Question

While income worry is a rather common problem of the aged, loneliness is another problem that aged parents may face. Of all the reasons that explain their loneliness, a large geographical distance between parents and their children is the major one. This phenomenon is commonly known as “Empty Nest syndrome”.

In order to find better chances outside their countries, many young people have gone abroad, leaving their parents behind with no clear idea of when they will return home. Their parents spend countless lonely days and nights, taking care of themselves, in the hope that someday their children will come back to stay with them. The fact that most of these young people have gone to Europeanized or Americanized societies makes it unlikely that they will hold as tightly to the value of duty as they would have if they had not left their countries. Whatever the case, it has been noted that the values they hold do not necessarily match what the actually do. This geographical and cultural distance also prevents the grown-up children from providing response in time for their aged parents living by themselves.

The situation in which grown-up children live far away from their aged parents has been described as “distant parent phenomenon”, which is common both in developed countries and in developing countries. Our society has not yet been well prepared for “Empty Nest Syndrome”.

1.According to the passage, the loneliness of aged parents is mainly caused by ________.

A. their earlier experience of living alone

B. the poor living conditions in their native countries

C. the common worry that they have not saved much money

D. the distance between where parents live and where their children live

2.Many young people have gone abroad, leaving their aged parents behind, to ________.

A. realize their dreams in foreign countries  

B. seek a better place for their aged parents

C. live in the countries with more money    

D. continue their studies abroad

3.If young people go abroad, ________.

A. they do not hold to the value of duty at all

B. they can give some help to their parents back home

C. they cannot do what they should for their parents

D. they believe what they actually do is right

4.From the last paragraph, we can infer that ________.

A. the situations in the developed and developing countries are different

B. “Empty Nest Syndrome” has arrived unexpectedly in our society

C. children will become independent as soon as they go abroad

D. the aged parents are not fully prepared for “Empty Nest Syndrome”

5.The society discussed in the passage is most probably ________.

A. France         B. America          C. China          D. Britain

Answer

1.D

2.A

3.C

4.B

5.C

【解析】

试题分析：本文叙述了孤独是老年人面临的一个问题，许多年轻人出国的目的是为了在国外寻找更好的机会，孤独的一个主要原因是父母和孩子间地域上的距离造成的。当他们的父母需要帮助的时候，不能及时给予照顾，而现在的中国还没有准备好对付这种新的社会现象---空巢综合症。

1.根据第一段中“Of all the reasons that explain their loneliness, a large geographical distance between parents and their children is the major one.”孤独的一个主要原因是父母和孩子间地域上的距离造成的。故选D。

2.故选A。

3.故选C。

4.从文章的最后一句“Our society has not yet been well prepared for ‘Empty Nest Syndrome’.”我们的社会还没有准备好对付这种新的社会现象，可以推断出这中空巢综合症已经在预料之外来了。故选B。

5.

考点：考查社会现象类阅读