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(兄弟，姐妹). Lewis found that in families with three or four children, dinner conversation is likely to center on the oldest child, who has the most to 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 that 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(扫兴的事).”

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

　　A. show the relationship between parents and children

　　B. teach parents ways to keep order at the dinner table

　　C. report on the findings of a study

　　D. give information about family problems

2. Parents with large families ask fewer questions at dinner because____.

　　A. they are busy serving food to their children

　　B. they are busy keeping order at the dinner table

　　C. they have to pay more attention to younger children

　　D. they are tired out having prepared food for the whole family

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

　　A. have to help their parents to serve dinner

　　B. get the least attention from the family

　　C. are often kept away from the dinner table

　　D. find it hard to keep up with other children

4.Lewis’ research provides an answer to the question_________.

　　A. why TV is important in family life

　　B. why parents should keep good order

　　C. why children in small families seem to be quieter

　　D. why middle children seem to have more difficulties in life

5.Which of the following statements would the writer agree to?

　　A. It is important to have the right food for children.

　　B. It is a good idea to have the TV on during dinner.

　　C. Parents should talk to each of their children frequently.

　　D. Elder children should help the younger ones at dinner.

--What’s the matter? You really look down.

-- _______. --Well, better luck next time.

　 A. Why, I always look up to you 　 B. I failed an important test

　 C. I have a bad cold 　           D. Me? I never look down upon anybody

—What’s the matter?You really look down.

　　— .

　　—Well,better luck next time.

　　A. Why,I always look up to you

　　B. B.I failed an important test

　　C. C.I have a bad cold

　　D. D.Me?I never look down upon anybody

--What’s the matter? You really look down. -- _______. --Well, better luck next time.

　 A. Why, I always look up to you 　 B. I failed an important test

　 C. I have a bad cold 　 D. Me? I never look down upon anybody

【2011·辽宁东北育才中学模拟】

完型填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）

阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

While I studied at school, I felt great difficulty in learning my Latin translations. I was always very 　36　in using a dictionary, and 　37　it most difficult, while to other boys it seemed no 　38　.
　　I formed an alliance(盟友) with a boy in the Sixth Grade. He was very clever and 　39　read Latin as easily as English. My friend for his part was almost as 　40　troubled by the English essays he had to write for the headmaster as I was 　41　these Latin words. We agreed together that he should 　42　me my Latin translations and that I should do his essays. The arrangement 　43　wonderfully. The headmaster seemed quite 　44　with my work, and I had more time to myself in the morning. On the other hand, once a week 　45　I had to compose the essays of my friend. For several months no difficulty 　46　, but once we were nearly caught out.
　　One afternoon, the headmaster 　47　my friend to discuss one essay with him in a lively spirit. “I was interested in this 　48　you make here. I think you might have gone further. Tell me 　49　you had in your mind.” The headmaster continued in this 　50　for some time to the fear of my friend. However, the headmaster, not wishing to 　51　an occasion of praise into 　52　of fault-finding, finally 　53　him go. He came back to me like a man who had had a very narrow 　54　and I made up my mind to make every effort to study my 　55　.
　36. A. quick       B. slow   C. hard    D. good
　37. A. made       B. got     C. found        D. left
　38. A. trouble     B. difference   C. labor   D. worry
　39. A. might       B. would C. should D. could
　40. A. very  B. little    C. much  D. few
　41. A. for　　　　　       B. by　　　　　   C. in　　　　　   D. to
　42. A. change     B. take    C. forgive       D. tell
　43. A. worked　　　       B. tried    C. happened　       D. developed
　44. A. angry　　　　       B. satisfied      C. frightened   D. sad
　45. A. or so B. or else C. as usual      D. as far
　46. A. became    B. seemed       C. lay      D. appeared
　47. A. called       B. taught C. arranged     D. sent
　48. A. aim   B. goal    C. point   D. opinion
　49. A. why  B. how   C. which D. what
　50.A. excitement 　 B. way 　　　      C. meaning 　　   D. disappointment
　51. A. turn 　　　　 B. leave 　　　     C. grow　　　　  D. become
　52. A. none　　　　 B. one 　　　       C. either　　　      D. some
　53. A. ordered　　　 B. asked 　　       C. took　　　　    D. let
　54. A. surprise 　　  B. escape　　 C. hope　　　　   D. chance
　55. A. reading　　　 B. writing 　  C. translations　    D. essays