Parents are creating an “I want it now” generation by indulging children's every demand at Christmas,say experts.Youngsters are becoming increasingly selfish,claim the education analysts.
Consumer­savvy children are forcing their families into racking up huge debts and risk becoming spoilt and dissatisfied in the future.
Behavioural consultant Chris Calland said,“Parents are desperate to make Christmas into a magical fairy tale for their kids.There's nothing wrong with that as such.The problem arises when it means always giving in to all our children's demands—even if they are beyond our price range or not age­appropriate.”
Ms.Calland,who runs “Santa Says No” style sessions with colleague Nicky Hutchinson,added, “Many of us go into so much debt providing the gifts our children want that we spend the rest of the year paying off the bills.Yet so often the parcels we've carefully wrapped,once opened,are just pushed away because the very thing our little boy or girl was once so desperate for, they have now lost interest in.”
Ms. Calland and Ms.Hutchinson have drawn up a list of guidelines to help parents manage their offspring's Christmas lists this year.They say that adults can actually improve their relationships with their children by resisting “pester (糾纏) power”.
Ms.Calland said,“All too often we say yes because we want an easier life when the fact is that we're only building up problems for the future.We are helping create a generation of youngsters who are blind to the needs of others and the necessity of hard work.”
“Children learn fast—if we sometimes change our mind,they quickly realise it might be worth lying on the floor and screaming for it.Make sure you and your partner are working together on this.Be consistent.And try not to get caught up in competition with other families or friends.”
【小題1】How is the “I want it now” generation created?

A.Parents can't afford the gifts for their children.
B.Parents become heavily in debt.
C.Parents are trying to make Christmas into a magical fairy tale.
D.Parents give children whatever they want at Christmas.
【小題2】What is the main problem with the “I want it now” generation?
A.They are quite self­centered.
B.They like to live in fairy tales.
C.They waste a lot of money on gifts.
D.They can't keep their interest in gifts.
【小題3】What is probably the aim of “Santa Says No” style sessions?
A.To advise on how to wrap gifts properly.
B.To keep children's interest in the gifts.
C.To tell parents how to say no to children's demands.
D.To advise parents on what gifts to buy for children.
【小題4】According to the passage,we can infer that Ms.Calland intends to ________.
A.a(chǎn)nalyze children's behavior
B.give advice to parents
C.introduce a new generation
D.give her support to parents
【小題5】Ms.Calland would agree that parents should ________.
A.buy nothing for children at Christmas
B.choose gifts carefully for children
C.let children choose their own gifts
D.a(chǎn)void competing with others


【小題1】D
【小題2】A
【小題3】C
【小題4】B
【小題5】D

解析【語篇解讀】 本文是時文閱讀。由于父母對孩子圣誕節(jié)的要求無限制地滿足,產(chǎn)生了“I want it now”一代。
【小題1】解析 細(xì)節(jié)理解題。從第一段第一句可知,“I want it now”一代的產(chǎn)生是由于父母對孩子圣誕節(jié)的要求無限制地滿足。答案 D
【小題2】解析 細(xì)節(jié)理解題。從第一段最后一句中的“Youngsters are becoming increasingly selfish”以及倒數(shù)第二段中的“a generation of youngsters who are blind to the needs of others”可知“I want it now”一代很自私、以自我為中心。答案 A
【小題3】解析 推理判斷題。根據(jù)第四、五段內(nèi)容可知,“Santa Says No”style sessions的目的是教父母如何對孩子的無限制的要求說不。答案 C
【小題4】解析 推理判斷題。綜合分析Mr.Calland的話可知,Ms.Calland在本文中為父母提出了不要滿足孩子的一切要求的建議。答案 B
【小題5】解析 細(xì)節(jié)理解題。從最后一段最后一句“And try not to get caught up in competition with other families or friends”可知答案為D。答案 D

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