Family Vs Technology
Modern technology certainly changes family behavior, but does it really damage family life as many people fear? Not necessarily, says Dr. Silva, a professor in Sociology(社会学) at the Open University, she also argues it is wrong to assume technology erodes(腐蚀，侵蚀) the quality of family life.
“There is the idea that technology has an influence on the family and the family suffers. My take is quite different,” she explains. “Technological change happens because people’s lives change. And it is people’s choices of how to live that creates processes of innovation(革新) as well. The family has a role like the economy or like technology itself in changing the world. The imagination is important in driving the things technologists want to find for our daily lives. People desire to see nature as it is, so color television comes about,” she says.
In another case, the increase in working mothers helped create a market for labor-saving kitchen equipment. “The time that women have to shop every day for food is no longer available so there is a need to have a refrigerator for food storage,” says Dr. Silva. “The need to cook that food more easily and quickly, means you have developments in cooking technology like the microwave oven(微波炉). The microwave oven already existed because it was developed for the navy during World War Two but it wasn’t used in ordinary families until the early 1980s.
“Technologies for housework were as important as those for work itself,” she says, “So washing machines, refrigerators and microwave ovens are terribly important. We couldn’t imagine what life would be like if we didn’t have them.” Technological changes in the kitchen have played an important role in the changes of family behavior, creating a new social focus in the home.
“With advanced technology, you can feed the family in an easier manner. People can do housework with less difficulty. But that doesn’t mean that family practices are not important — it’s just a different way of doing things.”
【小题1】What is Dr. Silva’s attitude towards the effect that technology has on family life?

Family Vs Technology

Modern technology certainly changes family behavior, but does it really damage family life as many people fear? Not necessarily, says Dr. Silva, a professor in Sociology(社会学) at the Open University, she also argues it is wrong to assume technology erodes(腐蚀，侵蚀) the quality of family life.

“There is the idea that technology has an influence on the family and the family suffers. My take is quite different,” she explains. “Technological change happens because people’s lives change. And it is people’s choices of how to live that creates processes of innovation(革新) as well. The family has a role like the economy or like technology itself in changing the world. The imagination is important in driving the things technologists want to find for our daily lives. People desire to see nature as it is, so color television comes about,” she says.

In another case, the increase in working mothers helped create a market for labor-saving kitchen equipment. “The time that women have to shop every day for food is no longer available so there is a need to have a refrigerator for food storage,” says Dr. Silva. “The need to cook that food more easily and quickly, means you have developments in cooking technology like the microwave oven(微波炉). The microwave oven already existed because it was developed for the navy during World War Two but it wasn’t used in ordinary families until the early 1980s.

“Technologies for housework were as important as those for work itself,” she says, “So washing machines, refrigerators and microwave ovens are terribly important. We couldn’t imagine what life would be like if we didn’t have them.” Technological changes in the kitchen have played an important role in the changes of family behavior, creating a new social focus in the home.

“With advanced technology, you can feed the family in an easier manner. People can do housework with less difficulty. But that doesn’t mean that family practices are not important — it’s just a different way of doing things.”

1.What is Dr. Silva’s attitude towards the effect that technology has on family life?

A．Worried.                              B．Optimistic(乐观的).

C．Puzzled.                              D．Uncertain.

2.What causes advances in technology according to Dr. Silva?

A．People’s love for nature.

B．Great changes in people’s way of life.

C．People’s desire to change the world.

D．The wonderful imagination in inventing things.

3.What can we learn from the passage?

A．The microwave oven was first used by working mothers.

B．People cook less because of modern kitchen equipment.

C．Technology has little effect on the changes of family behavior.

D．People need less skill to do housework due to advanced technology.

Our success in business, sports, friendship, love―nearly everything we attempt―is largely determined by our own self-image. People who have confidence in their personal worth seem to be essential for success and happiness. Good things drop into their hands regularly, their relationship are long-lasting, their projects are usually carried to completion. To use the image an English writer created, they “catch job on the wing”.

Opposite to that, some people seem to hold attraction for failure and unhappiness. Their plans go in a wrong manner, they have a way of destroying their own potential success and nothing seems to work out for them. For such persons, their problems usually have as origin a difficulty with self-acceptance. When they gain more confidence through others’ help, often their troubles take care of themselves.

It is believed that anyone can change his self-estimation. A person with low self-image is not necessarily limited to a life of unhappiness and failure. It is possible to get rid of negative attitudes and gain the healthy confidence needed to realize one’s dream.

86. The word “image” used in line 4 means _____

A. life like drawing of something                 B. picture formed in one’s mind

C. reproduction of an object                       D. something imagined

87. According to the passage, high self-image helps one _____.

A. to become healthier and better looking

B. to enjoy one’s life like flying with wings

C. to maintain a negative attitude towards things around

D. to win success in one’s life and work.

88. It is implied in the passage that ______.

A. one’s self-image is something unchangeable

B. being attractive is very important in making friends with others.

C. not everyone can benefit from an improvement of his self-image

D. a person with high self-image has much confidence in his own future

89. What could be the best title for the passage?

A. Happiness or Failure

B. Success and Self-image

C. Difficulties in Improving Self-Acceptance

D. Attitude towards Life

   Every girl wants to have a great-looking tattoo (纹身) design that makes them more attractive. Small and lovely tattoo designs are the path to go for girls planning to get tattooed for the first time.

   Nowadays, more and more females are getting a tattoo inked on their body. In the last fifteen years, tattoos have grown from being a sign of rebelliousness and trouble to a state of popular acceptance as a mark of fashion.

   Tattoos are permanent so you need to be sure that you like it before getting one. A great way is to have small tattoos that look beautiful as well. You can get a cherry blossom tattoo on the foot, perhaps, a hibiscus flower on the shoulder or a lovely butterfly on the lower stomach; whatever design you choose, it can definitely add to your attractiveness and charm.

   Deciding to get a tattoo needs careful thought and reflection. Otherwise, you could make some serious tattoo mistakes. Try to avoid big and obvious designs if possible. Another important part of choosing a tattoo design is the location. What part of the body do you want it on? Choosing a hidden location can often make the tattoo the perfect adornment (装饰). As for professional women, tattoos should normally be where they can be hidden.

   Most importantly, no matter what tattoo design you choose the final goal is that the design should be something you like. If you are into the tattoo and really feel passionate about it you will carry yourself in a different manner when you get it inked on your body.

1.A girl wants to have a tattoo in order to ________.

   A. show that she is unique              B. catch up the present fashion

   C. become more attractive              D. have more confidence

2.The underlined word “hallmark” in Paragraph 2 probably means _________

   A. feature    B. exhibition   C. entertainment    D. room

3.What did people think of girls who got tattooed in the past?

   A. They looked down upon these girls        B. They thought these girls liked to show off

   C. They thought these girls were fashionable   D. They thought these girls were rebellious

4.What is the author’s attitude towards girls’ getting a tattoo?

   A. He is against girls’ doing so   

B. He thinks professional women should not get tattooed

   C. He is in favor of it as long as it is done probably

   D. He calls on all the girls to do so

5.According to the author, which of the following is the right kind of tattoo that girls should get?

   A. Big, beautiful tattoos inked on the back

   B. Small, lovely tattoos inked on the hidden part of the body

   C. Big and fashionable tattoos inked on the foot

   D. Small and beautiful tattoos inked on where it is easy to see