Many immigrants(移民) to the United States find the decision to seek better lives for their families in America can have an unexpected and tragic consequence(后果). Deep differences with their children develop over language and culture.

“Many immigrants arrive here without much education. Their kids soon gain language skills and also street marts(耍时髦) on how to live in America, leaving the parents at a disadvantage,” Ileana , Roses, pastor of a Methodist church group operating in Virginia, said.

“Not only that but they find they cannot relate to children who quickly absorb American culture,” she said.

According to the US Census Bureau(人口调查局), the number of foreign born or first generation Americans reached 55 million last year, a record one in five of the total population.

A government survey of 922 immigrants in 2000 found that nearly 40 percent of those who had been in the United States for more than 15 years would still like to take English classes if they had the time.

Two thirds of low income households depended on their children for translation.

Psychologists(心理学家) and sociologists say parents can lose their position of authority(权威) in a family as a result and the effects of that can be far-reaching.

Children exposed to American pop culture that glorifies(颂扬) youth and sexuality(性感) often rebel when their parents try to impose the conservative values they brought with them.

“Americanization erodes(侵蚀) all important aspects of parenting,” said Richard Weissbourd, who teaches education at Harvard University.

“I feel a part of me is dying with my children. They don’t listen to my music. I have to play it on Sunday morning when they are not around,” said an immigrant.

1. What troubles the immigrant parents most is ___________.

A. that they can’t understand the English language

B. that they lose their position of authority in their families

C. that their children have lost sense of their own national values

D. how they can master the English language as soon as possible

2. From the passage we can infer that the population of the states at present is about____.

A. 275 million    B. 220 million    C. 255 million    D. smaller than 250 million

3. Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A. All the immigrants had expected the troubles they would meet before they went to the US.

B. Two thirds of immigrant families are low income households.

C. American culture shows a spirit against conservative social and cultural values.

D. American pop culture puts the immigrant families at a disadvantage.

4. Which of the following is probably the title of the report?

A. The Result of the US Census

B. The Differences Between Parents and Children in the US

C. The Troubles of the American Immigrants

D. Role Reversal(颠倒) Troubles Many Parents and Children

Work is a very important part of life in the United States. When the early Protestant immigrants(新教徒移民) came to this country, they brought the idea that work was the way to God and heaven. This attitude, the Protestant Work Ethic(道德规范), still influences America today. Work is not only important for economic benefits, the salary, but also for social and psychological needs, the feeling of doing something for the good of the society. Americans spend most of their lives working, being productive. For most Americans, their work defines(给…下定义) them: they are what they do. What happens then, when a person can no longer work? Almost all Americans stop working at age sixty-five or seventy and retire. Because work is such an important part of life in this culture, retirement can be very difficult. Retirees often feel that they are useless and unproductive. Of course, some people are happy to retire; but leaving one’s job, whatever it is, is a difficult change, even for those who look forward to retiring. Many retirees do not know how to use their time or they feel lost without their jobs. Retirements can also bring financial problems. Many people rely on Social Security checks every month. During their working years, employees contribute a certain percentage of their salaries to the government. Each employer also gives a certain percentage to the government. When people retire, they receive this money as income. These checks do not provide enough money to live on, however, because prices are increasing very rapidly. Senior citizens, those over sixty-five, have to have savings in the bank or other retirement plans to make ends meet. The rate of inflation(通货膨胀) is forcing prices higher each year; Social Security checks alone cannot cover these growing expenses. The government offers some assistance(补助), Medicare(health care)and welfare(general assistance), but many senior citizens have to change their life styles after retirement. They have to spend carefully to be sure that they can afford to buy food, fuel and other necessities.

Of course, many senior citizens are happy with retirement. They have time to spend with their families or enjoy their hobbies. Some continue to work part time, others do volunteer(志愿) work. Some, like those in the Retired Business Executives Association, even help young, people to get started in new business. Many retired citizens also belong to “Golden Age” groups. These organizations plan trips and social events. There are many chances for retirees.

American society is only beginning to be concerned about the special physical and emotional needs of its senior citizens. The government is taking steps to ease the problem of limited income. They are building new housing, offering discounts(折扣) in stores and museums and on buses, and providing other services such as free courses, food service, and help with housework. Retired citizens are a rapidly growing percentage of the population. This part of the population is very important and we must meet their needs. After all, every citizen will be a senior citizen some day.

1. The author believes that work first became important to Americans because of _______.

A. religion             B. economy           C. psychology               D. family

2. The passage is mainly about _______.

A. money and check                           B. senior and junior

C. work and retirement                       D. Protestants and Americans

3. When Americans stop work, it’s difficult for them to _______.

A. get Social Security checks               B. feel productive

C. enjoy themselves                            D. be religious

4. The author mentions _______ examples of the government' steps to ease the problem of limited income.

A. two            B. four           C. five            D. three

根据短文内容,从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。

___1.___ This was not because the woods and fields were always far away, but because they were too far from the city to permit people to make a day trip between morning and nightfall.

___2.___ He decided to turn his little school house into a dormitory for the summer holidays. Anyone who brought his sleeping bag and cooking equipment along could stay there for a very small quantity of money. The idea was a success. A few years later, the school house was much too small to hold the many young people who wanted to stay there. ___3.___ This was the first hostel (青年招待所).

Today, young students and workers of every country can meet in the hostel and get to know each other. When young people arrive at the hostel, they have only to show their cards of membership in a hostel organization in their own country. ___4.___

Often, at the evening meal, a group of boys and girls from various parts of the country or world will happen to meet at the same hostel. They may put their food together and prepare a dinner with many kinds of dishes. Sometimes a program will be organized after the meal with dances, songs, or short talks followed by a question period.___5.___ For this reason, a few weeks spent ‘hostelling’ can be just as useful a part of one’s education as classes in school.

A.In 1970, a young German school master had an idea which changed this situation.

B.People can stay in the hostel if they brought enough equipment with them.

C.One can learn a lot about other places, just by meeting people from those places.

D.As a result, a dormitory was set up in an old castle nearby.

E. For years, children in the industrial areas of Europe seldom left their cities to see the beauties of the countryside.

F. More and more young people went to the hostel for summer holidays.

G. This card will permit them to stay in a hostel all over the world for very low prices.

 

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