Why is it easy for young children to learn language?Part of the answer is that children have so many needs.They have to make their needs known and they are always watching the effect of what they say and trying new ways of getting what they want.Another part of the answer is that children are not, as older people sometimes are, fixed in their ways of living.When they are taken about from one country to another they change easily from one language to another.Older people are more fixed in the ways.They have been hearing and talking one language for a long time.Their ways of hearing and making sounds and of putting words together are like the rails a train goes on.They have been up and down their lines of talk and thought too many times to change them easily.A child is free in his ways.He is more like an airplane or, better, like a bird; he is free to go in any direction he wants.He is free to hear sounds as they are and make them as he hears them.He is free to put new words together in new ways in speaking a new language.
(1)
Why do the children learn language easily?Because ________.
[ ]
A.
the children are more clever
B.
the children have many needs and they are not fixed in their ways
C.
they have a special system of hearing and talking
D.
old people are stupid
(2)
What does the author want to explain by comparing the older people to the rail?
[ ]
A.
Older people speak more.
B.
Older people are as fixed in their ways as train.
C.
Older people are as stupid as the train.
D.
Older people are as old as the rails.
(3)
According to the passage, a child ________ a new language when they are taken about from one country to another?
“Poor but honest.”“The deserving(值得帮助的)poor.”These words always come to my mind when I think of“the poor.”But I also think of people who, perhaps through alcohol(酒)or drugs, have ruined not only their own lives but also the lives of others in order to give way to their own pleasure.Perhaps alcoholism(酗酒)and drug addiction(吸毒上瘾)really are“diseases, ” as many people say, but my own feeling-based, of course, not on any serious study-is that most alcoholics and drug addicts belong to the“undeserving poor.”And that is largely why I don’t give spare change to beggars.
But surely among the street people there are also some who can rightly be called“deserving.” Deserving what? My spare change? Or simply the government’s assistance? It happens that I have been brought up to believe that it is proper to make contributions to charity(慈善机构), but if I give some change to a beggar, am I making a contribution to charity and thereby helping someone, or, am I perhaps simply encouraging someone not to get help? Or, maybe even worse, am I supporting a cheat?
If one believes in the value of private charity, one can either give to needy people or to charitable organizations.In giving to a beggar one may indeed be helping a person who badly needs help, but one cannot be certain that one is giving to a needy person.In giving to an organization, on the other hand, one can feel that one’s money is likely to be used wisely.True, facing a beggar one may feel that this particular unfortunate person needs help at this moment-a cup of coffee or a sandwich-and the need will not be met unless I put my hand in my pocket right now.But I have come to think that the beggars whom I meet can get along without my spare change, and indeed perhaps they are actually better off for not having money to buy alcohol or drugs.
I know nothing about these beggars, but it’s my impression that they simply prefer begging to working.I am not generalizing about street people.I am talking about the people whom I actually meet.That’s why I do not give“spare change, ” and I don’t think I will in the future.
(1)
What does the author think of beggars who take drugs?
[ ]
A.
They should be given a check-up.
B.
They really need money to live.
C.
They have no pleasure in life.
D.
They are not worth helping.
(2)
Why doesn’t the author give money to street people?
[ ]
A.
He doesn’t think they need help.
B.
He doesn’t have enough money to give.
C.
He is not convinced they will use it rightly.
D.
He believes they can get help from the government.
(3)
In the second paragraph, the author presents his idea by ________.
[ ]
A.
asking questions for people to think about
B.
giving examples to support his argument
C.
raising questions and answering them
D.
expressing his opinions directly
(4)
Which of the following opinions does the author accept?
[ ]
A.
Drug addiction is a disease.
B.
Some street people are poor and needy.
C.
Most beggars have received enough help.
D.
Charitable organizations handle money properly.
阅读理解
Why I Don't Spare “Spare Change”
“Poor but honest.” “The deserving(
值得帮助的)poor.” These words always come to my mind when I think of “the poor.” But I also think of people who, perhaps through alcohol or drugs, have ruined not only their own lives but also the lives of others in order to give way to their own pleasure.Perhaps alcoholism and drug addiction really are “diseases,” as many people say, but my own feeling——based, of course, not on any serious study——is that most alcoholics and drug addicts belong to the “undeserving poor.” And that is largely why I don't give spare change to beggars.
But surely among the street people there are also some who can rightly be called “deserving.” Deserving what?My spare change?Or simply the government's assistance?It happens that I have been brought up to believe that it is proper to make contributions to charity, but if I give some change to a beggar, am I making a contribution to charity and thereby helping someone, or, am I perhaps simply encouraging someone not to get help?Or, maybe even worse, am I supporting a cheat?
If one believes in the value of private charity, one can either give to needy people or to charitable organizations.In giving to a beggar one may indeed be helping a person who badly needs help, but one cannot be certain that one is giving to a needy person.In giving to an organization, on the other hand, one can feel that one's money is likely to be used wisely.True, facing a beggar one may feel that this particular unfortunate person needs help at this moment
——a cup of coffee or a sandwich——and the need will not be met unless I put my hand in my pocket right now.But I have come to think that the beggars whom I meet can get along without my spare change, and indeed perhaps they are actually better off for not having money to buy alcohol or drugs.
I know nothing about these beggars, but it's my impression that they simply prefer begging to working.I am not generalizing about street people.I am talking about the people whom I actually meet.That's why I do not give “spare change,” and I don't think I will in the future.
(1)
What does the author think of beggars who take drugs?
[ ]
A.
They should be given a check-up.
B.
They really need money to live.
C.
They have no pleasure in life.
D.
They are not worth helping.
(2)
Why doesn't the author give money to street people?
[ ]
A.
He doesn't think they need help.
B.
He doesn't have enough money to give.
C.
He is not convinced they will use it rightly.
D.
He believes they can get help from the government.
(3)
In the second paragraph, the author presents his idea by ________.