As regards the development of moral standards in the growing child,
consistency is very important in parental teaching. To forbid a thing one day and
excuse it the next is no foundation for morality. Also, parents should realize that
“example is better than ”. If they are not sincere and do not practice what
they preach (说教), their children may grow confused and emotionally insecure
when they grow old enough to think for themselves, and realize they have been to
some extent cheated.
A sudden awareness of a marked difference between their parents’ principles
and their morals can be a dangerous disappointment.
53. Eagerly watching the child’s acquisition of new skills ___________.
A. is universal among parents B. should be avoided
C. sets up dangerous states of worry in the child
D. will make him lose interest in learning new things
54. In the process of children’s learning new skills, parents _____________.
A. should encourage them to read before they know the meaning of the words
they read
B. should achieve a balance between pushing them too hard and leaving them on
their own
C. should not expect too much of them
D. should create as many learning opportunities as possible
55. The underlined word “precept” in Paragraph 3 probably means __________.
A. idea B. instruction C. behavior D. punishment
56. In moral matters, parents should _______________.
A. consistently ensure the security of their children
B. be aware of the marked difference between adults and children
C. forbid things which have no foundation in morality
D. obey the rules themselves
D
Over the last 70 years, researchers have been studying happy and unhappy
people and finally found out ten factors that make a difference. Our feelings of
well-being at any moment are determined to a certain degree by genes. However, of
all the factors, wealth and age are the top two.
Money can buy a degree of happiness. But once you can afford to feed, clothe
and house yourself, each extra dollar makes less and less difference.
Researchers find that, on average, wealthier people are happier. But the link between
money and happiness is complex. In the past half-century, average income has
sharply increased in developed countries, yet happiness levels have remained almost
the same. Once your basic needs are met, money only seems to increase happiness if