17．Q：Dear Dr．Wood，
My husband and I are facing a dilemma，namely，the issue of whether to have a second child---we already have one healthy，happy five-year-old daughter．Both of us have demanding jobs，and limited time and financial resources，but we're also very keen to make sure that our only child does not become a lonely child．So，what are the pros and cons（利弊） of having a second child？[
A：Dear Andrea，
This is one of the most difficult issues that parents nowadays face．As you point out，a concern that is often heard with regard to only children is whether one child necessarily means a lonely child．Many parents of only children feel a stigma（恥辱） associated with their decision to have only one child．There are no other children in the family for the child to associate with，and this may lead to the child feeling lonely at times，especially during vacations．
Another common argument against having just one child is that an only child may be more spoiled than one with siblings．Many people believe that a single child will not have learned to negotiate with others，and respect the give-and-take involved in many relationships．Some think this may leave the child less capable of interacting well with people his or her own age than one who has been raised with siblings．
Advocates of single-child families argue that there are advantages for the child as well as the parents．With just one child，they suggest，there is less potential for family arguments arising from favoritism or sibling jealousy．Moreover，with only one child，the parents can give，and the child can receive，more quality time and attention．This often leads to increased self-esteem，which combined with increased independence，can lead to the child being more confident．Unfortunately，Andre，there is no simple answer to the question of whether or not to have a second child．The circumstances affecting each set of parents are unique，and what is appropriate for one family may not be for another．The important thing，in the end，is to make a decision that both you and your husband feel confident about．
28．The underlined word"siblings"in Paragraph 3refers toB．
A．friends and partners
B．brothers and sisters
C．classmates and teachers
D．parents and relatives
29．Which one is NOT the reason why some people are against having one child？C
A．An only child may be spoiled．
B．An only child may lack the ability to negotiate with others．
C．An only child may feel lonely．
D．An only child may not respect the give-and-take．
30．What can you infer from the passage？C
A．Dr．Wood doesn't think that an only child will feel lonely．
B．Andrea wanted to have a second child though her family was poor．
C．An only child may not need to deal with the problem favoritism．
D．Parents having an only child will feel lonely during vacations．
31．In which section will this passage appear？D
A．family
B．medicine
C．life
D．readers'letter．
分析 本文是一篇科教類(lèi)閱讀，主要講述了現(xiàn)在的家長(zhǎng)已經(jīng)有了一個(gè)健康又快樂(lè)的小孩，但他們卻面對(duì)了一個(gè)兩難的問(wèn)題，他們還要多一個(gè)孩子嗎？他們有繁忙的工作和有限的時(shí)間還有金錢(qián)的問(wèn)題要面對(duì)，但他們也不想要他們唯一的孩子寂寞．所以，第二個(gè)孩子有什么好處和壞處呢？
解答 28．B．詞義猜測(cè)題．根據(jù)上下文內(nèi)容可知，Another common argument against having just one child is that an only child may be more spoiled than one with siblings．句意為另一個(gè)常見(jiàn)的反對(duì)原因是只生一個(gè)孩子獨(dú)生子女比有兄弟姐妹的更易被寵壞．故siblings意為兄弟姐妹．故選B．
29．C．細(xì)節(jié)理解題．根據(jù)There are no other children in the family for the child to associate with，and this may lead to the child feeling lonely at times，especially during vacations．Another common argument against having just one child is that an only child may be more spoiled than one with siblings．Many people believe that a single child will not have learned to negotiate with others，and respect the give-and-take involved in many relationships．可知，反對(duì)只生一個(gè)孩子的原因有獨(dú)生子女缺乏與人合作能力，容易被寵壞，可能會(huì)不尊重禮讓?zhuān)疀](méi)有提到C．故選C．
30．C．細(xì)節(jié)理解題．根據(jù)there is less potential for family arguments arising from favoritism or sibling jealousy．可知，獨(dú)生子女不需要面對(duì)偏袒，嫉妒的問(wèn)題．故選C．
31．D．推理判斷題．根據(jù)文章內(nèi)容，主要談?wù)摿俗优畣?wèn)題，且根據(jù)文章格式，屬于書(shū)信．故會(huì)出現(xiàn)在讀者的信上．故選D．
點(diǎn)評(píng) 本文是一篇科教類(lèi)閱讀，題目涉及多道細(xì)節(jié)理解題，詞義猜測(cè)題，推理判斷題．做題時(shí)學(xué)生應(yīng)仔細(xì)閱讀原文，把握文章主要內(nèi)容，聯(lián)系文章上下文內(nèi)容并結(jié)合所給選項(xiàng)含義，從中選出正確答案，一定要做到有理有據(jù)，切忌胡亂猜測(cè)．
