Question

Parents are creating an “I want it now” generation by indulging children's every demand at Christmas，say experts.Youngsters are becoming increasingly selfish，claim the education analysts.

Consumer?savvy children are forcing their families into racking up huge debts and risk becoming spoilt and dissatisfied in the future.

Behavioural consultant Chris Calland said，“Parents are desperate to make Christmas into a magical fairy tale for their kids.There's nothing wrong with that as such.The problem arises when it means always giving in to all our children's demands—even if they are beyond our price range or not age?appropriate.”

Ms.Calland，who runs “Santa Says No” style sessions with colleague Nicky Hutchinson，added, “Many of us go into so much debt providing the gifts our children want that we spend the rest of the year paying off the bills.Yet so often the parcels we've carefully wrapped，once opened，are just pushed away because the very thing our little boy or girl was once so desperate for, they have now lost interest in.”

Ms. Calland and Ms.Hutchinson have drawn up a list of guidelines to help parents manage their offspring's Christmas lists this year.They say that adults can actually improve their relationships with their children by resisting “pester (纠缠) power”．

Ms.Calland said，“All too often we say yes because we want an easier life when the fact is that we're only building up problems for the future.We are helping create a generation of youngsters who are blind to the needs of others and the necessity of hard work.”

“Children learn fast—if we sometimes change our mind，they quickly realise it might be worth lying on the floor and screaming for it.Make sure you and your partner are working together on this.Be consistent.And try not to get caught up in competition with other families or friends.”

1.How is the “I want it now” generation created?

A．Parents can't afford the gifts for their children.

B．Parents become heavily in debt.

C．Parents are trying to make Christmas into a magical fairy tale.

D．Parents give children whatever they want at Christmas.

2.What is the main problem with the “I want it now” generation?

A．They are quite self?centered.

B．They like to live in fairy tales.

C．They waste a lot of money on gifts.

D．They can't keep their interest in gifts.

3.What is probably the aim of “Santa Says No” style sessions?

A．To advise on how to wrap gifts properly.

B．To keep children's interest in the gifts.

C．To tell parents how to say no to children's demands.

D．To advise parents on what gifts to buy for children.

4.According to the passage，we can infer that Ms.Calland intends to ________.

A．analyze children's behavior

B．give advice to parents

C．introduce a new generation

D．give her support to parents

5.Ms.Calland would agree that parents should ________.

A．buy nothing for children at Christmas

B．choose gifts carefully for children

C．let children choose their own gifts

D．avoid competing with others

 

Answer 1

1.D

2.A

3.C

4.B

5.D

【解析】

【语篇解读】　本文是时文阅读。由于父母对孩子圣诞节的要求无限制地满足，产生了“I want it now”一代。

1.

2.2】解析　细节理解题。从第一段最后一句中的“Youngsters are becoming increasingly selfish”以及倒数第二段中的“a generation of youngsters who are blind to the needs of others”可知“I want it now”一代很自私、以自我为中心。答案　A

3.3】解析　推理判断题。根据第四、五段内容可知，“Santa Says No”style sessions的目的是教父母如何对孩子的无限制的要求说不。答案　C

4.4】解析　推理判断题。综合分析Mr.Calland的话可知，Ms.Calland在本文中为父母提出了不要满足孩子的一切要求的建议。答案　B

5.5】解析　细节理解题。从最后一段最后一句“And try not to get caught up in competition with other families or friends”可知答案为D。答案　D