More than half of the parents in the United States are helping, or have helped, support their adult children who have been hit by high unemployment and poor wages(工资), according to a new survey. It showed that present economic conditions are discouraging young adults from leaving home and forcing those who have already gone, so-called boomerang kids, to return.
“Parents are continuing their financial involvement longer than we expected,” said Ted Beck, president of National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE).
About 60 percent of parents questioned in the survey said they’re helping their adult children who are no longer in school financially. Half are providing housing and nearly half are helping with living expenses.
For an increasing number of adult children, the situation is bad. Two-thirds of adult children, aged 18 to 39, who are not in school said they faced tougher financial pressures than previous generations, according to the survey. And nearly one-third of parents agreed that it was easier for them to find their financial feet than for their children.
Parents are helping their children out of genuine concern because they do not want to see them struggle. But Beck said that parents who make sacrifices(牺牲) to help their adult children should be careful about their own finances.
“If you are taking on extra debt or delaying(推迟) retirement to help your adult child, you could be making a mistake and putting your own financial future in danger,” Beck warned.
Boomerang children can also cause other problems for their parents. Thirty percent of parents said they had given up privacy since their adult children moved back home, while more than a quarter have taken on added debt, and seven percent have delayed retirement. But the survey also showed 42 percent of adult children living at home are helping with the cooking and cleaning.
1.According to the text, boomerang kids refer to ____.
A.married adult children
B.grown-ups living with parents
C.adult children independent and successful in life
D.young adults depending on parents for financial support
2.According to the survey, we can infer that _____.
A.about 30% of parents offer their adult children housing
B.one-third of adult children earn money more easily than their parents
C.two-thirds of adult children are faced with financial problems in school
D.about 50% of parents give money to their adult children to cover the daily cost
3.What is Ted Beck’s suggestion to the parents?
A.Asking their children to help with the housework.
B.Being careful when helping their children financially.
C.Leaving their children to struggle to live.
D.Putting off their time of retirement.
4.What would be the best title for the text?
A.Adult children are less independent B.Parents help support adult children
C.Bad conditions affect children a lot D.Adult children like living with parents
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题
More than half of the parents in the United States are helping, or have helped, support their adult children who have been hit by high unemployment and poor wages(工资), according to a new survey. It showed that present economic conditions are discouraging young adults from leaving home and forcing those who have already gone, so-called boomerang kids, to return.
“Parents are continuing their financial involvement longer than we expected,” said Ted Beck, president of National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE).
About 60 percent of parents questioned in the survey said they’re helping their adult children who are no longer in school financially. Half are providing housing and nearly half are helping with living expenses.
For an increasing number of adult children, the situation is bad. Two-thirds of adult children, aged 18 to 39, who are not in school said they faced tougher financial pressures than previous generations, according to the survey. And nearly one-third of parents agreed that it was easier for them to find their financial feet than for their children.
Parents are helping their children out of genuine concern because they do not want to see them struggle. But Beck said that parents who make sacrifices(牺牲) to help their adult children should be careful about their own finances.
“If you are taking on extra debt or delaying(推迟) retirement to help your adult child, you could be making a mistake and putting your own financial future in danger,” Beck warned.
Boomerang children can also cause other problems for their parents. Thirty percent of parents said they had given up privacy since their adult children moved back home, while more than a quarter have taken on added debt, and seven percent have delayed retirement. But the survey also showed 42 percent of adult children living at home are helping with the cooking and cleaning.
1.According to the text, boomerang kids refer to ____.
A.married adult children
B.grown-ups living with parents
C.adult children independent and successful in life
D.young adults depending on parents for financial support
2.According to the survey, we can infer that _____.
A.about 30% of parents offer their adult children housing
B.one-third of adult children earn money more easily than their parents
C.two-thirds of adult children are faced with financial problems in school
D.about 50% of parents give money to their adult children to cover the daily cost
3.What is Ted Beck’s suggestion to the parents?
A.Asking their children to help with the housework.
B.Being careful when helping their children financially.
C.Leaving their children to struggle to live.
D.Putting off their time of retirement.
4.What would be the best title for the text?
A.Adult children are less independent B.Parents help support adult children
C.Bad conditions affect children a lot D.Adult children like living with parents
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Scientists estimate that more than 60 percent of cancer deaths in the United States are preventable through lifestyle changes. Although there is no certain way to avoid all cancers, reducing individual risk factors greatly decreases the likelihood of getting many forms of this dangerous disease.
The American Chemical Society estimates that smoking causes nearly 30 percent of all cancer deaths in the United States — that is, about 166,000 cancer deaths each year. All cancer deaths caused by tobacco smoking could be prevented completely by not smoking and not using smokeless tobacco. For those who already smoke, quitting will reduce the risk of developing cancer. Studies show that after about ten years of not smoking, a past smoker’s risk lowers to about the level of those who have never smoked.
After quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet is the best way to lower the risk of cancer. Certain foods have been found to protect against cancer. Among these foods are cabbages, tomatoes, soy products, and foods high in vitamins A, C, and E. In addition, green and possibly black teas contain compounds that protect the body from cancer-causing substance.
To lower cancer risk, diets should include little or no red meat. Other foods to avoid or consume in moderation (适度地) include sugar, fat from animal products, and salt. Added fats and oils should come from vegetables, such as olives or corn, rather than from animal sources. Carbohydrates (碳水化合物) should come from whole grains, such as brown rice and whole wheat bread, rather than from processed foods, such as white rice and white bread.
The risk of cancer of the esophagus (食道) increases with heavy alcohol consumption, and many studies suggest that consuming alcoholic drinks increases the risk of breast cancer as well. Studies show that limiting intake to two drinks a day for men, and one drink per day for women, reduces cancer risk.
Low levels of physical activity have been implicated (牵连) in some cancer. Moderate activity for 30 minutes a day enhances the immune system, shortens the time food takes to move through the intestines (肠), and changes body composition and hormone levels. Researchers are studying how these effects might lower cancer risk.
1.Which of the following is true according to the author?
A. A person drinking tea regularly will not be likely to suffer from cancer.
B. Once a smoker has stopped smoking, there is almost no chance for cancers.
C. A balanced diet is absolutely effective in preventing one from getting cancer.
D. Those having quitted smoking for 10 years and non-smokers have less cancer risk.
2.What kind of people increase their chances of getting cancers?
A. Those whose foods contain less sugar, animal fat, and salt.
B. Those who are not moderate in drinking, smoking or eating.
C. Those who have only one or two drinks regularly per day.
D. Those whose diet contains little red meat and a lot of vegetables.
3.Which do you think is the best title for this passage?
A. The relation between food and disease. B. Causes of different kinds cancers.
C. Tips on lifestyle for cancer prevention. D. Ways to remain more healthy.
4.We can infer from the last paragraph that _______.
A. food’s staying in body too long might have something to do with cancer
B. the reasons why physical activity lowers cancer risk are clear
C. the more you exercise, the lower cancer risk you will take
D. plenty of physical exercise is most important for remaining healthy
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
More than one million single-use straws (吸管), most of them plastic, are used in the United States each day. They end up in waterways, harm sea animals, and break down into micro-plastics. Quantities of places have passed plastic-straw bans as a way to start handling the global plastic waste problem.
Straw materials: advantages and disadvantages
1. Metal
Made of stainless steel, aluminum, or even titanium, metal straws have become popular. They draw some criticism for having a metallic taste and conducting heat from a hot drink, but they’re strong and can be reused.
2. Paper
Paper drinking straws, which date from the late 1800s, often absorb liquid over time and can leave a taste or fibers in drinks. They’re the most popular throwaway choice in places with plastic-straw bans.
3. Glass
Though glass straws may be more breakable and thus less portable than reusable straws of other materials, they hold up well to washing and reuse. Some straws are made to look artistic, with colors and blown-glass designs.
4. Bamboo
This natural material can be sustainably produced and is a plant-based replacement of plastic straws. Bamboo straws are easily disposed of and turned into fertilizer. They are reusable but can be hard to clean completely and may absorb flavors.
1.What is the major problem with plastic straws?
A.Function. B.Flavor.
C.Weight. D.Pollution.
2.Which of the following belongs to single-use straws?
A.Metal straw. B.Paper straw.
C.Glass straw. D.Bamboo straw.
3.What is the advantage of the bamboo straw?
A.It can become fertilizer. B.It is easy to clean.
C.It is portable and bendable. D.It has different designs.
高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
As the United States nears the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks that killed more than 3,000 people, President Obama announced Sunday night that the al Qaeda(基地组织) leader and mastermind of that horrific day, Osama bin Laden, has been killed.
CNN reports that a senior government official confirmed that bin Laden was shot by a small team of U.S. soldiers while in a mansion with family members outside Islamabad(伊斯兰堡). His body is now in American custody(拘押) and is being handled according to Islamic customs. Three other adult men were killed in the firefight, including a son of bin Laden's, who was a senior member of the terrorist organization.
"Justice has been done," the president announced, saying that the operation he ordered after receiving intelligence information is "the most significant achievement to date in our nation's effort to defeat al-Qaeda."
The immediate reactions ranged from cautious to ecstatic. Crowds cheered outside the White House. But officials said a "worldwide caution" would be set for Americans in case of al Qaeda retaliation(报复).
Will bin Laden's death be the justice Americans have sought for nearly a decade?
Gordon Felt, president of Families of Flight 93, said it does bring comfort.
"This is important news for us, and for the world. It cannot ease our pain, or bring back our loved ones. It does bring a measure of comfort that the mastermind of the September 11th tragedy and the face of global terror can no longer spread his evil," Felt said.
President Obama says this victory does not close the book.
"His death does not mark the end of our effort. There's no doubt that al Qaeda will continue to pursue attacks against us. We must and we will remain cautious," he noted.
1.The underlined word “ecstatic” most probably means _________.
A. scared B. extremely happy and excited
C. doubtful D. amazed
2.The author mentions all of the items listed below EXCEPT_________.
A. Four people were killed in the firefight.
B. Families of the victims in the 9/11 attacks celebrated together.
C. President Obama thought highly of the Anti-Terrorist Military Action
D. Obama thought that al Qaeda will continue attack against the United States.
3.It can be inferred from the text _________.
A. The 9/11 attacks happened on September 11, 2001.
B. Osama bin Laden has three sons.
C. Some soldiers were injured in the firefight.
D. More than 3000 people were killed in the 9/11 attacks.
4.From the last paragraph we can learn that _________.
A. Osama bin Laden’s death will put an end to terrorism.
B. President Obama doesn’t think bin Laden's death is a victory.
C. The United States will make efforts to defeat the al-Qaeda
D. The al Qaeda has a new leader now.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
China is now sending more college students to study in the United States than any other country. A new report shows a 23 percent increase in the number of Chinese students coming to the U.S.
The latest edition of the annual Institute of International Education (IIE) and another US institute found a 5 percent rise in the number of international university students in the US compared to one year ago. There are now over 157, 000 Chinese students at U.S. colleges and universities.
Asia accounted for four of the top five countries and regions to take advantage of the US higher education system. “Increased numbers of students from China, particularly at the undergraduate level, largely accounts for the growth this past year,” the report stated. “They really enroll in a full range of US higher education,” said Peggy Blumenthal, senior counselor to the president of IIE, the group that made the report. “20 years ago, students from China only knew of a handful of US institutions, but now, they are enrolling in our community colleges, in our small liberal arts institutions, in the research universities. Really spread across the country,” she said.
Chinese mainland was in the number one spot, while India was the number two country of origin. South Korea was the third and Canada was number four. China’s Taiwan held the number five spot. Saudi Arabia was in sixth with a 44-percent increase, while Japan was seventh, down 14 percent.
Blumenthal associates the increase in the number of Chinese students heading to US colleges to limited university places in China, as well as a feeling from students and their parents than they want a “unique” educational experience. China’s family planning policy, says Blumenthal, has also meant that families can concentrate resources on a single child.
The University of California at Los Angeles has one of the largest Asian student populations of any college in the United States.
1. Which ranked the third place sharing US higher education?
A. Saudi Arabia B. South Korea
C. Canada D. India
2.Why is the number of Chinese students going to the US increasing?
A. The US colleges are better than those in China.
B. Each family in China has only one child.
C. China lacks enough educational resources.
D. Chinese students can enter varieties of US colleges.
3.Which of the following is right according to Peggy Blumenthal?
A. The number of Chinese students going to the US has increased by 23%.
B. The University of California has contributed to Asian education greatly.
C. Chinese student populations in the US mainly consist of undergraduates.
D. Chinese students know more about US higher education than before.
4. The best title for the passage can be ________.
A. Chinese College Students Rush to US Schools
B. The Large Number of Chinese Students in the US
C. Chinese Students Make Up Largely Foreign Students in the US
D. Asian Middle School Students in the US Universities
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
More than one million children in the United States do not go to school. Instead, they learn at home. Most often, their parents are their teachers. Educational companies, libraries and the Internet provide many families with teaching materials.
Parents choose home schooling for several reasons. Some choose it because of their religious beliefs. Others say it provides more time for the family to be together. They say the home offers a better place for learning. Some parents believe home schooling avoids learning. Some parents believe home schooling avoids problems of national schools. Critics, however, say children need to attend school with other children.
All fifty American states and the District of Columbia permit home schooling. Some states do not require much preparation by parents or testing of children. Other states have more requirements for home schooling. Home schooling in the United States began when the country was established. In farm areas, people often lived far from a school. Widespread home schooling took place until about the middle of the nineteenth century. Then, in 1852, the state of Massachusetts passed the first law requiring children to attend school.
Over the years, the American public education system strengthened and grew. By the 1960s and 1970s, however, some Americans believed that traditional education was not helping their children. So a number of parents began home schooling.
Home schooling expert Linda Dobson says many people have helped the movement grow. She says many kinds of people have joined the movement. These include rich people and poor people. They represent many races, religions and political beliefs. Ms. Dobson says the number of home-schooled children has increased an estimated fifteen to twenty percent each year during the last fifteen years.
1.Teaching materials for home schooling do NOT come from _______.
A. parents B. libraries
C. the Internet D. educational companies
2.Which of the following is one of the reasons why parents choose home schooling?
A. it makes parents and their children have less time together.
B. Some people have different religious beliefs from the others.
C. It can’t provide a comfortable place for children to be in.
D. There are too many students in a home classroom.
3.Home schooling was started in ________.
A. the 1960s B. the 1970s C. the 1850s D. the 1776
4.Home schooling in the United States now is __________.
A. facing many difficulties B. struggling
C. growing fast D. decreasing in large numbers
高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
Children who are spanked (挨打) have lower IQs worldwide, including in the United States. All parents want smart children. Avoiding spanking and correcting misbehavior in other ways can help that happen.
A new research by Professor Murray Straus found that children in the United States who were spanked had lower IQs four years later than those who weren’t spanked. Straus and Mallie Paschall, a senior research scientist, studied nationally examples of 806 children aged 2 to 4, and 704 aged 5 to 9. Both groups were retested four years later.
The IQs of children IQs aged 2 to 4 who weren’t spanked were 5 points higher four year later than the IQs of those who were spanked. The IQs of children aged 5 to 9 who weren’t spanked were 2.8 points higher four years later than the IQs of children at the same age who were spanked. How often parents spanked made a difference. The more spanking, the slower the development of children’s mental ability. But even small amounts of spanking made a difference.
Straus also found a lower national average IQ in nations in which spanking was more popular. His analysis shows the strongest link between physical punishment and IQ is for those whose parents continue to use physical punishment even when they are teenagers.
Straus also found a lower national average IQ in nations in which spanking was more popular. His analysis shows the strongest link between physical punishment and IQ is for those whose parents continue to use physical punishment even when they are teenagers.
Straus and colleagues in 32 nations used data on physical punishment experienced by 17,404 university students when they were children. According to Straus, there’re two explanations for the relation of physical punishment to lower IQ.
First, physical punishment is extremely stressful and can become a long-lasting stressor for young children, who typically experience punishment three or more times a week. For many it continues for years. The stress of physical punishment often leads to being fearful that terrible things are about to happen and being easily shocked. They’re associated with lower IQ. Second, a higher national level of economic development leads to both fewer parents using physical punishment and a higher national IQ.
The good news is that the use of physical punishment has been decreasing worldwide, which may signal future gains in IQ across the globe. The United Nations has called on all member nations to forbid physical punishment by parents. Nevertheless, there’s evidence that attitude favoring physical punishment and actual use of physical punishment have been declining even in nations which haven’t forbidden physical punishment.
1. From the passage we can know that physical punishment will make______.
A. no scientist
B. a well-behaved child
C. a bad parent-child relationship
D. a child feel nervous continuously
2.It can be concluded from Paragraph 3 and Paragraph 4 that______.
A. long-term spanking will cause children’s mental disorder.
B. low national average IQ limits the mental development of children
C. young children have more chances to suffer from physical punishment.
D. high frequency of spanking results in slow development of children’s intelligence
3. According to Straus’s research, children’s being spanked is probably related to parents’______.
A. low income
B. little education
C. long-lasting pressure
D. passive personalities
4. It can be inferred from the last paragraph that______.
A. the improvement of global average IQ is out of the question
B. physical punishment becomes less popular in the world
C. most countries have realized the negative consequence of punishing in its member nations.
D. the UN has succeeded in banning physical punishment in its member nations
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Mary families in the United States have a 1.(large) income now than ever before, but people are finding 2. difficult to make ends meet anyway.
3. isn’t a dollar worth as much as it used to be? Economists say that the cost of living is the money that a family must pay 4. the necessities of life. For many years now, the cost of living has increased 5.(great), so the value of the dollar has decreased.
No one fully understands why the cost of living keeps 6.(increase), but economists believe that workers and producers can make prices go up. As workers earn money, they have more money to spend, so they demand more goods. If there is a demand for certain goods, the prices of these goods go 7.. At the same time, if there’s a 8.(short) of goods, the prices also increase.
Families need to know 9. happens to their money. They need to make their income meet the cost of living, so many people plan a family budget. Budgeting 10.(help) you spend your money wisely as the cost of living increases.
高二英语语法填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
In class 10 there are 60 students, and more than half_____ wear glasses.
A. in whom B. in them
C. of them D. of whom
高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
There are many stereotypes( 定型 ) about the character of people in various parts of the United States. In the Northeast and Midwest, people are said to be closed and private. In the South and West, however, they are often thought of as being more open and hospitable . Ask someone from St. Louis where the nearest sandwich shop is, and he or she will politely give you directions. A New Yorker might eye you at first and after deciding it is safe to talk to you, might give you a rather unexpected explanation. A person from Georgia might be very kind about directing you and even suggest some different places to eat. A Texan just might take you to the place and treat you to lunch.
American stereotypes are abundant. New Englanders are often thought of as being friendly and helpful. Southerners are known for their hospitality and warmth. People from the western part of the United States are often considered very outgoing. These differences in character can be traced to different factors such as climate, living conditions, and historical development.
When travelling from place to place, Americans themselves are often surprised at the differing degrees of friendliness in the United States.
1.The main idea of the passage is _____________.
A. even Americans are surprised at the differences among themselves
B. there are many differences in character in different parts of the USA.
C. there are many reasons for the differences
D. stereotypes about people are not necessarily true
2.Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A. New Yorkers are usually open with strangers.
B. People from the South are usually considered good
C. The friendliest Americans travel from place to place.
D. Different parts have different customs and habits.
3.The differences lie in the following except ______ of the parts.
A. the weather B. the history C. geography D. the names
4.The word "abundant" in the second paragraph may probably mean _________.
A. plentiful B. normal C. curious D. strange
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析