Question

Marriages improve after children grow up and move out，according to an academic study, which suggests an “empty nest” is not always a bad thing.

Popular wisdom has it that parents’ relationships may suffer once their young fly the coop, because they feel they have lost their purpose in life.However, a new study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, has found that many couples actually feel happier when their children leave home because they are able to enjoy spending time together.

In total,123 American mothers born in the 1930s were tracked for 18 years and asked to rate their satisfaction levels shortly after marrying, when they were bringing up babies, once their children reached their teenage years and finally at age 61, when almost all had “empty nests”．

Although not all said they were happier in general, most claimed their marriages had improved since their children had left home. Researchers believe this is not just because the spouses were spending more time together, but because they were able to enjoy each other’s company more.

One of the participants in the study，which is published in the journal Psychological Science，said：“Once the kids grow up...there’s some of that stress removed...that responsibility removed，so things are a little more relaxed.”

Psychologist Sara Gorchoff，who carried out the investigation，said: “The take­home message for couples with young children is ‘hang in there’．” Her co­author Oliver John added：“Don’t wait until your kids leave home to schedule quality time with your partner.”

However, Dr Dorothy Rowe，from the British Psychological Society，said the effects of living in an “empty nest” will depend on the parents’ relationship with their children.“If you’re just waiting for them to leave home so you can get on with your life，then of course you’ll be pleased to see them go,” she said, “But if you’ve built your life around your children you’ll be terribly lonely.For some parents，their world falls apart when their children leave.”

1.It is commonly believed that___________.

A．marriages improve after children leave home

B．a(chǎn)n “empty nest” is always a happy thing

C．parents’ relationships may suffer once their young grow up and move out

D．parents will be pleased after their children leave home

2.When did many couples feel happier according to the study?

A．At age 61, when almost all had “empty nests”.

B．Shortly after marrying.

C．Once their children reached their teenage years.

D．When they were bringing up babies.

3.Marriages improve after children fly the coop not because___________.

A．many couples are able to spend time together

B．many couples are able to enjoy each other’s company

C．things are a little more relaxed

D．many couples needn’t work at all

4.The author of the passage tends to agree that____________.

A．parents should build their life around their kids

B．parents should schedule quality time with each other before kids leave home

C．parents’ relationship with their kids has no effect on marriages at all

D．parents should be pleased to see their kids leave home

 

Answer 1

【答案】

1.C

2.A

3.D

4.B

【解析】

試題分析：本文講述了一些孩子離家以后的空巢老人可能更為開心，文章分析了原因，也提出了不同的觀點(diǎn)。

1.C 細(xì)節(jié)題。根據(jù)第二段1,2行Popular wisdom has it that parents’ relationships may suffer once their young fly the coop, because they feel they have lost their purpose in life.原來很多人認(rèn)為孩子離開家以后，父母會(huì)感覺很孤單寂寞。故C正確。

2.A 推理題。根據(jù)第二段2,3行Berkeley, has found that many couples actually feel happier when their children leave home because they are able to enjoy spending time together.可知當(dāng)孩子離開家的時(shí)候，也就是變成空巢家庭的時(shí)候，他們會(huì)感覺很開心。故A正確。

3.D 細(xì)節(jié)題。根據(jù)4,5段Researchers believe this is not just because the spouses were spending more time together, but because they were able to enjoy each other’s company more.和One of the participants in the study，which is published in the journal Psychological Science，said：“Once the kids grow up...there’s some of that stress removed...that responsibility removed，so things are a little more relaxed.”可知ABC三項(xiàng)都是文章中提及的原因，只有D項(xiàng)不是。

4.B 細(xì)節(jié)題。根據(jù)文章倒數(shù)第二段最后2行Her co­author Oliver John added：“Don’t wait until your kids leave home to schedule quality time with your partner.”可知B項(xiàng)內(nèi)容正確。

考點(diǎn)：考查調(diào)查報(bào)告類短文閱讀

點(diǎn)評：本文講述了一些孩子離家以后的空巢老人可能更為開心，文章分析了原因，也提出了不同的觀點(diǎn)。

文章基本上是考查細(xì)節(jié)題，對此類題型考生可以首先從問題中找到關(guān)鍵詞，然后以此為線索，運(yùn)用略讀及查閱的技巧在文中迅速尋找這一細(xì)節(jié)，找到后再把這一部分內(nèi)容仔細(xì)閱讀一遍，仔細(xì)比較所給選項(xiàng)與文中細(xì)節(jié)的細(xì)微區(qū)別，在準(zhǔn)確理解細(xì)節(jié)的前提下，最后確定最佳答案。