Question

Parents often think that time spent with their kids will gradually decrease in adolescence. But a new study suggests that while teens try to avoid spending a lot of time together with their parents, private parent-child meetings may actually increase in their early adolescent years. And that may raise a teenager’s self-esteem (自尊) and social confidence, especially if it is the time that spent with Dad, the researchers added. The researchers created a long-term study in which they invited families in 16 school districts in central Pennsylvania to participate. In each family, a teenager, a younger sibling (兄弟姐妹), their mother and their father were interviewed at home and then asked about their activities and self-worth five times over a period of seven years.

The study authors were surprised to discover that when fathers spent more time alone with their teenagers, the kids reported they felt better about themselves. Something about the father’s role in the family seemed to improve self-esteem among the teenagers in the study, said study co-author Susan McHale, a professor of human development at Pennsylvania State University.

“Time with Dad often involves joking, teasing, and other playful interactions. Fathers, compared to mothers, were more involved in leisure activities and had more peer-like interactions with their children, which is crucial for youth social development,” the study showed. But Marta Flaum, a psychologist in Chappaqua, New York, said, “How these findings reflect the real world is a real question. The sample in the study is so small and so unrepresentative of most families in the country today that I’m not sure how much we can generalize from it. In my community in Westchester County, I don’t see parents and teenagers spend much time together at all. Parents are often working so hard and have less time to be together with their kids.”

However, Flaum encourages parents to make time for their kids no matter how much work they have to do. “Research like this reminds us of how important it is. The time we have with them is so short,” she said.

1.According to the study, when teenagers spend more time alone with their fathers, _________.

A. their social skills will be improved

B. their fathers will better understand them

C. they will be willing to help their siblings

D. their family members will spend more time together

2.What is Flaum’ attitude towards the findings of the study?

A. Unconcerned       B. Favorable.

C. Doubtful.        D. Puzzled.

3.What does the underlined word “it” in the last paragraph refer to?

A. The research by Susan McHale.

B. The work to be done.

C. Parents’ encouragement.

D. The time parents spending together with their kids.

4.Where is the passage most likely to be taken from?

A. Science magazine.  B. A news report.

C. A research plan. D. An advertisement.

Answer

1.A

2.C

3.D

4.B

【解析】

试题分析：本文讲述了父母亲和孩子在一起的时间对孩子的成长的重要性，并建议父母亲多花时间和孩子在一起。

1.A 细节理解题。根据第二段前两句The study authors were surprised to discover that when fathers spent more time alone with their teenagers, the kids reported they felt better about themselves. Something about the father’s role in the family seemed to improve self-esteem among the teenagers in the study可知这些研究发现父亲在孩子的发展中起着更为重要的作用，能够发展孩子的自尊等社交技能。故A项正确。

2.C 态度意图题。根据第三段第三句But Marta Flaum, a psychologist in Chappaqua, New York, said, “How these findings reflect the real world is a real question.可知Marta Flaum认为这些发现是否反应的是真实情况还是一个问题。说明他对这一研究持怀疑的态度。故C项正确。

3.D 词义猜测题。根据本句However, Flaum encourages parents to make time for their kids no matter how much work they have to do. “Research like this reminds us of how important it is. Flaum还是鼓励父母亲多花时间与孩子在一起，这些研究也提醒我们这种做法非常重要。所以it指代D项内容。

4.

【名师点睛】

猜测词义题的解题技巧中有根据定义或上下文解释进行猜测的方法。有时短文中出现一个需要猜测其意义的词或短语，下面接着出现其定义或解释，这就是判断该词或短语意义的主要依据。例如：

Annealing is a way of making metal softer by heating it and then letting it cool very slowly.

句子给予annealing 以明确的定义，即“退火”。

It will be very hard but also very brittle — that is, it will break easily.

从后面that is(也就是说)的解释中我们可以了解到brittle是“脆”的意思。

The herdsman, who looks after sheep, earns about 650 yuan a year.

定语从句中 looks after sheep 就表明了herdsman的词义为“牧羊人”。

【考例】

（2009福建卷，E篇）73. The underlined words “tipping points” most probably refer to “_______”.

A. freezing points B. burning points

C. melting points D. boiling points

解析：C。请看原文：In his book, he had challenged readers to make deep cuts in personal emissions to keep the world from reaching extremely important tipping points, such as the melting（融化）of the ice sheets in Greenland or West Antarctica. 根据后一句的such as the melting（融化）of the ice sheets in Greenland or West Antarctica.可知tipping points的意思是“融点”。

结合本文第32题：The underlined word “crucial” in the first paragraph is closest in meaning to _____.根据文章第一段Remember, language learning is a combination of input + practice. As you're reading, you're taking in language naturally, and you're seeing how it all fits together.语言学习是输入和练习的融合，当我们在阅读的时候，我们在自然地吸收语言，同时我们能够理解语言是如何融合在一起的。这种阅读的过程对语言的学习是很重要的。所以该词等同于important。

考点：考查说明我们阅读