Question

    Children should do housework. That’s a controversial idea, though not everyone will admit it. A few parents will declare that their children are too busy for housework. Many more of us assign housework, or say we believe in them, but the housework just doesn’t get done.

That' s a problem. For starters, housework is good for kids. Being a part of the routine work of running a household helps children develop an awareness of the needs of others, while at the same time contributing to their emotional well-being.

One small study, done over a period of 25 years, found that the best predictor for young adults success in their mid-20s was whether they participated in household tasks at age 3 or 4. Those early shared responsibilities extended to a sense of responsibility in other areas of their lives.

But for all that their help matters, few kids are doing much around the house at all. In a survey of 1, 000 American adults, 75 percent said they believed regular housework made kids "more responsible”. Yet while 82 percent reported having had regular housework growing up, only 56 percent of those with children said they required them to do housework.

Sports and homework are not get-out-of-housework-free cards. The goal, after all, is to raise adults who can balance a caring role in their families and communities with whatever lifetime achievement goals they choose. Housework teaches that balance.

What should you do when getting children to do housework? Accept no excuses. Don’t worry if you must repeat yourself again and again. If you’re spending more time getting the child to do this job than it would take to do it yourself, then you’re doing it right. Can an allowance help? Maybe. But if you’re trying to teach kids to share the responsibility of a home, paying them for routine housework is not the right message.

1.What is most parents’ problem with children doing housework?

A.They are against the idea. B.They fail to put it into practice.

C.They doubt the possibility of it. D.They are finding excuses for their children.

2.Why does the author mention the small study?

A.To state the reasons for early success.

B.To give examples of some successful people.

C.To prove doing housework is beneficial.

D.To suggest kids take responsibility for their behavior.

3.According to the survey of American adults, how many of them used to do housework as children?

A.820 B.560.

C.750. D.440

4.Why does the author write the last paragraph?

A.To criticize some irresponsible parents.

B.To discuss the impact of a good family atmosphere.

C.To advise parents to spend more time with their kids.

D.To offer parents some advice on assigning children housework.

Answer

1.B

2.C

3.A

4.D

【解析】

本文是说明文。作者认为孩子应该分担家务，这不仅有利于培养他们的责任心，而且能提升他们的幸福感。而且家务能够让孩子在家庭和社区中的关爱角色与他们选择的任何终身成就目标之间取得平衡，文章最后说明一些关于分配孩子做家务的建议。

1.细节理解题。根据第一段中的A few parents will declare that their children are too busy for housework. Many more of us assign housework, or say we believe in them, but the housework just doesn’t get done.（一些父母会说他们的孩子太忙了，没有时间做家务。我们中更多的人会分配家务，或说我们相信他们，但家务就是做不完。）可知少数家长觉得孩子学业太忙无暇做家务，但多数家长即便认为孩子该做家务，实际生活中也没有很好地付诸实践。可知对大多数父母来说让孩子做家务存在的问题是他们没有把它付诸实践。故选B。

2.推理判断题。根据第三段最后一句Those early shared responsibilities extended to a sense of responsibility in other areas of their lives.（那些早期共同承担的责任扩展到了他们生活的其他领域。）可知文章在第二段介绍了孩子做家务的好处，第三段用一项研究具体阐释了第二段的内容。该研究表明，孩子幼时做家务预示着成年后较早成功，因为做家务过程中培养出的责任感会迁移到生活的其他方面。可知作者提到研究是为了证明让孩子做家务是有益的。故选C。

3.细节理解题。根据第四段中Yet while 82 percent reported having had regular housework growing up, only 56 percent of those with children said they required them to do housework.（然而，82%的人称自己在成长过程中经常做家务，而只有56%的有孩子的人称自己需要孩子做家务。）可知，参与调查的1000个人中，82%的人说自己成长过程中经常做家务，即有820人小时候做过家务。故选A。

4.推理判断题。最后一段的首句What should you do when getting children to do housework?（要让孩子做家务时你应该做什么?）是本段的主题句，作者在本段就“如何让孩子参与到家务事中”向家长提供了建议。可知作者写的最后一段是给父母一些关于分配孩子做家务的建议。故选D。