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More American Fathers Stay Home to Raise Kids
Families in the U. S. are changing. 1. This number is twice that of 25 years ago. In 2012, 16 percent of all parents in the U. S. were stay-at-home dads. Gretchen Livingston is with the Pew Research Center. She says in the last 25 years there have been changes as far as dads taking on more caregiving responsibilities and mothers taking on more bread-winner responsibilities. 2. That is a huge change. The study finds that disability, sickness and unemployment are among the reasons that fathers stay home. 3. For example, Blake Humphreys has also been a stay-at-home dad for the past ten years. Blake and his partner have two kids. Blake is a big, muscular man. He is well over six feet tall, with a beard and long hair tucked under his baseball cap. He looks like the kind of man that would be hard to frighten. 4. "I am a stay-at-home dad for ten years. And I know that just saying it sounds scary to me right now." Blake became a stay-at-home parent for the same reason many women do – he made less money than his partner. Even thought the number of stay-at-home fathers is growing in the U. S., such men can still face worries about their self-worth. 5. To help solve this problem, he volunteers at his children’s school partly to battle that isolation and to build up his sense of self-worth.
A. But, some fathers do so simply to spend more time with their children.
B. Blake shared his feeling of anxiety.
C. A new study finds that in the U. S. more than two million fathers are staying home to take care of the house and family.
D. A lot of men lost their jobs
E. However, he says he does feel fearful when he counts the years he has been out of the workforce.
F. She adds that the number of hours a day that dads spend caring for their kids has tripled in the past decades.
G. Black expressed his true feeling towards being a stay-at-home dad.
IMAGINE if, to collect your salary each month, you had to walk to the nearest town, perhaps tens of miles away, to gather in a school or a football court or a church. There, you and your colleagues wait for a man to arrive from the capital, perhaps a thousand miles away, with a suitcase of cash.
Few countries are as corrupt as Congo(刚果). Mobutu Sese Seko, a former strongman, used state funds to charter a Concorde to take him on shopping trips to Paris. By the time of his overthrow in 1997, graft was endemic. Government employees were not paid but rather expected to use their positions to make a living. Among the most prized government jobs was that of accountant: the people responsible for transporting bags of cash to the provinces to hand out to employees.
In 2012, however, the Congolese government started helping civil servants to open bank accounts. Around three-quarters of them—some 670,000 people—now have one. In the process, the government has weeded out tens of thousands of ghost employees, since the embezzlers who invented them could not open accounts in their names without a matching ID.
Yet in a vast country with fewer roads than Luxembourg, hardly anyone lives anywhere near a bank branch. So Congolese banks must now do the work the government accountants used to: shipping money to the remote area. Cash has to be transported to branches in regional capitals, and thence to account-holders on the backs of motorbikes, in canoes or by foot. Bank staff with suitcases of cash make easy targets, just as they did in the west of America in the 19th century. Though they usually travel with armed policemen, there have been at least ten armed robberies of bank employees since January.
At the moment banks are little more than money-transfer companies, and not very sophisticated ones at that. The transfers tend to go only one way—out of Kinshasa—so cannot be netted against each other; instead cash almost always has to be moved physically. Therefore, most Congolese bankers hope that the new system will promote the growth of a proper banking system.
1.The underlined word “charter” (Paragraph 2) can be replaced by “_______________”.
A. drive B. rent C. write D. push
2.How did government employees use to earn a living?
A. By getting enough salaries
B. By talking to employees
C. By transporting bags of cash
D. By benefiting from their positions
3.What is not one of the challenges that bank staff have to face while transferring each?
A. The transfers are netted against one another
B. The cash may be robbed away
C. Most cash has to be moved physically
D. They sometimes have to walk to transfer cash
4.Which of the following can be the best title of the article?
A. Unavoidable robberies B. Frequent corruption
C. Cash on the way D. Best banking system
“A Long Walk Home”-----life as Eli Reed saw it
American photographer and photojournalist Eli Reed has been documenting “life as I saw it” for more than 40 years. His career retrospective(回顾), “Eli Reed: A Long Walk Home”, is an extraordinary search of beauty while recording hardship. With a heart of love, Reed uses a style that uncovers humanity at every turn. According to Reed, “A Long Walk Home” is about what it means to be a human being. It all began with a photo he took of his mother and his memory of her smile.
Raised in New Jersey, reed was originally a painter. Primarily self-taught in photography, he became a freelance photographer in 1970. after producing some impressive photos that drew much attention, he joined the famous company Magnum Photos---the first black photographer invited to do so.
His photos are remarkable in their lack of judgment of the people or the situations he comes across. In Beirut, Lebanon, a man removes a tree branch from a car in a recently bombed parking lot. An old man wrapped in a sheet plays a drum in front of a sign reading “God Is the Way” while National Guardsmen lift their guns during a war in Miami. A young boy upside down with his legs in the air in a Kenyan refugee camp, his determined look faces the camera. In Harlem, New York, a group of laughing children take over an abandoned car, using it as a jungle gym.
Where another photographer might have focused on the sobriety of these situations. Reed’s camera smiles. His images show how humans cope, rise above, and carry on. This is what gives “ A Long Walk Home” its power. Considering the places Reed has been to, there are very few photos of guns or obvious violence. Instead, Reed focuses on the varied human responses to hardship.
We smile along with Reed in a gesture of compassion and solidarity. We recognize our fellow human beings.
1.Why did Eli Reed produce his work “A Long Walk Home”?
A. To search for the meaning of life
B. To keep memories of his mother
C. To help people who are suffering
D. To pursuer his love of photography
2.According to the passage, Magnum Photos_____________.
A. employed Reed in 1970
B. was located in New Jersey
C. taught Reed the art of photography
D. only had white employees originally
3.In his work “A Long Walk Home”. Reed’s photos_____________.
A. aim to draw others’ sympathy
B. were taken only in America
C. reflect the strength of humans
D. focus on war and violence
4.What does the underlined word “sobriety” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?
A. Warmth B. Cause C. Value D. Seriousness
The adolescent girl from Tennessee was standing on the stage of a drama summer camp in New York. It was a beautiful day. But the girl didn’t feel beautiful. She was not the leggy, attractive Hollywood type. In fact, she described herself as stupid.
Her name is Reese Witherspoon. Since Reese Witherspoon was six years old, she had admired and respected Dolly Patton, who was a famous country singer. For three years she had gone all out to act, dance and sing, fancying that she could be another dolly Patton.
However, at the end of the camp her coaches told her to forget about singing. They suggested she think about another career. She took their words to heart. After all. why shouldn’t she believe the professionals?
But back at home in Nashville, her mother-a funny, happy, optimistic woman-wouldn’t let her feel depressed. Her father, a physician, encouraged her to achieve in school. So she worked hard at everything and was accepted at Stanford University.
And at 19, she got a part in a low-budget movie called Freeway, which prepared for her role in the movie Pleasantville. But her big break came with Legally Blonde.
“If you can’t sing and you aren’t charming, play to your strengths. If you’re going to make it in this business, better focus on what you’re good at,” she told the interviewer later.
And then came the offer that took her back to her Nashville-playing the wife of a country star Johnny Cash, a singing role. All of a sudden the old fears learned on that summer stage were back. She was so nervous on the stage. But she didn’t give up on the movie or herself. She spent 6 months taking singing lessons again. She learned to play the Autoharp. And the hard work built up her confidence.
Last March, Reese Witherspoon walked up on another stage, the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, and accepted the Oscar as Best Actress for her heartbreaking, heartwarming singing role as June Carter Cash in Walk the Line.
1.Why was Reese Witherspoon sad at the end of the camp?
A. She was described foolish
B. She was told to give up singing
C .She failed to be famous
D. She had to go back home
2.What was Reese’s parents’ response after her coaches suggested her giving up singing?
A. They agreed with her coaches
B. They only focused on her study
C. They ignored her frustration
D. They encouraged her
3.How did Reese succeed in playing the singing role?
A. By regaining her confidence through hard work
B. By practicing autoharp for over 6 months
C. By making herself leggy and attractive
D. By forgetting that summer stage
4.Which is the best title for the passage?
A. A successful actress B. Reese Witherspoon
C. Never give up D. Fortune is important
Here is some information from a tourist guide to Patapsco Valley state Park Maryland, USA.
Wildlife and Nature Appreciation
While visiting Patapsco Valley State Park, you will see a variety of natural habitats. Throughout spring and fall, dogwoods, maples, redbuds, and many varieties of wildflowers color the forest. This park is also home to many small mammals and birds. If you pause during your journey through tile forest, you are likely to see rabbits, grey squirrels, and red foxes. Along the banks of tile river, birdwatchers will spot Canada geese and wood ducks all year round
Fishing
The Patapsco River meanders through the park and is a popular attraction for anglers (钓鱼者). The Department of Natural Resources' Fisheries Service assigns the river as a put-and-take fishery(渔场) with adult rainbow and brown trout in spring and fall. Anglers also enjoy catching naturally reproducing smallmouth and largemouth bass, bluegill, redbreast sunfish and yellow perch.
Fishing opportunities have been specially set aside at Lost Lake for youth under 16 and seniors 62 years of age and older. This area is also designed for anglers with disabilities.
Trails
Adventure seekers will enjoy hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding on the park's popular trail system. More than 17 miles of challenging and rough single track trails follow the ridges, steep hillsides and stream valleys in the park. These trails are also excellent gateways for wildlife viewing, bird watching and general nature appreciation. Please respect the rights of nearby private property owners by using only blazed (有路标的) trails. Remember that the park is a natural area with certain dangers, such as poison ivy, slippery trail surfaces, insects, etc. You are responsible for having the necessary skills, knowledge and equipment for a safe visit.
Discover History Along the Trail
Enter another time as you explore Patapsco’s trails. Layer upon layer of history tells the story of man’s interaction with nature. Native American hunted, gathered and fished here for centuries. In the 1700s, the valley became one of the earliest sites for America’s Industrial Revolution. Early settlers cut down trees for charcoal used to fire iron furnaces(熔炉). The river’s current was dammed and channeled to power iron, paper, grain and textile mills (纺织厂). Towns and tobacco farms were established throughout the valley.
1.Which of the following is forbidden to fish at Lost Lake?
A. A pupil in grade six
B. A 30 - year - old woman without disability
C. An old man in his seventies
D. A person in a wheelchair
2.While walking along the trails, tourists are reminded to _________.
A. feed the birds they meet
B. visit some private buildings
C. pay attention to self- protection
D. protect the natural environment
3.The passage is mainly about the park's _________.
A. long history B. beautiful scenery
C. main attractions D. official rules
书面表达
请阅读下列短文，并按照要求用英语写一篇150词左右的文章。
Following a four-day meeting of the Communist Party of China Central Committee in Beijing, the central government announces that China allows two children for every couple.
The People's Congress at provincial level or its standing committee has revised local regulations or made new ones, with the support and guidance of the National Health and Family Planning Commission, Jiang said.
"The number of new births will definitely increase in the coming years and we estimate that the peak will be over 20 million newborn babies," said Wang Pei'an, vice-minister of the National Health and Family Planning Commission.
At present, about 60 percent of China's child-bearing women are over 35 years old, which means an increase of 'elderly' mothers will be witnessed in China in the next few years, Wang said in a news release on Friday.
"It's safe to say that the two-child policy won't bring huge pressure on food security and basic public services, such as health, education and employment," Wang said. He estimated that another 30 million working people aged between 15 and 59 will be added by 2050. "It will benefit economic growth in the long term," Wang added.
【写作内容】
1. 有约30个单词写出上文概要；
2. 有约120个单词就“二胎政策”这一话题谈谈你的看法，内容包括：
（1）你同意你父母亲生二胎吗？表明你的态度并说明理由（至少2点）；
（2）试分析中国实行二胎政策的好处。（至少两点）
参考词汇：兄弟姐妹：sibling
【写作要求】
1. 在作文中可以参照阅读材料的内容，但不能直接引用文中原句。
2. 作文中不能出现真实姓名和学校名称。
3. 不必写标题。
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