Boomerang children who return to live with their parents after university can be good for families, leading to closer, more supportive relationships and increased contact between the generations, a study has found.
The findings contradict research published earlier this year showing that returning adult children trigger a significant decline in their parents’ quality of life and wellbeing.
The young adults taking part in the study were “more positive than might have been expected” about moving back home – the shame is reduced as so many of their peers are in the same position, and they acknowledged the benefits of their parents’ financial and emotional support. Daughters were happier than sons, often slipping back easily into teenage patterns of behaviour, the study found.
Parents on the whole were more uncertain, expressing concern about the likely duration of the arrangement and how to manage it. But they acknowledged that things were different for graduates today, who leave university with huge debts and fewer job opportunities.
The families featured in the study were middle-class and tended to view the achievement of adult independence for their children as a “family project”. Parents accepted that their children required support as university students and then as graduates returning home, as they tried to find jobs paying enough to enable them to move out and get on the housing ladder.
“However,” the study says, “day-to-day tensions about the prospects of achieving different dimensions of independence, which in a few extreme cases came close to conflict, characterised the experience of a majority of parents and a little over half the graduates”.
Areas of disagreement included chores, money and social life. While parents were keen to help, they also wanted different relationships from those they had with their own parents, and continuing to support their adult children allowed them to remain close.
1.What is the finding of the previous research?
A. Boomerang children made their parents happier.
B. The parents were looking forward to their children’s return.
C. The parents’ quality of life became worse than before.
D. Boomerang children never did any housework.
2.The underlined word “trigger” in Paragraph 2 may be best replaced by .
A. cause
B. defeat
C. arise
D. allow
3.What is the attitude of the college graduates towards returning home?
A. They are ashamed of turning to their parents for help.
B. They are glad that they could come back.
C. They are doubtful about whether they should return.
D. They are proud to be independent from the family.
4.What can be inferred as the reason for the “boomerang children” phenomenon?
A. The children want to keep in closer touch with their parents.
B. The parents are willing to provide support to their children.
C. It is harder for the children to secure a satisfying job.
D. There is more house work needed to be done by the children.
Abraham Lincoln, a self-taught lawyer, was elected 16th president of the United States in November 1860, shortly before the outbreak of the Civil War. Lincoln proved to be a smart military strategist and a competent leader: His Emancipation Proclamation(解放宣言) paved the way for slavery’s abolition, while his Gettysburg Address stands as one of the most famous speeches in American history. In April 1865, with the Union on the brink of victory, Abraham Lincoln was killed; his untimely death made him a hero to the cause of liberty, and he is widely regarded as one of the greatest presidents in U.S. history.
On January 20, 1981, Reagan took office. Only 69 days later he was shot by a would-be killer, but quickly recovered and returned to duty. His grace and wit during the dangerous incident caused his popularity to soar.
At the end of his two terms in office, Ronald Reagan viewed with satisfaction the achievements of his innovative program known as the Reagan Revolution, which aimed to motivate the American people and reduce their reliance upon Government. He felt he had fulfilled his campaign pledge of 1980 to restore “the great, confident roar of American progress and growth and optimism.”
When George W. Bush, at the age of 54, became the 43rd president of the United States, it was only the second time in American history that a president’s son went on to the White House. John Quincy Adams, elected the sixth president in 1824, was the son of John Adams, the second president. While John Adams had brought up his son to be president, George Bush, the 41st president, insisted he was surprised when the eldest of his six children became interested in politics, became governor of Texas, and then went on to the White House.
Barack Obama served as the 44th President of the United States. His story is the American story — values from the heartland, a middle-class upbringing in a strong family, hard work and education as the means of getting ahead, and the belief that a life so blessed should be lived in service to others.
With a father from Kenya and a mother from Kansas, President Obama was born in Hawaii on August 4, 1961. He was raised with help from his grandfather, who served in Patton’s army, and his grandmother, who worked her way up from the secretarial pool to middle management at a bank.
1.Of the four presidents, who is regarded as an excellent public speaker?
A. Abraham Lincoln.
B. Ronald Reagan.
C. George W. Bush.
D. Barack Obama.
2.When Donald Reagan left the White House, he felt that .
A. he regretted having been elected President
B. he still had much to do for the country
C. he had kept his promise to the people
D. he was becoming more popular with the people
3.Which of the following presidents took office first?
A. George W. Bush.
B. John Adams.
C. John Quincy Adams.
D. George Bush.
4.Of the four presidents, who successfully realized his American Dream?
A. Abraham Lincoln.
B. Ronald Reagan.
C. George W. Bush.
D. Barack Obama.
I can proudly say that last year I broke the record for the oldest person in the world to ride a roller-coaster. I’m 105, but I feel younger. Even the doctor agrees I’m in good condition. I’m a bit deaf and my legs feel weak, but they are the only issue.
I rode the Twistosaurus at Flamingo Land, which spins you round quite fast. I didn’t choose to go on that. I’d have preferred a really fast one that went upside down. But I was told I couldn’t ride something like that, because my blood pressure could drop and I might have some danger.
I wasn’t nervous — I don’t get frightened of anything. I was securely fastened, so I knew I wouldn’t fall out. The roller-coaster ride went on for three or four minutes, and it couldn’t be a better experience. And I raised a lot of money for the Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance fund, which was fantastic.
People were saying I’d got a place in the Guinness World Records. Later, someone came to present me with the certificate. I had it on the wall in my living room, with another one that got a year earlier.
My record-breaking ways really began a couple of years ago, with the ice-bucket challenge. It turned out that I was probably the oldest person in the world to do it, and the video was very popular. After that, I started to think about what else I could do to raise money for different charities.
I’m not sure if anyone admires all the fun I’m having. They just say I’m daft and that’s about it. But I’ve had many good days and many exciting times. I’ve had a really good life. I don’t think I’ve wasted any of it.
1.Why didn’t the author choose to go on riding the Twistosaurus?
A. Because he was in a bad physical condition.
B. Because he was told not to do so.
C. Because he considered it too gentle.
D. Because he thought it spun too fast.
2.How did the author most probably react while riding the roller-coaster?
A. He really enjoyed himself. B. He was very worried at first.
C. He couldn’t think much about it. D. He got frightened as it started moving.
3.What do you know about the author from Paragraph 4?
A. He was the oldest person in the world. B. He set a record the year before last year.
C. He disliked showing off his success. D. He was eager to get certificates.
4.What does the underlined word “daft” in the last paragraph probably mean?
A. healthy. B. strong.
C. crazy. D. funny.
Lovell Camps Kids’ Club in Switzerland
Lovell Camps Kids’ Club is an English language Montessori（蒙台梭利）style club. Children will enjoy a wonderful and safe learning experience which includes language activities, cooking, arts and crafts, singing, dancing, etc.
Learning outside the classroom plays a necessary role at Lovell Camps, making children experience the outdoors. During the summer months this can include visits to local playgrounds, farms and indoor or outdoor swimming pools. Winter time gives children the chance to go skiing and play outside in the snow.
Admission:
The Lovell Camps Kids’ Club is for pre-school children aged between 2 and 5.
What’s included:
Fees include: Healthy snacks and school equipment. If you choose the skiing activity, fees include transportation to and from the ski hill and professional ski instructions.
Fees do not include: Ski rentals, round-trip transportation from Kids’ Club to home and medical insurance.
Time:
Kids’ Club is open from December to March and in July and August. It is closed on Mondays during the year.
1.What is the special activity in summer?
A. Getting close to animals. B. Swimming in the pool.
C. Singing and dancing. D. Visiting farms.
2.Lovell Camps Kids’ Club is designed for 2- to 5-year-olds ____.
A. who are good at swimming B. who enjoy outdoor activities
C. who want to learn skiing D. who are interested in playing sports
3.For which of the following should kids pay extra?
A. Medical insurance. B. Healthy snacks.
C. School equipment. D. Transportation to the ski hill.
You never know what nature has prepared for you as a gift. Years ago, when walking alone on a beach in remote southwest Florida, I was so ______ to hear splashes（水溅声）coming from the water. As I walked in the ______ of the sounds, I saw a manatee(海牛)show its head out of the water, ______ a great snuffling(带鼻音的)breath. It seemed that it was in _______ and trying to get out of it.
I’d never seen a ______ like this before. I wanted to ask for help, but there was no one ______ . So I went into the shallow water and went toward the animal. I came______ enough to make out the manatee. Then, a second manatee, much smaller, appeared beside it.______, the other manatees were also moving toward me. Soon Iwas _______ by several manatees. I could clearly see the larger manatee ______ the little one up with her flipper(鳍状肢)and pushed it to the surface beside me.
As the two slipped underwater, two other manatees moved up from behind, one on either side,____ gently against my body as they swam past. They circled and _______ the action, this time ______ by the mother and her baby. I held my hand out touching their back as they passed me. Since they obviously enjoyed touching me, I began _______ each of them as they swam by.
I stood there enjoying the scene, ______ to move, until finally the rising tide ______ me back to the shore. Later I knew exactly what took place that morning. The manatees involved me in their celebration of a birth and I was welcome to meetthe ______ member of their family.
During that unexpected scene, I felt more involved in the rhythms of _______ on our earth than ever. Each year, I head for that _______ for a quiet little birthday picnic on the shore. After all, you never know who might _______ up for your party.
1.A. frustrated B. surprised C. embarrassed D. disappointed
2.A. direction B. condition C. middle D. side
3.A. making out B. putting out C. coming out D. letting out
4.A. force B. trouble C. loss D. action
5.A. look B. feel C. scene D. smell
6.A. in hand B. in sight C. in the way D. in the distance
7.A. close B. soon C. quick D. straight
8.A. Luckily B. Personally C. Unexpectedly D. Sadly
9.A. watched B. surrounded C. attacked D. separated
10.A. turn B. eat C. throw D. hold
11.A. rubbing B. preventing C. surfing D. comforting
12.A. practiced B. changed C. repeated D. showed
13.A. seen B. followed C. taught D. ordered
14.A. moving B. hitting C. catching D. touching
15.A. unwilling B. ready C. unable D. afraid
16.A. invited B. forbade C. forced D. helped
17.A. best B. oldest C. toughest D. newest
18.A. life B. music C. world D. development
19.A. boat B. hill C. beach D. manatee
20.A. build B. show C. look D. step
阅读下列材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（一个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式．
For those who love travel， particularly rail travel， China in 1987 was a can't﹣miss kind of place． In1987， China was still operating steam trains on some rail routes，1.made people from many countries amazed． Bruce Connolly， a photographer from Scotland， 2.（be） one of them．
Connolly first came to China in 1987，3. （start） his continuous travelling throughout China． Since then， he 4. （travel） to most parts of China except Fujian， Zhejiang and Jiangxi． Wherever he went， his camera remained by his side． During his journeys in China， Connolly found China very different from 5.he saw in photographs， which showed Chinese people very religious in the way they dressed and behaved．6.， what he saw was that people were 7. （friend）， welcoming and wore bright clothes． In the early years of his journey， most Chinese people were fascinated with foreigners visiting China， but now that has changed in cities such as Beijing and Shanghai， foreigners are no longer8. （ curious）．
Another dramatic change that Connolly has felt in China is 9.． widespread use of new technology． China has become one of the most tech﹣savvy（懂技术的）societies． People now do everything with10. （they） smartphones， and use of cash is almost disappearing．
