ASK LASKAS

YOU'VE GOT QUESTIONS. SHE'S GOT ANSWERS

Q: My problem is computer gaming. I do it day and night, averaging four hours of sleep. I can't control of this, and I don't know where to go for help. Do you?                                 —Player

A: Dear Player,

You have an addiction. For some people playing video games releases dopamine, a powerful brain chemical that makes you feel good. You'd toss your cigarettes if you were ready to quit, right? To kick the habit, get help from a health professional. And don't look for help on line; that would be like an alcoholic going to the bar for advice.

Q: My brother's wife just had triplets(三胞胎). This is such a joy! Yet every time I share the news with co-workers, they ask me if she was on fertility pills. I think this is rude—or has society just become so talk-show numbed (麻木的)that you can ask anyone anything?                    —No Show Host

A: Dear Host,

Yes. Our society has become increasingly disrespectful of privacy. But don't blame it all on the talk-shows. Continue to celebrate and greet impolite questions with stony silence. Their fertility history is nobody's business but their own.

Q: I work at an amusement park, and my manager steals supplies. She has a catering business on the side, and we've seen her load up her van at the back gates. The big bosses think she is the best thing since buttered bread, and we're all afraid that if we say anything, we'll lose our jobs. What can we do?        —Righteous

A: Dear Righteous,

Be sure you're right. You must have evidence about what and why things are going out the back gates. Once you know for certain, it's time to go to the bosses and report what you have seen.

Q: My stepson's wife sometimes leaves their eight-year-old home alone for "a short run to the store." That may be an hour or so. I believe by law we should report it. What do you think?

—The In-laws

A: Dear Laws,

I don't know what the child-protection laws in your state are, but I do know that children need care and attention. This child may be able and unafraid, but kids aren't always careful. It also sounds like there is stress in your family relationship. One thing you can do to help this situation is offer to baby-sit when Mom needs to step out.

1.Which of the following statements is true?

A. Dopamine is a powerful brain chemical good to our health.

B. Looking for help on line is like getting help from a health professional.

C. Player is a video game addict who smokes and sleeps few hours.

D. Player is advised to stay clear of the screen.

2.According to the Q&A,        .

A. Host's colleagues are insensitive

B. The talk-show is to blame

C. Somebody's business is everybody's

D. Host's sister-in-law was on fertility pills

3.What we can infer from the Q&A is       .

A. The Mom is not to blame because she needs a short run to the store

B. Children need care and attention, though not for all of them

C. Laws, the old lady, wants to report what she sees to the child's father

D. Laskas doesn't seem to approve of Laws' trying to report what she sees

4.Which Q&A mentioned transport?

A. The first             B. The second.         C. The third.       D. None.

D

Children start out as natural scientists, eager to look into the world around them. Helping them enjoy science can be easy; there’s no need for a lot of scientific terms or expensive lab equipment. You only have to share your children’s curiosity. Firstly, listen to their questions. I once visited a classroom of seven-year-olds to talk about science as a job. The children asked me “textbook questions” about schooling, salary and whether I liked my job. When I finished answering, we sat facing one another in silence. Finally I said, “Now that we’ve finished with your lists, do you have questions of your own about science?”

       After a long pause, a boy raised his hand, “Have you ever seen what a grassshopper（蚱蜢）eats? When I try eating leaves like that, I get a stomachache. Why?”

       This began a set of questions that lasted nearly two hours.

       Secondly, give them time to think. Studies over the past 30 years have shown that, after asking a question, adults typically wait only one second or less for an answer, no time for a child to think. When adults increase their “wait time” to three seconds or more, children give more logical, complete and creative answers.

       Thirdly, watch your language. Once you have a child involved in a science discussion, don’t jump in with “That’s right” or “Very good.” These words work well when it comes to encouraging good behavior. But in talking about science, quick going by saying “That’s interesting” or “I’d never thought of it that way before,” or coming up with more questions or ideas.

       Never push a child to “think”. It doesn’t make sense, children are always thinking, without your telling him what to do. What’s more, this can turn a conversation into a performance. The child will try to find the answer you want, in as few words as possible, so that he will be a smaller target for your disagreement.

       Lastly, show, don’t tell. Real-life impressions of nature are far more impressive than any lessons children can learn from a book or a television program. Let children look at their fingertips through a magnifying glass（放大镜）, and they’ll understand why you want them to wash before dinner. Rather than saying that water evaporates（蒸发）, set a pot of water to boil and let them watch the water level drop.

68.According to the passage, children are natural scientists, and to raise their interest, the most important thing for adults to do is ___________.

A.to let them see the world around

B.to share the children’s curiosity

C.to explain difficult phrases about science

D.to supply the children with lab equipment

69.Children can answer questions in a more logical, complete and creative way if adults _______.

A.ask them to answer quickly

B.wait for one or two seconds after a question

C.tell them to answer the next day

D.wait at least three seconds after a question

70.The author mentioned all of the following techniques for adults to share with their children’s curiosity EXCEPT that adults should _______________.

A.tell their children stories instead of reciting facts

B.offer their children chances to see things for themselves

C.be patient enough when their children answer questions

D.encourage their children to ask questions of their own

C

Children start out as natural scientists, and eager to look into the world around them. Helping them enjoy science can be easy; there's no need for a lot of scientific terms or expensive lab equipment. You only have to share your children's curiosity. Firstly, listen to their questions. I once visited a classroom of seven-year-olds to talk about science as a job. The children asked me "textbook questions" about schooling, salary and whether I liked my job. When I finished answering, we sat facing one another in silence. Finally I said, "Now that we've finished with your lists, do you have questions of your own about science?"

After a long pause, a boy raised his hand, "Have you ever seen what a grasshopper (蚱蜢) eats? When I try eating leaves like that, I get a stomachache. Why?"

This began a set of questions that lasted nearly two hours.

Secondly, give them time to think. Studies over the past 30 years have shown that, after asking a question, adults typically wait only one second or less for an answer, no time for a child to think. When adults increase their "wait time" to three seconds or more, children give more logical, complete creative answers.

Thirdly, watch your language. Once you have a child involved in a science discussion, don't jump in with "That's right" or "I'd never thought of it that way before," or coming up with more questions or ideas.

Never push a child to "think". It doesn't make sense. Children are always thinking, without your telling them to. What's more, this can turn a conversation into a performance. The child will try to find the answer you want, in as few words as possible, so that he will be a smaller target for your disagreement.

Lastly, show; don't tell. Real-life impressions of nature are far more impressive than any lessons children can learn from a book or a television program. Let children look at their fingertips through a magnifying glass, and they'll understand why you want them to wash before dinner. Rather than saying that water evaporates, set a pot of water to boil and let them watch the water level drop.

64. According to the passage, children are natural scientists, and to raise their interest, the most important thing for adults to do is ___________.

A. to let them see the world around                B. to share the children's curiosity

C. to explain difficult phrases about science               D. to supply the children with lab equipment

65. In the last sentence of the first paragraph, the word "lists" could best be replaced by "_________".

A. any questions                 B. any problems     

C. questions from textbooks        D. any number of questions

66. According to the passage, children can answer questions in a more logical, complete and creative way if adults__________.

A. ask them to answer quickly                       B. wait for one or two seconds after a question

C. tell them to answer the next day                 D. wait at least for three seconds after a question

67. In which of the following paragraph (s) does the author tell us what to say to encourage children in a science discussion?

A. The second and third.      B. The fourth.     C. The fifth.       D. The sixth and seventh.

68. The author mentions all of the following techniques for adults to share with their children's curiosity EXCEPT that adults should _________.

A. tell their children stories instead of reciting facts

B. offer their children chances to see things for themselves

C. be patient enough when their children answer questions

D. encourage their children to ask questions of their own

C

Dear Ariel,

I got a job offer from a high-tech company with a fairly satisfactory payment and benefits．Even the work environment is cool．But I heard that the job requires a lot of overtime and even weekends．I know it’s important for newcomers to get their feet planted firmly on the ground to reach their goals, but I’m scared of the idea of having nearly no free time．I still need to find a girlfriend and look after my parents．So, shall I accept the job or give it up for another one with much less pay and more freedom?

Amoretto

Dear Amoretto,

I have two things to say: First, you’re lucky to have such an excellent offer, especially at a time when so many talented people are struggling to find any work at all; and second, you can’t figure out your work-life balance until you’re actually working.

Take the job．You’ll be learning, doing interesting things, working in a cool environment, and making money．If you’re given contract, make sure you understand the terms before you sign．Ask your boss how many hours a week you’re expected to work．If he tells you a number that’s much lower than what you find once you’re working, you’ll be in a better position to talk to him about it．

Give your work 100 percent．Work energetically and efficiently．If you’re devoted and focused, you might achieve more than your co-workers in less time．Showing yourself to be a productive and talented worker from the beginning will give you more bargaining power．Finally, remember that taking a job doesn’t have to be a life commitment．Try to give it at least a year（two is better）．If you’re really miserable after that time, look for another job that will give you more freedom．By then, you’ll have workplace experience, bosses and colleagues who can speak positively about your work and some savings as well．

Good luck!

Ariel

64．When considering the job offer, Amoretto is most concerned about whether he’ll have______．

       A．a pay rise      B. a girlfriend       C．free time       D. cool working condition

65．We can infer that Ariel thinks________．

       A．young people are faced with a fierce competition in job-hunting

       B．a good start and 100% devotion to the work are of great importance

       C．Amoretto should ask nothing until he actually works in the company

       D．beginning workers with bargaining power are not popular with bosses

66．Ariel recommended Amoretto to_____．

       A．balance his life and work before taking the job

       B．analyze the contract carefully before signing it

       C．spare no effort to please his boss and colleagues

       D．be a lifelong worker for the company whatever happens

67．In the first letter, the underlined part “get their feet planted firmly on the ground” means______．

       A．present themselves truthfully        B．face the reality bravely

       C．be conscious of their abilities        D．work heart and soul

Recently, a professor of philosophy in the U. S. has written a book called Money and the Meaning of Life. He has discovered that how we   41  money in our day-to-day life has more meaning than we usually think. One of the exercises he asked his students to do is to   42  every penny they spend for a week.   43  they spend their money, they can see what they really   44  in life.
He says our relation with others often becomes clearly   45  when money enters the picture. You might have   46  with somebody and you think that you are very good friends. But you will   47  him only when you ask him to lend you some money. If he does, it brings   48  to the friendship that seems stronger than ever before. Or it can suddenly  49 the friendship if he doesn’t.
Since money is so important to us, we consider those who possess a lot of it   50  very important. The author interviewed some millionaires for   51 . Question: What is  52  thing you have discovered about being rich, because you are a self-made man? Answer: What makes me surprised most is how people give me  53 . I am nothing. I don’t know much. All I   54  money
People just   55  making more and more money, but what is it   56 ? How much do I need for a given purpose in my life? In his book, the professor uncovered an important need in modern society: to bring back   57  that money is an instrument   58  the end．  59  plays an important role in the material world, but expecting money to give happiness may be  60   the meaning of life.