A
One of the latest trends(趨勢) in American Childcare is Chinese au pairs. Au Pair in Stamford, Conn, for example, has got increasing numbers of request for Chinese au pairs from aero to around 4, 000 since 2004. And that’s true all across the country.
“I thought it would be useful for him to learn Chinese at an early age” Joseph Stocke
the managing director of a company, says of his 2-year old son. “I would at least like to give him the chance to use the language in the future,” After only six months of being cared by 25-year-old woman from China, the boy can already understand basic Chinese daily expressions, his dad says.
Li Drake, a Chinese native raising two children in Minnesota with an American husband, had another reason for looking for an au pair from China. She didn’t want her children to miss out on their roots.” Because I am Chinese, my husband and I wanted the children to keep exposed to(接觸) the language and culture.” she says.
“Staying with a native speaker is better for children than simply sitting in a classroom,” says Suzanne Flynn, a professor in language education of Children. “But parents must understand that just one year with au pair is unlikely to produce wonders. Complete mastery demands continued learning until the age of 10 or 12.”
The popularity if au pairs from China has been strengthened by the increasing numbers of American parents who want their children who want their children to learn Chinese. It is expected that American demand for au pairs will continue to rise in the next few years.
1. What does the term “au pair” in the text mean?
A. A mother raising her children on her own
B. A child learning a foreign language at home
C. A professor in language education of children
D. A young foreign woman taking care of children.
2. Li Drake has her children study Chinese because she wants them ________.
A. to live in China some day B. to speak the language at home
C. to catch up with other children D. to learn about the Chinese culture
3. What can we infer from the text?
A. Learning Chinese is becoming popular In America
B. Educated woman do better in looking after children
C. Chinese au pairs need to improve their English Skills.
D. Children can learn a foreign language well in six months.
【答案】1. D 2. D 3. A
【解析】
這是一篇說明文。文章講述們目前在美國流行為孩子找一個中國保姆，這會讓孩子及早接觸到中文，了解中國文化。這說明在美國學習中文越來越流行了。
【1題詳解】
詞義猜測題。根據(jù)第二段中After only six months of being cared by 25-year-old woman from China, the boy can already understand basic Chinese daily expressions, his dad says.以及第四段Staying with a native speaker is better for children than simply sitting in a classroom可知，au pair是指來自中國的照顧孩子的年輕女性，她們承擔這教育孩子中文的任務。故選D。
【2題詳解】
細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)第二段中She didn’t want her children to miss out on their roots.” Because I am Chinese, my husband and I wanted the children to keep exposed to(接觸) the language and culture.” she says.可知，她是一個中國人，她和丈夫都希望不要忘根，接觸中文并了解中國文化。故選D。
【3題詳解】
推理判斷題。根據(jù)文章第一句One of the latest trend(趨勢) in American Childcare is Chinese au pairs.和最后一段The popularity if au pairs from china has been strengthened by the increasing numbers of American parents who want their children who want their children to learn Chinese. It is expected that American demand for au pairs will continue to rise in the next few years.可知，美國人對于學習中文的興趣越來越大，為孩子尋找一個會講中文保姆已經(jīng)成為了一個趨勢。這些都說明學習中文變得很流行了。故選A。
