Kids will often ignore your requests for them to shut off the TV, start their chores (杂事), or do their homework as a way to avoid following your directions. Before you know it, you’ve started to sound like a broken record as you repeatedly ask them to do their assignments, clean their room, or take out the trash. Rather than saying, “Do your chores now,” you’ll be more effective if you set a target time for when the chores have to be completed. So instead of arguing about starting chores, just say, “If chores aren’t done by 4 p. m., here are the consequences.” Then it’s up to your child to complete the chores. Put the ball back in their court. Don’t argue or fight with them, just say, “That’s the way it’s going to be.” It shouldn’t be punitive (惩罚性的) as much as it should be persuasive. “If your chores aren’t done by 4 p. m., then no video game time until chores are done. And if finishing those chores runs into homework time, that’s going to be your loss.” On the other hand, when dealing with homework, keep it very simple. Have a time when homework starts, and at that time, all electronics go off and do not go back on until you see that their homework is done. If your child says they have no homework, then they should use that time to study or read. Either way, there should be a time set aside when the electronics are off.
When a kid wears his iPod or headphones when you’re trying to talk to him, make no bones about it；he is not ignoring you, he is disrespecting you. At that point, everything else should stop until he takes the earplugs out of his ears. Don’t try to communicate with him when he’s wearing headphones—even if he tells you he can hear you. Wearing them while you’re talking to him is a sign of disrespect. Parents should be very tough about this kind of thing. Remember, mutual respect becomes more important as children mature.
【小题1】According to the passage, it seldom happens that________.

Social networking isn't only for the under 40s. More than 25 percent of Americans 50 years and older stay connected using sites such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter, according to new research.

"The latest data tells us that more and more social networking is becoming a part of everyday life for Americans 50 plus," said Kevin Donnellan, the chief communications officer at AARP, which released the report.

Nearly a quarter of older Americans are on Facebook and 73 percent said they use it to stay in touch with relatives, but not just their children and grandchildren. "They are using the Internet to keep up with the world and the people who are important to them," said Jean Koppen, the author of the report. She added that older adults are also on Facebook to stay connected, not only with their family, but with their friends and peers. Almost 50 percent of older adults were introduced to the social networking sites by a family member, mainly a child or grandchild. "Just under one-fifth of adults aged 50 and older say they do not use the Internet," according to the report.

The findings are based on a telephone survey of 1,863 adults. In addition to keeping up on Facebook and Twitter older adults are also aware of the latest technology. Eighty-three percent had heard about the Apple iPad and 11 percent intended to buy one.

1.What’s the main idea of the passage?             

A.        Social networking isn’t for the under 40s in the U.S.A.

B.        American old people’s way of life is quite fashionable.

C.        The Internet is also popular among the American over 50s.

D.        Facebook, MySpace and Twitter are hot websites in America.

2.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?    

A.                   Nearly 2000 adults took part in the survey on line.

B.                    The over 50s were introduced to the Internet by the young.

C.                    About 20% of adults aged 50 and older don’t like the Internet.

D.                   Many Americans 50 plus stay connected using the Internet.

3.What’s the underlined sentence used for?    

E.                    It’s used as a reason for the popularity of the Apple iPad in America.

F.                    It’s used as an example of the older adults’ awareness of the latest technology.

G.                   It’s used as a suggestion to the readers who are interested in the IT products.

H.                   It’s used as a choice for the Americans intending to use Social networking.

4.Where can we most probably read this passage?    

I.                      In an experiment introduction.

J.                     In a computer magazine.

K.                   In a product advertisement.

In a news report

Kids will often ignore your requests for them to shut off the TV,start their chores(杂事),or do their homework as a way to avoid following your directions.Before you know it,you’ve started to sound like a broken record as you repeatedly ask them to do their assignments,clean their room,or take out the trash.Rather than saying “Do your chores now.” you’ll be more effective if you set a target time for when the chores have to be completed.So instead of arguing about starting chores,just say,“If chores aren’t done by 4 pm,here are the consequences.”Then it’s up to your child to complete the chores.Put the ball back in their court.Don’t argue or fight with them,just say,“That’s the way it’s going to be.”It shouldn’t be punitive(惩罚性的)as much as it should be persuasive.“If your chores aren’t done by 4 pm,then no video game time until chores are done.And if finishing those chores runs into homework time,that’s going to be your loss.”On the other hand,when dealing with homework,keep it very simple.Have a time when homework starts,and at that time,all electronics go off and do not go back on until you see that their homework is done.If your kids say they have no homework,then they should use that time to study or read.Either way,there should be a time set aside when the electronics are off.

When a kid wears his iPod or headphones when you’re trying to talk to him,make no bones about it；he is not ignoring you,he is disrespecting you.At that point,everything else should stop until he takes the earplugs out of his ears.Don’t try to communicate with him when he’s wearing headphones — even if he tells you he can hear you.Wearing them while you’re talking to him is a sign of disrespect.Parents should be very tough about this kind of thing.Remember,mutual respect becomes more important as children mature.

1．According to the passage,it seldom happens that ________.

A．kids turn a deaf ear to their parents’ requests

B．parents’ directions sound like a broken record

C．children are ready to follow their parents’ directions

D．parents are unaware of what they are repeating to their kids

2．Parents will be able to deal with their children more effectively if they ________.

A．avoid direct ways of punishment         B．make them do things at their request

C．argue and fight with their children     D．allow their children to behave in their own way

3．When the kid is doing his homework,parents ________.

A．should provide him with a good learning environment

B．can do whatever they like

C．can stay aside watching TV

D．must switch off the power

4．It can be inferred from the passage that ________.

A．parents should take off his headphones when trying to have a talk with their child

B．it will make no difference that a kid is wearing his earplugs while talking to his parents

C．parents shouldn’t give in to their kid when he shows no sign of respect

D．kids’ purposely talking to their parents with iPod gives them a sense of power and

control

5．The main idea of the passage is ________.

A．that respecting each other is more important than anything else

B．how kids behave to ignore and disrespect their parents

C．that children should make choices and decisions on their own

D．how parents can deal with their kids’ behavior effectively

Last year, I lived in Chile for half a year. I lived with a Chilean family and had the responsibilities of any Chilean teenager. I had good days and bad days I didn’t understand.

Chuquicamata, my host community, is a mining camp. When I arrived there, I was scared. It was so different from what I was used to. There were lots of dogs on the streets, and there was no downtown, few smoothly paved streets, and little to do for entertainment. Rain was not seen very often, earthquakes and windstorms were frequent.

I had studied Spanish for two and a half years and was always one of the best students in my class. But in my first week in Chile I was only able to communicate and needed one person to whom I could explain my shock. I couldn’t speak the thoughts in my head and there were so many.

Most exchange students experience this like me. Culture shock presents itself in everything from increased aggression (敌对心理) towards the people to lack of appetite. I was required to overcome all difficulties.

As time passed, everything changed. I began to forget words in English and to dream in Spanish and love Chilean food. I got used to not depending on expensive things for fun. Fun in Chuquicamata was being with people. And I took math, physics, chemistry, biology, Spanish, art, and philosophy.

But the sacrifices were nothing compared to the gain. I learned how to accept and to succeed in another culture. I now have a deeper understanding of both myself and others.

1.The author came to Chile last year with the purpose of ________.

A. paying a visit to Chile as a tourist 

B. experiencing Chilean life as a teacher

C. studying Chilean culture as a college student

D. studying knowledge as an exchange student

2.On arriving in Chile, why did the author feel frightened?

A. Because he did not know how to get along with the local people.

B. Because it was full of dangers like earthquakes and windstorms.

C. Because its living conditions were worse than what he was used to.

D. Because it was not convenient for him to shop there.

3. In the first week in Chile the author ________.

A. was not used to eating Chilean food     

B. had some friends to have a chat with

C. couldn’t communicate with people   

D. couldn’t express his thoughts in English

4. What did the author most probably think of his life in Chile?

A. Wonderful and worthwhile             B. Difficult but meaningful

C. Difficult and meaningless                D. Boring and disappointing

5.According to the passage, which of the following statements about Chile is TRUE?

A. its official language is Spanish and English.

B. It is a developing country without foreign students.

C. It seldom rains and natural disasters often happen.

D. Most Chileans are not friendly to foreigners.

　　The sea horse is a fish, but it does not look like one． And it seldom swims． When it does, it swims upright． It is often found with its tail hooked round seaweed． About five inches tall, its body looks like a match stick frame covered with fine cloth． Its brown skin matches the seaweed． This makes it hard to find． It feeds on small worms and shellfish, which it sucks off the weed with a tube-like snout． Both male and female have long hairs on the head, but on the male these hairs extend down the back． When the female lays eggs, the male baby-sits． He keeps the eggs in a pouch until they hatch．

1． Unlike most other fish, the sea horse_______．

A．cannot swimB．is a fast swimmer

C．does not often swim D．swims only in shallow water

2．When fully grown, the sea horse measures about______．

A． three inches B． four inches C． five inches D．six inches

3． The sea horse protects itself from enemies_______．

A．by its speed B． by its color C． with its snout　　 D．with its tail

4． The sea horse find its food on the ______．

A． seabed B． seaweed C． Both A and B D． Neither A nor B

5． The writer prefers to use the word tall to describe a sea horse’s size because it is generally______．

A． upright B． long C． fat D． hooked

6． The sea horse was probably so named because it

A． eats weeds B． has a mane C． can trot D． is brown