Question

Fun is, in fact , a word heard far more frequently in families today than in the past , when “duty”and “responsibility ”were often the words used.Parents today are more youthful in appearance and attitudes. Their clothes and hair-styles are more casual, helping to bridge the divide. Those who are athletically inclined also enjoy Rollerblading, snowboarding, and rock-climbing with their children.

     For the past three years, Kathy and Phil Dalby have spent at least one evening a week at a climbing gym with their three children. "It's great to be able to work together," Mrs Dalby says. "We discuss various climbs and where the hard parts are. Sometimes that leads to other Conversations. We're definitely closer."

     A popular movement of parent effectiveness training in the 1970s has helped to reshape generational roles. The philosophy encourages children to describe their feelings about various situations. As a result, says Robert Billingham, a family-studies professor at Indiana University, "Parents and children began talking to each other in ways they had not before."

     On the plus side, he adds, these conversations made parents realize that children may have important thoughts or feelings that adults need to be aware of.

     But Professor Billingham also sees a downside: Many parents started making decisions based on what their child wanted. "The power shifted to children. Parents said, 'I have to focus on making my child happy', as opposed to 'I have to act as a parent most appropriately'."

     Other changes are occurring as the ranks of working mothers grow.  Time-short parents encourage children's independence, making them more responsible for themselves. "They'll say, 'We trust you to make the right decisions' (whether they're ready to assume the responsibility or not) ,"says Billingham.

     The self-esteem movement of the past quarter-century has also affected the family dynamics (原动力). Some parents worry that if they tell their child no, it will hurt the child's self-esteem.

1.What's the trend in parent-child relationship mentioned in the passage?

A. Parents are chasing after fashion and ignoring the feelings of their children.

B. More parents and children are sharing the same enthusiasm for a certain sport.

C. Parents are taking more responsibility and setting more limits for their children.

D. The generation gap is narrowing and parents are respecting their children's thoughts more.

2.Which of the following has NOT contributed to the change in the parent-child relationship?

A. Younger parents.                   B. Parent effectiveness training.

C. More working mothers.              D. The self-esteem movement.

3.What's the best title for the text?

A. Parents and Children as Friends.

B. Parents and Professors as Debaters.

C. Growing Mutual Understanding.

D. Disappearing Responsibility.                                                                            

Answer

1.D

2.A

3.A

【解析】

试题分析：本文是一篇关于社会家庭方面的文章。在文中作者指出在现代家庭中父母和孩子们的关系更像朋友般亲密。带来这种变化的原因有三个方面：一.父母心态的年轻和一起参加户外活动机会的增多：二. 上班族母亲的增多；三. 自尊行动的兴起。

1.D推理判断题。文章开始讲述了在现代家庭中欢乐多了，家长和子女关系变的更为密切了；然后从几个方面来讲述带来这种变化的原因。原因之一就是self-esteem movement家长害怕伤害孩子自尊，所以对孩子更为尊重了。由此可知D选项正确。

2.A细节理解题。从文章第三段A popular movement of parent effectiveness training in the 1970s has helped to reshape generational roles.，倒数第二段Other changes are occurring as the ranks of working mothers grow和文章末段The self-esteem movement of the past quarter-century has also affected the family dynamics可知B，C，D选项均对这种新型父母子女关系的形成起到了一定作用，文章没有提及的是A选项内容，所以正确选项是A。

3.A主旨大意题。在文章开头作者提出由于家长心态、外表的年轻以及服装发型的随意和越来越多的在户外运动中与孩子的沟通使得在现代家庭中父母子女的关系变得更为密切了，随后作者从几个方面来介绍造成这种关系变化的原因，所以文章中心是讲述父母子女间的亲密关系，故正确选项为A。

考点：考查社会生活类短文阅读。