health, cooking, child care, clothes, how to buy a house or a car, and so on.
Most newspapers regularly print letters from readers with problems.Along with the letters are answers written by people who are supposed to solve(解决)such problems.Some of these writers are doctors; others are lawyers or educators.But two of the most famous writers of advice are women without special training for this kind of work.One of them answers letters addressed to “Dear Abby”.The other is addressed as “Dear Ann Landers”.Experience is their preparation for giving advice.
There is one writer who has not lived long enough to have much experience.She is a girl named Angel Caveliere, who started writing advice for newspaper readers at the age of ten.Her advice to young readers, now appears regularly in the Philadelphia Bulletin in a column called DEAR ANGEL.
(1)
For advice Americans usually write to ________.
[ ]
A.
their family members
B.
their friends
C.
Angel Caveliere
D.
newspapers or magazines
(2)
“Abby”and“Ann Landers”are probably ________.
[ ]
A.
real names of two women
B.
two experienced doctors
C.
two famous lawyers
D.
pen names of women
(3)
Which of the following is likely true according to the passage?
[ ]
A.
Angel Caveliere is loved by many American young readers
B.
Angel died young
C.
Angel has much more experience than the other writers with special training
D.
Angel is famous for her good knowledge of all the subjects
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If you have only $32, you can buy ________.
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A.
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B.
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C.
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D.
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(2)
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[ ]
A.
They are all novels.
B.
They all have a hardcover.
C.
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(3)
The passage must be taken from ________.
[ ]
A.
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B.
a magazine
C.
a newspaper
D.
a textbook
(4)
The writer of this passage mainly wants to ________.
[ ]
A.
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B.
let people know more about these books
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D.
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阅读理解
Knowing how much her own children loved presents at Christmas, Ann Sutton always tried to seek help for one or two poor families.With a social worker mother, the Sutton children had inherited her commitment to service, and knew never to take their good fortune at Christmas for granted.This year, Kinzie, her seven-year-old daughter was thrilled that Santa Claus would make a special visit to a 22-year-old mother named Ashley who worked in a factory raising her 12-month-old son by herself.
The phone rang on Sunday.A representative from a local organization was calling to say that the aid Ann had requested for Ashley had fallen through.No Santa Claus, no presents, nothing.
Ann saw the cheer vanish from her children's faces at the news.Without a word, Kinzie ran into her bedroom.She returned, her face set with determination.Opening up her piggy bank, she put all the coins onto the table:$3.30.Everything she had.
“Mom,” she told Ann, “I know it's not much.But maybe this will buy a present for the baby.”
At a breakfast meeting the next day, Ann told her coworkers about her daughter's story.To her surprise, staff members began to open their purses and empty their pockets to help Kinzie.By day's end, the story of Kinzie's gift had spread beyond Ann's office.She received a call from an unknown donor.If a seven-year-old could give everything she had, he said, he should at least match her gift 100 to 1.He contributed $300.
On Christmas Eve, Ann drove through the pouring rain to the small trailer where the Ashleys lived.Then she began to unload the gifts from the car, handing them to Ashley one by one.
Ashley was very moved.Reflecting on a little girl's generosity, Ashley says she'll one day be able to do something similar for someone else in need.“Kinzie could have used that money for herself, but she gave it away,” Ashley says.“She's the type of kid I'd like my son to grow up to be.”
(1)
According to the text, Ann Sutton ________.
[ ]
A.
is making lots of money
B.
is ready to help others
C.
is only caring about herself
D.
is a hard-working mother
(2)
Which of the following is NOT true according to the text?
[ ]
A.
Ashley lived a hard life with her little son.
B.
The Sutton children took Anne as an example to follow.
C.
The coworkers of Ann helped Kinzie to realize her wish.
D.
Ann Sutton tried to ask for help for her own children.
(3)
What can we learn about Kinzie?
[ ]
A.
She was afraid that Santa Claus would visit the Ashleys.
B.
She should get some presents from her mother at Christmas.
C.
She devoted all her coins to buying a present for the baby.
D.
She was cheerful when hearing the aid had fallen through.
(4)
Which of the following can be inferred from the text?