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 they 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：文章讲的是一种社会现象--“空巢综合征”。无论是发达国家还是发展中国家，都出现了“空巢”现象，年轻人离开父母甚至出国谋求发展，留下父母在家里独自生活，他们盼着儿女早日归来，由于无人照顾，他们难免会出现孤独感。

1.a large geographical distance between parents and their children is the major one”可知，父母和孩子之间相距太远，是造成老人孤独的一个主要原因，故选D。

2.In order to find better chances outside their countries, many young people have gone abroad”可知，许多年轻人撇下年迈的父母，出国寻找更好的发展机会，故选A。

3.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 they actually do.”可知，在国外的年轻人不像在国内那样保有孝敬父母的传统观念，赡养父母的义务变得不是那么的具有强制性；另外，由于身在国外，年轻人无法尽到做子女吃的义务，故选C。

4.Our society has not yet been well prepared for “Empty Nest Syndrome”.”可知，我们国家还没有做好进入老龄化社会、迎接“空巢综合征”的各项准备工作，故选B。

5.most of these young people have gone to Europeanized or Americanized societies”可知，大多数年轻人去往欧洲或北美的发达国家，排除A、B、D，故选C。

考点：社会类短文阅读