Being the youngest child has advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, babies are spoiled and often get away with behavior that other family members can’t. On the other hand, many youngest children feel that they never quite measure up to their more experienced and successful siblings (兄弟姐妹). To borrow a phrase from a famous comedian, they get no respect.
Some parents look on their youngest child as their last chance to do everything right, so the youngest may feel great performance pressure, similar to a firstborn. Other parents will never allow their last child to be unhappy, ever. In most families, however, the parents have more experience and are more likely to give them more freedom on such issues as developmental milestones, toilet training, dating, and so on. They are more confident that things will work out for the best, and their relationship with their lastborn is less intense than that with the older children.
Having some distance in their relationship with their parents can give the lastborn freedom to explore new ideas and new places, but if it is too great, the youngest children may feel disconnected, as though they don’t belong to the family.
Since lastborns are seldom the strongest or most capable during childhood, they often carve out a place for themselves by being clever and charming. Within the family, they know how to get along well with their siblings. They may become peacekeepers, but they’re also able to cause much trouble when it serves their purposes. Playing the “baby card” also allows them to avoid punishment for wrongdoing, for example, breaking a sibling’s toy.
Only with such a full understanding can you, as a parent, help your “baby” develop into a fully grown-up person.
1.What may dissatisfy the youngest child in the family?
A. Being given too much pressure by the parents.
B. Being looked down upon by the other family members.
C. Not getting along well with their siblings.
D. Feeling that they fail to do as well as their siblings.
2.In most families, the youngest child _______.
A. is expected to realize their parents’ unfinished dreams
B. lives a life of less pressure from their parents
C. is often ignored and forgotten by their parents
D. doesn’t like to get close to his / her parents
3.Which of the following characteristics may NOT appear in the lastborn during their childhood?
Strong-minded. B. Attractive. C. Sociable. D. Troublesome.
4.By talking about the characteristics of the youngest child, this passage ______.
A. gives parents some help in bringing up the youngest child
B. reminds parents to give the youngest child extra care
C. shows it is hard for the youngest child to succeed
D. calls on parents to treat the youngest child fairly
Have you come across much western children’s literature?
Most English speaking children grow up with the same delightful set of fictional (小说的) characters. The Winnie the Pooh stories involve a strange selections of animals such as a kangaroo, a pig, a donkey, a tiger, an owl and a bear, who live together in a wood, leading fairy ordinary lives. Far more exciting and dangerous events take place in The Wind in the Willows, the story of the foolish Mr. Toad and all his adventures.
Talking animals is also the main characters in The Jungle Book and the Just So Stories. In the latter we find lots of imaginative explanations as to why the world is like what it is.
Far more laughter comes from Roald Dahi’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Whillie Wonka is the perfect adult in the eyes of children with all his clever ideas and endless supply of sweets. Also much loved is Bilbo Baggins, the funny little rabbit, who ends up having adventures with wolves and dragons. Of course, the stories go on in the much more serious The Lord of the Rings, better read a few years later. A new star in the world of magic and children’s fiction is Harry Potter, the schoolboy who learns spells rather than maths. Adventures books remain popular, too. Although well over a century old now, Treasure Island is still an enthralling story with young Jim Hawkins dealing with secret maps and pirates. Such books make childhood a time of wonder and imagination.
1.Which of these is NOT mentioned as a character in The Winnie the Pooh stories?
A. B. C. D.
2.In which book would you expect to find the chapter “How the tiger got his stripes?”
A. The Wind in the Willows.
B. Just So Stories.
C. Treasure Island.
D. The Lord of the Rings.
3.Which of the following statements is NOT mentioned in the passage?
A. Treasure Island was written a long time ago.
B. Roald Dahi’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a light-hearted book.
C. The Lord of the Rings was published earlier than Harry Potter.
D. Jim Hawkins wrote Treasure Island.
4.The underlined word “enthralling” in paragraph 4 means___________.
A. disappointing B. modern C. interesting D. frightening
I looked up at the signs, trying to make sure which train I needed to take to Narita Airport. So I could catch the flight that would take me home to Canada. I was feeling the of my huge pack, which contained gifts for my family. The Japanese language was to me. You could imagine how hopeless I felt when I failed to see any symbol that familiar.
Just then, a woman stopped and asked in which way I wanted to go. She helped me the platform number, the price and the time of departure.
I thanked her. Having ten minutes left, she I join her for a quick tea. She told me she was born in Japan, spending a year backpacking in New York had let her experience the life of a woman alone. We excitedly traded stories but soon our chat was over. Her train was leaving. Before leaving, she hurriedly both our drinks. “Save your money,” she said.
I stood up and pulled the load once more onto my back. , she reappeared with a square box in white and red paper. She pushed the box into my . It was warm.
“For the train. Goodbye.” I had these specially prepared boxed meals for sale in the stations. They looked delicious but they were my budget.
As I waited on the platform, my pack didn’t feel heavy as before. Though I had been given one more to carry, I felt light-hearted with the taste of warm food, the of my homecoming and the generosity（慷慨）of a Japanese woman I ran into on the way. And I never even her name when she introduced herself.
1.A. pressure B. weight C. content D. value
2.A. attractive B. simple C. funny D. mysterious
3.A. sounded B. looked C. turned D. remained
4.A. English B. Japanese C. French D. Chinese
5.A. call for B. account for C. find out D. work out
6.A. demanded B. insisted C. wanted D. hoped
7.A. so B. and C. but D. or
8.A. working B. living C. traveling D. struggling
9.A. serious B. short C. constant D. private
10.A. drank up B. emptied out C. paid for D. filled with
11.A. At the same time B. By that time C. All of a sudden D. In time
12.A. hidden B. wrapped C. covered D. decorated
13.A. pack B. cups C. hands D. bottles
14.A. tasted B. seen C. touched D. smelt
15.A. about B. within C. upon D. beyond
16.A. any B. too C. as D. much
17.A. food B. pack C. burden D. gift
18.A. plan B. promise C. dream D. decision
19.A. unexpectedly B. unluckily C. hurriedly D. finally
20.A. caught B. forgot C. called D. asked
Only after they had discussed the matter for a few hours ______ a decision.
A. they reached B. did they reach C. they reach D. do they reach
— Why was it so noisy over there?
— The Twins were surrounded by their fans ____ they stepped out of the hall.
A. until B. the moment C. in case D. so that
Whatever he said, his parents wouldn’t _______ him joining the golf club, which annoyed him a great deal.
A. depend on B. approve of C. concentrate on D. let out
