5．Dear Mom，Clear My Calendar
September is around the corner，and some of us are already complaining about summer's end．But parents have a special reason to do so．The end of summer means the start of school．And these days，planning a young child's schedule is a big challenge．The challenge is no longer finding activities to fill a child's day； it is saying no to the hundreds of options available．Our mailbox is filled with brochures urging us to sign our kids up for classes from cooking to martial arts（武术）．
Educators are themselves discouraged by the number of special classes that many children attend．In the name of"enrichment，"three-year-olds not only go to preschool in the morning but study French or gymnastics after lunch．One teacher tells of a four-year-old asking for help in the toilet before hurrying off to tennis．Another teacher says that children sometimes hold on to her at pickup time．What happened to unstructured time？
A generous explanation is that we enjoy giving children opportunities we never had．The truth however is that many parents have doubts about how much time they spend away from their families．And one way to reduce this guilt is to believe that time spent in these classes is somehow more beneficial to children than the time we know we should be giving them ourselves．
David Elkind，an expert on children，suggests that the 1960s gave birth to the belief that earlier is better．Parents hope that early music lessons，for example will build a child's confidence．The truth，however，is that any time children are asked to do too much，too soon，they are at greater risk for feelings of failure．
A child's time does not have to be planned to be meaningful．Remember the lazy days of summer？Some children sleep late and play with the kids across the street until it's time to come home for dinner．However，with the majority of mothers working，fewer children enjoy that idle （空闲的） time now．
Come September，children across the country will finish a full day of kindergarten，only to attend an after-school program until 6P．M．，when a working mom or dad comes to take them home．That's too much for a five-year old．Finances，of course，do limit some parents．But let's be honest with ourselves-our own busy schedules，whatever they involve，are no excuse for burdening a young child's．
67．The author holds that it's a challenge to plan a schedule for a child mainly becauseC．
A．a child's schedule is too complex
B．activities suitable for kids are limited
C．parents are stuck in numerous choices
D．children always say no to parents'advice
68．What the two teachers say in Paragraph 2implies thatC．
A．children love to stay at school
B．they are popular with children
C．children dislike after-school classes
D．after-school classes are of poor quality
69．According to the author，what is the real reason for parents to send their children to after-school classes？D
A．Parents want to make up for their own regrets．
B．After-school classes develop children's potential．
C．Parents have doubt about their own ability to guide children．
D．After-school classes give parents an excuse for being absent．
70．Which of the following will the author probably agree with？C
A．For children's benefits，the earlier the better．
B．Children's spare time should be carefully designed．
C．Idle time for children is becoming a thing of the past．
D．Parents should be forgiven if they have a good reason．．
分析 本文叙述了家长由于工作繁忙没有时间陪孩子而把孩子送到课外班，孩子们的空闲时间已经一去不复返了．
解答 67答案C 细节理解题．第一段And these days，planning a young child's schedule is a bigchallenge．The challenge is no longer finding activities to fill a child's day；it is saying no to the hundreds of options available．提出父母会面临巨多的课外辅导班的选择，故选C．
68答案C 推理判断题，文中第二段中One teacher tells of a four-year-old asking for help in the toiletbefore hurrying off to tennis．Another teacher says that children sometimeshold on to her at pickup time．What happened to unstructured time？[来%源：@中网]两位老师举的事例充分说明孩子不喜欢上辅导班，都向老师求助了．故选C．
69．答案D 细节理解题，从第三段1，2行A generous explanation is that we enjoy giving childrenopportunities we never had．The truth however is that many parents have doubtsabout how much time they spend away from their families和最后一句But let's be honest with ourselves-our own busy schedules，whatever they involve，are no excuse for burdening a young child's．可知家长们把孩子送到辅导班主要是因为自己没有时间陪孩子，故选D．
70．答案C 推理判断题，文中提到家长由于工作繁忙没有时间陪孩子而把孩子送到课外班，孩子们的空闲时间已经一去不复返了，故选C．
点评 阅读理解题主要考查考生对书面语篇的整体领悟能力和接受及处理具体信息的能力．试题的取材，密切联系当前我国和世界经济、科技等方面的变化，有关数据的来源真实可信．因此科普知识类文章是每年的必考题．分析历年的科普类文章我们不难发现以下特点：
1、文章逻辑性强，条理清楚，语法结构简单，用语通俗．
2、文章内容注重科技领域的新发现．内容新颖，从而使文章显得陌生，内容抽象复杂．
3、命题方面注意对具体细节的准确理解和以之为依据的推理判断．
4、以人们的日常行为或饮食健康入手，探讨利弊，诠释过程，阐述概念．
