Question

I always feel sorry for world leaders busy dealing with fights between nations.When my three children were young，most days it was hard to keep my house from becoming a battlefield.

It got worse as they grew older.Three years ago，Zack，then 16，couldn’t make it through a day without making his sisters，Alex 11 and Taryn 9，angry.

My husband and I tried to be understanding the boy at such an age.We reasoned，punished，and left heartfelt notes on his bed about how he was hurting our family.His answer was “I say it because it’s true.”

I even tried telling the girls to fight back.Bad idea.Now I had three children at war.Whatever I said to them，they paid no attention.When there was no way out，I told everything to my sister，Mary，in an e­mail.She replied，“Don’t e­mail me.E­mail him.”

Our son was online every day，mailing and talking with his friends.Maybe he would actually hear me this way.I didn’t say anything different，but e­mail just took the tension away.There’d be no shouting or door banging.Zack wouldn’t feel under attack.

Zack didn’t reply for days.When he finally did，his entire message was four small words.I smiled when I read them：“You’re right.I’m sorry.”

The children still fought，of course，but Zack changed.Best of all，I now have a better way to talk with not one but three of them.I like it that they don’t tune me out as much as they used to.They like not having to listen to me shouting to them.Or as Alex says，“You’re so much nicer online.”

All I know is that the house is quiet.But we’re talking.

1.What was the trouble before the online talk in the family?

A. The children couldn’t get along peacefully.

B. The writer failed to understand her daughters.

C. The family found it difficult to keep the house clean.

D. The parents were not willing to talk with their children.

2.The writer e­mailed her sister         .

A. to escape from the problem

B. hoping she’d e­mail the boy

C. to tell her about the family problem

D. asking about child­raising

3.The underlined phrase “tuneme out” in the passage probably means “        ”．

A. pay no attention to me

B. get angry with me

C. quarrel with me

D. keep me out of their rooms

4.Why does the writer feel sorry for world leaders busy dealing with fights between nations?

A. Because she doesn’t think the leaders are successful.

B. Because she doesn’t think fights can be stopped.

C. Because she has nothing to do with the leaders.

D. Because she can understand that the leaders’ job is hard.

Answer

1.A

2.C

3.A

4.D

【解析】作者在本文中介绍了自己处于叛逆期的儿子和父母、姐妹相处不好而给自己造成的烦恼。后来作者的姐姐给作者出主意，让作者给儿子发电子邮件，收到了很好的效果。

1.细节理解题。根据第二段中的“Three years ago，Zack，then 16，couldn’t make it through a day without making his sisters，Alex 11 and Taryn 9，angry.”可知，在作者给儿子发邮件之前的日子里，孩子们不能和平相处。所以选A。

2.细节理解题。根据第四段中的“When there was no way out，I told everything to my sister，Mary，in an e­mail.”可知，作者在没有办法解决的情况下，给姐姐发了邮件说这个问题。所以选C。

3.词义猜测题。根据第四段中的“Whatever I said to them，they paid no attention.”可知，在以前孩子们不理会作者说的话，再根据划线词后的“as much as they used to”可知，本题答案为A项。

4.推理判断题。根据第一段中的“When my three children were young，most days it was hard to keep my house from becoming a battlefield.”可知，作者之所以理解国家领导人的难处，是因为无法处理孩子们之间的矛盾。所以选D。