作者：萬杰

Chinese are very generous when it comes to educating their children. Not __1__ the money, parents often send their children to the __2__ schools or even abroad to England, the USA or Australia. They also want their children to take extra-course __3__ where they will either learn a musical instrument or ballet, or other classes which will give them a head start in life. The Chinese believe that the __4__ an education is, the better it is. So parents will spend a(n) __5__ amount of money on education. Even

__6__couples will buy a computer for their son or daughter.

__7__, what most parents __8__ to see is that the best early education they can give their children is usually very cheap.

Parents can see that their children's skill vary, skilled in some areas while poor in others. What most parents fail to realize __9__, is that today's children __10__ self-

respect and self-confidence (自信).

The problem is that parents are only __11__ their children on how to take multiple-choice (多項選擇的) tests and how to study well, but parents are not teaching them the most important skills they need to be __12__, happy and clever.

Parents can __13__ this by teaching __14__ skills like cooking, sewing, and doing other housework.

__15__ a child to cook will improve many of the skills that he will need later in life. Cooking demands __16__ and time. It is an enjoyable but difficult __17__. A good cook always tries to improve his cooking, so he will learn to work hard and gradually finish his job __18__. His __19__, a well-cooked dinner, will give him much satisfaction and a lot of self-confidence.

Some old machines, such as a broken radio or TV set that you give your children to __20__ will make him curious and arouse his interest. Then he will think and use his mind. And that is more important.

1. A. offering B. spending C. caring about D. paying

2. A. ordinary B. best C. city D. good

3. A. parties B. sports C. clubs D. activities

4. A. more expensive B. more reasonable C. farther D. cheaper

5. A. small B. reasonable C. proper D. unreasonable

6. A. rich B. old C. poor D. young

7. A. Therefore B. Otherwise C. However D. Instead

8. A. fail B. try C. want D. manage

9. A. even if B. though C. unless D. or rather

10. A. gain B. own C. lose D. lack

11. A. advising B. educating C. persuading D. suggesting

12. A. unselfish B. polite C. friendly D. confident

13. A. achieve B. receive C. accept D. own

14. A. actual B. practical C. real D. true

15. A. Asking B. Promising C. Teaching D. Encouraging

16. A. space B. determination C. help D. patience

17. A. skill B. experience C. job D. housework

18. A. quickly B. carefully C. successfully D. accidently

19. A. idea B. conclusion C. wish D. result

20. A. play with B. throw away C. deal with D. work at

【答案與解析】

1. C。本文第一句告訴我們,父母在孩子的教育上很慷慨,不"在乎"錢。2. B。or前后應為并列關系。3. D。從其后的定語從句可知是參加課堂外的各種活動。4. A 5. D 6. C。從副詞even可知,此處應選一個與"有錢人"相對的形容詞,其它選項與句意不符。7. C。從行文邏輯來看,此處應為轉折。8. A。然而,父母們"沒能認識到的是:他們能給孩子們的最好的早期教育通常是很便宜的。9. B。表示"讓步"。

10. D。父母沒能意識到他們的孩子"缺少"自尊和自信。11. B。educate sb. on sth. "在......方面教育某人"。12. D。根據上文"孩子缺少自信"可知。13. A。對父母提出建議:可通過教孩子一些"實用"技能來讓他們"獲得"自信。14. B 15. C 16. D。做飯需要"耐心"和時間。17. B。18. C 19. D。a well-cooked dinner為選項的同位語,說明已完成的"結果"。20. A。把一些舊機器給孩子"玩"。