12．About six years ago I was eating lunch in a restaurant in New York City when a woman and a young boy sat down at the next table，I couldn't help overhearing parts of their conversation．At one point the woman asked，"So，how have you been？"And the boy-who could not have been more than seven or eight years old-replied．"Frankly，I've been feeling a little depressed lately．"
This incident stuck in my mind because it confirmed （确认） my growing belief that children are changing．As far as I can remember，my friends and I didn't find out we were"depressed"，that is，in low spirits，until we were in high school．
Undoubtedly a change in children has increased steadily in recent years．Children don't seem childlike anymore．Children speak more like adults，dress more like adults and behave more like adults than they used to．
Whether this is good or bad is difficult to say，but it certainly is different．Childhood as it once was no longer exists．Why？
Human development is depended not only on born biological states，but also on patterns of gaining social knowledge．Movement from one social role to another usually involves learning the secrets of the new social positions．Children have always been taught adult secrets，but slowly and in stages； traditionally，we tell sixth graders things we keep hidden from fifth graders．
In the last 30 years，however，a secret-revelation （揭示） machine has been equipped in 98 percent of American homes．It is called television．Television passes information to all viewers alike，whether they are children or adults．Unable to resist the temptation （诱惑），many children turn their attention from printed texts to the less challenging，more attractive moving pictures．
Communication through print，as a matter of fact，allows for a great deal of control over the social information which children will gain．Children must read simple books before they can read complex materials．
67．According to the author，feeling depressed isD
A．a sure sign of a mental problem in a child
B．a mental state present in all humans，including children
C．something that cannot be avoided in children's mental development
D．something hardly to be expected in a young child
68．Traditionally，a child is supposed to learn about the adult worldB
A．through connection with society
B．gradually and under guidance
C．naturally without being taught
D．through watching television
69．According to the author，that today's children seem adultlike results fromA
A．the widespread influence of television
B．the poor arrangement of teaching content
C．the fast pace of human scientific development
D．the rising standard of living
70．What does the author think of communication through print for children？D
A．It enables children to gain more social information．
B．It develops children's interest in reading and writing．
C．It helps children to read and write well．
D．It can control what children are to learn．
71．What does the author think of the change in today's children？B
A．He feels their adultlike behavior is so funny．
B．He thinks the change worthy of note．
C．He considers it a rapid development
D．He seems to be upset about it．
分析 本文属于议论文阅读，作者通过这篇文章主要向我们讲述的是作者偶然听到孩子类似于成年人的话，从而分析了孩子之所以如此成熟的原因并表达了自己的看法，他对孩子的这些变化感到焦虑，认为这种现象应当引起人们的重视．
解答 67．D．细节理解题，根据第二段"As far as I can remember，my friends and I didn't find out we were"depressed"，that is，in low spirits，until we were in high school"可知，作者认为对于如此小年龄的孩子来说，depressed是很难想象的；故选D．
68．B．推理判断题，根据第五段Children have always been taught adult secrets，but slowly and in stages：traditionally，we tell sixth graders things we keep hidden from fifth graders可知一个孩子应该在指导下逐渐了解成人世界，故选B．
69．A．细节理解题，根据第六段"Communication through print，as a matter of fact，allows for a great deal of control over the social information which children will gain"可知，作者认为是电视剧的普及，让孩子出现了这样的特征；故选A．
70．D．推理判断题，根据最后一段Communication through print，as a matter of fact，allows for a great deal of control over the social information to which children have access可知，作者认为通过印刷的方式可以控制孩子所学的东西；故选D．
71．B．推理判断题，根据文章作者的口气和观点可以看出，他对孩子的这些变化感到焦虑，认为这种现象应当引起人们的重视；故选B．
点评 考察学生的细节理解和推理判断能力，做细节理解题时一定要找到文章中的原句，和题干进行比较，再做出正确的选择．在做推理判断题不要以个人的主观想象代替文章的事实，要根据文章事实进行合乎逻辑的推理判断．
