|
Social Problems
In-Class Reading
Latchkey Children--Knock, Knock, Is Anybody Home?
I. Word List
Directions: Memorize the words and phrases before class. You will benefit from your effort when you get the passage from your teacher and read it in class.
New Words
accessibility
n. 可以得到，容易得到
advisable *
adj. sensible 明智的，可取的
e.g. It's advisable to reserve a seat on this train.
assistance *
n. help or support 帮助，援助
athletic *
adj. physically strong and good at sports 运动的
basis *
n. (plural bases) 基础
e.g. on a daily/weekly basis 每天/周
burden *
n. a heavy load that you carry 负担
e.g. Concern was expressed about the greater burden of work being imposed on teachers.
candidly
adv. not hiding one's thoughts; frankly and honestly 坦率地，直率而诚恳地
compelling
adj. extremely interesting or exciting so that one has to pay attention to 使人非注意不可的
e.g. My second and more compelling reason for going to Dearborn was to see the Henry Ford Museum.
concern *
n. worry, anxiety 忧虑，焦虑
e.g. The European Union has expressed concern about reports of political violence in Africa.
confident *
adj. sure that one can do something or deal with a situation successfully 自信的；有信心的
e.g. She was confident of winning a prize.
conversely *
adv. 相反地
e.g. Running can strengthen your heart and muscles, but conversely, it can also damage your knee joints and the bones in your feet.
cope *
v. succeed in dealing with a difficult problem or situation 对付，处理
e.g. It must be difficult to cope with three small children and a job.
decade
n. a period of ten years 十年
determination *
n. The quality of being firmly committed to doing something 决心
e.g. I couldn't help admiring her courage and determination.
doze
v. sleep lightly (打)瞌睡
e.g. I dozed off during the film.
effectively
adv. 有效地
e.g. The tablets work effectively if you take them with a hot drink.
emergency *
n. 紧急情况
e.g. How will disabled people escape in an emergency?
emotional *
adj. of the emotions 情感的
e.g. The meeting was an emotional moment for both of them.
enable *
v. give someone the ability to do something 使(某人)能够做某事
e.g. The new test should enable doctors to detect the disease early.
exhausted *
adj. extremely tired and having no energy 极其疲倦的
e.g. I was absolutely exhausted when I got back.
expense *
n. the amount of money spent on something 花费
e.g. Nine dollars for a complete dinner is a small expense.
fee *
n. the regular payments one makes for one's course of instruction 费用
e.g. My parents couldn't afford the fees for me to study music.
foster *
v. encourage the development or growth of
e.g. These sessions are designed to foster better working relationships.
fulfillment *
n. satisfaction after successful effort 满意；满足
e.g. He gets a great sense of fulfillment from his work.
furthermore *
adv. in addition, moreover 此外，再者
e.g. I suggest we go to the Italian restaurant--it's very good and furthermore it's very cheap.
guilty *
adj. feeling very ashamed and sad because you have done something wrong 内疚的
e.g. I feel so guilty, leaving all this to you.
homemaker
n. a person who takes care of the home and raises children rather than working for money 主妇，操持家务者
interview *
n. a formal meeting at which someone is asked questions in order to find out if they are suitable for a job or a course of study 面试
invaluable *
adj. extremely useful 价值高得无法估量的；极宝贵的
e.g. Such data will prove invaluable to researchers studying fish populations.
isolate *
v. cause to lose one's friends or supporters 使隔离，使孤立
e.g. Political influence is being used to shape public opinion and isolate critics.
isolation
n. isolating or being isolated 隔离，脱离
latchkey
n. 钥匙
maturity *
n. 成熟
e.g. Only half of the young birds may live to maturity.
necessity *
n. 必要性
e.g. Most women, like men, work from economic necessity.
optimum *
adj. the best or most suitable 最佳的，最适宜的
e.g. The balloonists (乘气球的人) are waiting for optimum weather conditions before taking off.
overwhelming *
adj. having such a great effect on you that you are confused and do not know how to react 势不可挡的；巨大的
phenomenon *
n. (plural phenomena) 现象
priority *
n. the thing that you think is the most important and needs attention before anything else 优先考试的事
e.g. Earning enough money to keep his family is a high priority.
relax *
v. (make something) become less tight, stiff, etc. (使某事物)松弛，放松等
e.g. Let your muscles relax slowly.
resentful *
adj. feeling angry and upset about something that you think is unfair 充满忿恨的，怨恨的
e.g. At first I felt very resentful and angry about losing my job.
resentment *
n. 愤恨，怨恨
secure *
adj. safe and happy 安心的，无忧虑的
e.g. She felt secure and protected when she was with him.
steadily *
adv. 持续地；不断地
e.g. Her condition got steadily worse.
stimulate *
v. encourage an activity to begin or develop further 鼓励，激励
e.g. The discussions stimulated a free exchange of ideas.
successfully
adv. 成功地
suppress *
v. stop yourself from showing your feelings 抑制(感情、思想等)
e.g. She suppressed a strong desire to scream.
supreme *
adj. the greatest possible 最大(程度)的，极度的
e.g. He showed supreme courage in the face of terrible danger.
tuition *
n.
1) teaching or instruction 教学，讲授
2) payment for instruction 学费
unlock
v. unfasten the lock on a door (用钥匙)开(门等的)锁
e.g. He unlocked the car and threw the coat on to the back seat.
unsupervised
adj. unwatched 无人照看(监督)的
void *
n. 空虚感
widespread *
adj. existing or happening in many places or situations, or among many people 普遍的，广泛的
e.g. Food shortages are widespread.
Latchkey Children-Knock, Knock, Is Anybody Home?
1 In the United States the cost of living has been steadily rising for the past few decades. Food prices, clothing costs, housing expenses, and tuition fees are constantly getting higher and higher. Partly because of financial need, and partly because of career choices for personal fulfillment, mothers have been leaving the traditional role of full-time homemaker. Increasingly they have been taking salaried jobs outside the home.
2 Making such a significant role change affects the entire family, especially the children. Some consequences are obvious. For example, dinnertime is at a later hour. The emotional impact, on the other hand, can be more subtle. Mothers leave home in the morning, feeling guilty because they will not be home when their children return from school. They suppress their guilt since they believe that their work will benefit everyone in the long run. The income will enable the family to save for college tuition, take an extended vacation, buy a new car, and so on.
3 The emotional impact on the children can be significant. It is quite common for children to feel hurt and resentful. After all, they are alone several hours, and they feel that their mothers should "be there" for them. They might need assistance with their homework or want to share the day's activities. All too often, however, the mothers arrive home exhausted and face the immediate task of preparing dinner. Their priority is making the evening meal for the family, not engaging in relaxed conversation.
4 Latchkey children range in age from six to thirteen. On a daily basis they return from school and unlock the door to their home with the key hanging around their necks. They are now on their own, alone, in quiet, empty rooms. For some youngsters, it is a productive period of private time, while for others it is a frightening, lonely void. For reasons of safety, many parents forbid their children to go out to play or to have visitors at home. The youngsters, therefore, feel isolated.
5 Latchkey children who were interviewed reported diverse reactions. Some latchkey children said that being on their own for a few hours each day fostered, or stimulated, a sense of independence and responsibility. They felt loved and trusted, and this feeling encouraged them to be self-confident. Latchkey girls, by observing how their mothers coped with the demands of a family and a job, learned the role model of a working mother. Some children stated that they used their unsupervised free time to perfect their athletic skills, such as playing basketball. Others read books or practiced a musical instrument. These children looked upon their free time after school as an opportunity for personal development. It led to positive, productive, and valuable experiences.
6 Conversely, many latchkey children expressed much bitterness, resentment, and anger for being made to live in this fashion. Many claimed that too much responsibility was placed on them at an early age; it was an overwhelming burden. They were little people who really wanted to be protected, encouraged, and cared for through attention from their mothers. Coming home to an empty house was disappointing, lonely, and often frightening. They felt abandoned by their mothers. After all, it seemed to them that most other children had "normal" families whose mothers were "around," whereas their own mothers were never home. Many children turned on the television for the whole afternoon day after day, in order to diminish feelings of isolation; furthermore, the voices were comforting. Frequently, they would doze off.
7 Because of either economic necessity or strong determination for personal fulfillment, or both, the phenomenon of latchkey children is widespread in our society. Whatever the reason, it is a compelling situation with which families must cope. The question to ask is not whether or not mothers should work full-time. Given the reality of the situation, the question to ask is: how can an optimum plan be worked out to deal effectively with the situation.
8 It is advisable for all members of the family to express their feelings and concerns about the inevitable change candidly. These remarks should be discussed fully. Many factors must be taken into consideration: the children's personality and maturity, the amount of time the children will be alone, the safety of the neighborhood, accessibility of help in case of an emergency. Of supreme importance is the quality of the relationship between parents and children. It is most important that the children be secure in the knowledge that they are loved. Feeling loved provides invaluable emotional strength to cope successfully with almost any difficulty that arises in life. (760 words)
Time taken: _____ minutes
Phrases and Expressions
after all 毕竟，终究
It is a sentence modifier used to emphasize something to be taken into consideration.
e.g. I don't know why you're so concerned. It isn't your problem after all.
all too often
something sad, disappointing, or annoying happens too much
e.g. All too often victims of bullying (欺负) are too frightened to ask for help.
cope with
succeed in dealing with a difficult problem or situation 对付；妥善处理(棘手之事)
e.g. Young as she was, she could cope with the difficulties wonderfully well.
doze off
fall into a light sleep, especially during the daytime 打瞌睡；打盹
e.g. I was just dozing off when the phone rang.
in case of
in the event that something happens 在......情况下
e.g. In case of fire, break the glass.
in the long run
later in the future, not immediately; eventually 从长远来看
e.g. The less you rely on pain killers now, the better it will be for your health in the long run.
look (up) on... as
think of... as
e.g. A lot of people looked (up) on him as an authority.
on a daily (weekly, yearly) basis
every day (week, year)
e.g. All rooms are cleaned on a daily basis.
on one's own
alone 独自
e.g. I've been living on my own for four years now.
take...into consideration
remember to think about something important when you are making a decision or judgment 考虑某事物
e.g. Taking everything into consideration, they ought to be given another chance.
work out
devise or plan something 设计
e.g. The general worked out a new plan of attack.
|