Question

Many children first learn the value of money by receiving an allowance. The purpose is to let children learn from experience at an age when financial mistakes are not very costly.

The amount of money that parents give to their children to spend as they wish differs from family to family. Timing is another consideration. Some children get a weekly allowance. Others get a monthly allowance.

In any case, parents should make clear what, if anything, the child is expected to pay for with the money.

At first, young children may spend all of their allowance soon after they receive it. If they do this, they will learn the hard way that spending must be done within a budget. Parents are usually advised not to offer more money until the next allowance. The object is to show young people that a budget demands choices between spending and saving. Older children may be responsible enough to save money for larger costs, like clothing or electronics.

Allowances give children a chance to experience the things they can do with money. They can share it in the form of gifts or giving to a good cause. They can spend it by buying things they want. Or they can save and maybe even invest (投资) it.

Saving helps children understand that costly goals require sacrifice: you have to cut costs and plan for the future. Requiring children to save part of their allowance can also open the door to future saving and investing. Many banks offer services to help children and teenagers learn about personal finance. A savings account is an excellent way to learn about the power of compound interest (利息). That may not seem like a lot. But over time it adds up.

1. Parents give their children allowance to ________.

A. show off their wealth 

B. let them make more money

C. let children manage family finance

D. learn the value of money

2. Why are parents advised not to offer young children more money in advance?

A. To show them how to make a budget.

B. To save money for larger costs.

C. To let children make fewer mistakes

D. To give them more allowance next time.

3. What can we learn from the last paragraph?

A. Children need not save their allowance.

B. Saving can help children plan future finance.

C. Children can buy everything with their allowance.

D. All children must have a savings account.

4. The author intends to ________.

A. make parents aware of the children’s allowances

B. show the methods of investing

C. give advice on how to save money

D. introduce the advantages of allowances

Answer

1.D

2.A

3.B

4.A

【解析】

试题分析：文章介绍父母给儿童零花钱让他们学会理财，父母应该严格按照规定给孩子零花钱，这样可以帮助孩子学会做预算，还要学会存钱。

1.D细节理解题。从文章第一段的句子：Many children first learn the value of money by receiving an allowance (pocket money).可知父母给孩子零花钱是为了让他们了解钱的价值，选D。

2.A 细节题理解题。从文章第三段的句子：Parents are usually advised not to offer more money until the next allowance. The object is to show young people that a budget demands a choice between spending and saving.可知父母被建议严格按照规定给孩子零花钱，因为这样可以帮助孩子学会做预算，选A

3.B 段落大意题。根据最后一段Saving helps children understand that costly goals require sacrifice: you have to cut costs and plan for the future. 可知最后一段主要告诉孩子们节省有助于他们更好的管理和经营自己未来的经济，学会理财。故选B。

4.A 主旨大意题。通过全文可看出，作者的意图是希望引起父母对于孩子零花钱的注意，以培养他们正确的理财观。故选A。

【名师点睛】

找主题句的四个小窍门：

1.段落中出现表转折的词语(如however, but, in fact, actually, while, on the contrary, in contrast等)时，其后的句子很可能是主题句。

2.首段很有可能就是主题段，里面肯定有主题句。

3.作者有意识地反复强调的观点，通常是主旨;反复出现的词语，一般为体现文章主旨的关键词。

4.表示总结或结论的话常有therefore，thus， in short，conclude， conclusion等。

考点：考查教育类短文。