Question

Chores: Good for Kids, Good for You

A recent study showed that most adults did household chores when they were young. 1. Kids nowadays spend a good deal of their time on homework and after-school activities.

An expert said, “Parents today want their kids to spend time on things that can bring them respect. We have stopped doing the one thing that has proven to bring success. 2.”

One study found that young adults who began chores at ages 3 and 4 were more likely to succeed. Compared to no-chore kids, they had better family relations, did better in school, did better at work and were more self-confident.Personal happiness is said to come from strong relationships. It begins by learning to be kind and helpful at home.

If your kids say they have to skip chores to do homework, do not let them off the hook. 3. “What may seem like small messages at the moment,” an expert says, “add up to big messages over time.”

Here are some important ideas from experts：

4. Thank young children for being a “helper,” not just “helping”. It creates a positive identity.

Schedule chore time. Write down chores on a calendar that everyone can see (for example, posted in the kitchen).

Game it. Start small and have young children earn new “levels” of responsibilities, such as going from sorting clothes to earning the right to use the washing machine.

Keep allowances and chores separate. Do not make chores a business trade.

Do chores as shared tasks. 5.

Give chores a PR (public relations) boost. Do not tie chores to punishments. If you complain about doing the dishes,so will your children.

A. Watch your language.

B. That is doing household chores.

C. Instead of saying, “Do your chores,” say, “let’s do our chores.”

D. But the same study showed that most kids today do not do household chores.

E. You shouldn’t tell your child that grades are more important than caring about others

Answer

1. D

2. B

3. E

4. A

5. C

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。短文介绍了孩子做家务的益处以及如何让孩子不逃避做家务提出了几点建议。

1.由“Kids nowadays spend a good deal of their time on homework and after-school activities.”可知，现在的孩子把大量的时间花在家庭作业和课外活动上。所以小题1一定与前一句话是转折关系，才会把话题引到本句话上来。所以D选项“但同一项研究显示，如今大多数孩子不做家务”，符合句意。故D选项正确。

2.由“We have stopped doing the one thing that has proven to bring success ”可知，我们已经阻止做一件被证明能带来成功的事情。所以小题2要说明能带来成功的事情是什们。故B选项“ 这就是做家务”符合题意。故B选项正确。

3.由“If your kids say they have to skip chores to do homework, do not let them off the hook ”可知，如果你的孩子说他们为了做作业不得不跳过杂务，不要让他们逃脱责任。所以小题3要接着说父母不要帮助他们为不做家务找借口，以此给孩子树立正确的家务观。故E选项“你不应该告诉你的孩子成绩比关心别人更重要”符合句意。故E选项正确。

4.由“Thank young children for being a “helper,” not just “helping”.”可知， 感谢孩子们成为“帮手”，而不仅仅是“帮忙”。所以这是在告诉父母要注意语言。故A选项“ 注意语言”符合局域。故A选项正确

5.由“Do chores as shared tasks ”可知，把做家务作为共同的任务。所以小题5要说明不要说一些让孩子觉得做家务不是共同的任务的语言，而是要说一些让孩子把做家务作为共同的任务的语言。故C选项“不要说“做家务”，而要说“让我们做家务吧”符合句意。故C选项正确。