Some children are born bosses (领导，指挥者). They have a need to make decision, manage their
environment and lead rather than follow. Too much rule in the hands of the young isn't healthy for children
or the family. Family expert John Taylor says, "Children have secret feelings of weakness. They are always
trying to feel safe." It's the parents' duty-not the child's -to provide safety.
        When a "boss child" doesn't learn limits (限制) at home, troubles will appear outside the family. The
child may have trouble obeying (服从) teachers, for example, or keeping friends. It can be pretty lonely as
the top dog if no one likes your ruling ways.
        Bossy kids are often unusually bright. Their parents need to be especially careful to manage them.
Bossy kids usually work more on the mother. It's important for both parents to know their child's weakness,
to agree on key rules and to back each up.
        Even as you try to be kind-to a point-don't give up your parental ruling post. Instead, stand your ground
by using body language that tells your child who the boss is.
        Good manners (礼貌) are important to family. Show a child by example how to ask for something rather
than shout orders. Try asking your child to do things that are not too difficult. Then reward (奖励) him with
a hug (拥抱) and words such as "Thank you. I like it when you listen to me." Over time good manners will
become associated (联系) with pleasure.
1. Is the passage mainly about how to teach children?
________________________________________________________
2. Do boss children usually feel lonely or have a lot of friends?
________________________________________________________
3. Which of the parents should know their child's weakness?
________________________________________________________
4. Why is it important to teach children good manners?
________________________________________________________
5. What should parents be like to teach a boss child well?
________________________________________________________

                           

1. Where is Anne's birthday party going to be held?

A. In Room 20.
B. At 107 Pine Avenue.
C. At 3 The Avenue.
D. At Jane's place.

2. Who will meet at 1 p.m.?

3. Fran's birthday is _______.

A. on Friday
B. on Thursday
C. on Wednesday
D. on 7th October

         According to Gerry Smith and Shaun Belding, writers of three books on dealing with people who make
troubles at the office, how you get on with the people described below can improve the working environment
for everyone.
        （1）People who blame (指责) others including (包括) you
          Call them on it by saying, "Why is it always someone else's fault (错误)?" They may laugh over what
you said or become sorry. Both of them mean your point has been taken.
        （2）People who take your ideas as their own
          Put your names on anything you write or make. If someone does it at a meeting, point it out at once-
using humour（幽默）if possible. Later follow the person and tell him or her, "Don't do that again."
        （3）People who often break in
          Don't put up with it. Say coolly but firmly (坚定地), "Please wait while I finish talking."
        （4）People who embarrass (使人窘迫) you in public
          Put them on the hot seat by saying later, "I'm sure you didn't want to embarrass me, but you did."
        （5）People who don't follow through
          Of course you cannot order another worker, but you can try telling them they are not helpful and that
you'll report it to the boss (老板) if they go on. Then do it.
        （6）People who tell lies
          Talk straight to him or her when it's about you. Or ask the boss for help, who can tell him or her, "There
are lies going around. Can I get you to straighten them out for me?"

1. What kind of people does the passage talk about?

A. Those who have difficulty at work.
B. Those who are making troubles.
C. Those who don't like working hard.
D. Those who aren't ready to help.

2. If someone takes your invention as his own, what will you do?

3. The words break in in the passage mean _________.

A. get into a room without knocking on the door
B. shout loudly while others are having a meeting
C. try to take a place which somebody else is working in
D. start to talk while somebody else hasn't finish talking

4. The writer's main purpose (目的) is _________.

A. to teach those who aren't doing well in their work
B. to let people know how to make friends with others
C. to make to working environment better for all people
D. to help bosses find a better way to work out problems

       What is American food? At first you might think the answer is as easy as pie. To many people, American
food means hamburgers, hot dogs, fried chicken and pizza. If you have a "sweet tooth", you might think of
apple pies or chocolate cakes. It's true that Americans do eat those things. But are those the only kind of food
you can find in America?
        Except for Thanksgiving turkey, it's hard to find a typical (典型的) "American" food. The United States
is a land of immigrants (移民). So Americans eat food from many different countries. When people moved to
America, they brought their cooking styles (方式、类型) with them. That's why you can find almost every
kind of ethnic (民族) food in America. In some ways, Americans have taken foods from other countries as
favorites. Americans love Italian pizza, Chinese egg rolls. But the American ones don't taste quite like the food
where it comes from.
        As any large country, the US has several special regions (地区). Each region is proud of its own special
style of food. Visit the South and enjoy country-style cooking. Take a trip to New England and taste delicious
seafood dishes. Travel through Midwest for tasty baked food. Travel over Southwest and try good treats.
Finish your food tour in Northwest with some wonderful coffee.
        Americans are living at a fast pace (步速). Fast food restaurants offer people on the run everything from
fried chicken to fried rice. Half-done dinners and fast food make cooking at home very easy. One of the most
popular quick meals is sandwich. If the meat or cheese can be put between two pieces of bread, Americans
probably make a sandwich.
       Americans on the go also eat a lot of "junk food". Potato chips, candy bars, soft drinks and so on are
popular treats. Many people eat too much of these unhealthy food. But others choose for more healthy eating
habits. Some even go "all natural". They refuse to eat any food prepared with chemicals.
       American culture (文化) is a good example of the saying, "You're what you eat."There is different
background and ways of thinking. The kind of foods enjoyed in the US shows all kinds of personal tastes.
The food may be international and regional. Sometimes it's fast, and sometimes it's not so fast. It might be
junk food or maybe it's natural food. No matter what it is, the style is all-American.

A. are Italian and Chinese food
B. are easy to prepare
C. have some changes in their taste
D. are healthy and natural

2. Why can you find almost every kind of ethnic food in America?

A. Because Americans enjoy eating.
B. Because immigrants to America bring their ways of cooking with them.
C. Because it's easy to make ethnic food.
D. Because Americans like to try new-style cooking.

3. The third paragraph mainly tells us _______.

A. where you can find the delicious food
B. Americans like traveling to different regions
C. There are some special regions in America
D. Americans can enjoy some special food in special regions

4. From the passage, we know _______.

A. there is no typical American food in the US
B. natural food is the most healthy food
C. all Americans like to eat fast food because it is easy to make
D. the culture of a country decides its food styles

         My mum was (and still is ) a fast-food cook. My dad worked in a factory. When I was a little girl, my
sister and I saw them come home very tired night after night. We knew how hard they worked and we
appreciated (满意) everything we received. 
         On the other hand, my kids see me work at the computer in the comfortable home. We live in a town
where most children get pretty much everything they want. Heartfelt thanks are few. So how do we make sure
the kids understand the value (价值) of all that they have?
        ◆It's important to explain (解释) to them why you can't buy expensive presents. Today's newspapers
and TV programs seem to be calling on children to ask for everything, so it helps to discuss what's really
possible and what's not.
        ◆It's also necessary to show them not all presents come from a shop. For example, next holiday they can
make cakes for all their friends and decorate the boxes themselves.
        ◆Give older children chances to serve in kitchens, tell them about people who have nothing on cold wet
nights and tell them about parts of the world where food cannot be found.
        ◆Encourage them to give some of their pocket money to others. Give away unwanted clothes and toys
to those who need them. 
        ◆Set time to have them write down things they are thankful for. Then they will know all they have. And
teach them to say thank you for any present they receive.
        ◆In the end, the most important thing is you should do everything you ask your kids to do.
1. Does the writer have any children?
    ___________________________________________________________
2. Who is the passage written for?
    ___________________________________________________________
3. How many pieces of advice (建议) does the passage give us?
    ___________________________________________________________
4. What's wrong with today's children?
     ___________________________________________________________
5. Why do today's children have the problem?
     ___________________________________________________________