Question

    It is most difficult for parents to decide to have a second child. Someone says that a single child is likely to be a lonely child. There are no other children in the family for the child to talk or play with. An only child is not able to get along well with children of his age. Some parents regretted（后悔）making the decisions to have only one child.

But the number of parents choosing to have only one child is increasing in many parts of the world. In the US, for example, more than 14 percent of women between 18 and 34 plan to have just one child. The same can be seen in the UK. In Japan, the average number of children born per family had gone down to 1.42 by 1996.

For some single child parents, especially who are busy working every day, time and energy seem to be overwhelming（势不可挡的） They don't have enough time and energy to share with more children. For other people, money is their first consideration（考虑）. Many couples in Japan choose not to have large families because the cost of supporting a child up to the age of 18 reaches around US $ 160,000.

1.According to the passage, why is a single child likely to be lonely?

A.Because his parents don't love him.

B.Because he doesn't have holidays.

C.Because he doesn't have a brother or a sister to talk or play with.

D.Because there are other children in the family.

2.What do people not think about when they choose to have a second child?

A.Time. B.Food. C.Money. D.Energy.

3.Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A.It is not easy to make a decision to have a second child.

B.Many couples in Japan love to have large families.

C.All parents feel confident about having a second child.

D.Less than 14% of women in the UK plan to have just one child.

4.The main idea of the passage is           .

A.the cost of supporting a child is so high.

B.parents can't share their time and energy with more children.

C.some parents regretted making the decisions to have only one child.

D.the reasons for parents not to have a second child.

Answer

1.C

2.B

3.A

4.D

【解析】

短文讲述了当前家庭是否决定生育二胎的情况。独生子往往不能和他的同龄人好好相处；有些父母后悔当初决定只有一个孩子，但由于教育费用的增加等等因素，选择独生子女的家庭越来越多，如美国、英国、日本等。

1.细节理解题。根据短文第二段“Someone says that a single child is likely to be a lonely child. There are no other children in the family for the child to talk or play with.”可知，很多孩子没有兄弟姐妹，所以感到孤独。故选C。

2.推理判断题。根据短文最后一段“They don't have enough time and energy to share with more children. For other people, money is their first consideration”可知，在二胎问题上，父母考虑的没有“food”问题。故选B。

3.细节理解题。根据短文第一段“It is most difficult for parents to decide to have a second child.”可知，决定要第二个孩子是非常困难的，故选项A正确；根据最后一段“Many couples in Japan choose not to have large families because…$ 160,000.”可知日本的许多夫妇不喜欢有大家庭，故选项B错误； 根据第二、三段内容可知，一些家长对要二胎不自信，故选项C错误；根据第二段“In the US, for example, more than 14 percent .... The same can be seen in the UK.”可知是超过14%的18岁至34岁的英国女人计划要一个孩子，故选项D错误。故选A。

4.主旨大意题。短文主要讲述了当前家庭是否决定生育二胎的情况，由于教育费用的增加等因素，选择独生子女的家庭越来越多；结合选项，“the reasons for parents not to have a second child. 父母不生二胎的原因。”符合要求。故选D。