Question

While income worry is a rather common problem of the aged, loneliness is another problem that aged parents may face. Of all the reasons that explain their loneliness, a large geographical distance between parents and their children is the major one. This phenomenon(现象)is commonly known as “Empty Nest Syndrome”(空巢综合症).

　　In order to seek better chances outside their countries, many young people have gone abroad, leaving their parents behind with no clear idea of when they will return home. Their parents spend countless lonely days and nights, taking care of themselves, in the hope that someday their children will come back to stay with them. The fact that most of these young people have gone to Europeanized or Americanized societies makes it unlikely that they will hold as tightly to the value of duty as they would have if they had not left their countries. Whatever the case, it has been noted that the values they hold do not necessarily match what they actually do. This geographical and cultural distance also prevents the grown-up children from providing response(回应)in time for their aged parents living by themselves.

　　The situation in which grown-up children live far away from their aged parents has been described as “distant parent phenomenon”, which is common both in developed countries and in developing countries. Our society has not yet been well prepared for “Empty Nest Syndrome”.

1. According to the passage, the loneliness of aged parents is mainly caused by _________.

A．their earlier experience of feeling lonely

B．the unfavorable living conditions in their native countries

C．the common worry about their income

D．the geographical distance between parents and children

2. Many young people have gone abroad, leaving their aged parents behind, to _________.

A．live in the countries with more money

B．seek a better place for their aged parents

C．continue their studies abroad

D．realize their dreams in foreign countries

3. If young people go abroad, _________.

A．they do not hold to the value of duty at all

B．they can give some help to their parents back home

C．they cannot do what they should for their parents

D．they believe what they actually do is right

4. From the last paragraph, we can infer that ________.

A．the situations in the developed and developing countries are different

B．“Empty Nest Syndrome” has arrived unexpectedly in our society

C．children will become independent as soon as they go abroad

D．the aged parents are not fully prepared for “Empty Nest Syndrome”

Answer

1.D

2.D

3.C

4.B

【解析】

试题分析：本文叙述了孤独是老年人面临的一个问题，许多年轻人出国的目的是为了在国外寻找更好的机会，孤独的一个主要原因是父母和孩子间地域上的距离造成的。当他们的父母需要帮助的时候，不能及时给予照顾，而现在的中国还没有准备好对付这种新的社会现象---空巢综合症。

1.细节理解题。根据Of all the reasons that explain their loneliness, a large geographical distance between parents and their children is the major one. 孤独的一个主要原因是父母和孩子间地域上的距离造成的。故选D。

2.细节理解题。根据In order to seek better chances outside their countries, many young people have gone abroad, 许多年轻人出国的目的是为了在国外寻找更好的机会。 故选D。

3.细节理解题。根据This geographical and cultural distance also prevents the grown-up children from providing response(回应)in time for their aged parents living by themselves.

这种地理上的文化上的距离，使得长大成人的孩子们，当他们的父母需要帮助的时候，而没有去及时的给与回应，故选C。

4.推理判断题。根据Our society has not yet been well prepared for “Empty Nest Syndrome”

我们的社会还没有准备好对付这种新的社会现象，可以推断出这中空巢综合症已经在预料之外来了。故选B。

考点：社会现象类短文阅读。