Amy Chua, well-known as the Tiger Mother, has held the attention of parents all across the US. She told Reader’s Digest that she’s a little strange about how her book struck so many nerves in the US. The reporter of the magazine is sharing the interview with us.
Reader’s Digest: Did you want your book to be controversial (有争议的)?
Amy: I don’t think it would have been controversial at all if it wasn’t for the Wall Street Journal headline that was called, “Why Chinese Mothers are Superior”.
Reader’s Digest: What’s your view on your parenting?
Amy: My children grew up with one Western parent. My husband doesn’t believe in raising his voice with the kids and we don’t spank (打小孩). They were really raised in a half Asian family. My book’s message is that we should try to find the balance. I believe that when children are little, you should restrict (限制) their choices. I like the traditional Chinese way. Respect authority (尊重权利) and don’t just let them watch TV all the time. I don’t think kids under the age of ten can make good choices. But once they start to get older, the lesson I learnt with Lulu (Amy’s second daughter) is that you have to start listening to them. You have to start giving them more choices and more freedom. I really think it’s important to find a balance.
I like the strict Chinese way of discipline (行为准则) and hard work when children are young. But when they’re older, you have to send love to your child, you have to listen to your child and really achieve the balance between creativity, choice and freedom on the one hand, which the west is very good at, and on the other hand, hard work and self discipline, which I think traditional Chinese parenting is very good at.
【小题1】Where can we find the passage?

I was in line waiting to pay. In line there were two people before me. A little boy was buying some rather strange clothes. He chatted with anyone who was interested in the clothes and soon we learnt that he was going to a kindergarten(幼儿园) party. He had done a great job of putting together interesting costumes.
I noticed that the little boy was paying mostly with change(零钱). It seemed that he had robbed his pig bank(猪形储蓄罐) to do this shopping. However, the cashier told him he was short after counting all the money. The boy thought for a moment and said, “Please keep the shirt and I will come back with more money. “
It was clear that he had already used all the money he had and he was $ 8.00 short. The lady in front of me said, “Well, I could pay half of that. “I told the boy that I could pay the other half. We dug into our handbags. However, both of us only had ten-dollar bills(纸币) and we needed the cashier to get the change for us. Other shoppers began digging into their pockets to find some change. It was amazing and touching as all these strangers seemed to react(反应) with the same mind. All wanted to be of help. Within minutes the cashier said, “I have too much money.” The cashier didn’t need our ten-dollar bills. Then the lady in front of me, who had been the first to offer help, said, “Wait! I didn’t even get a chance to give anything!”
I smiled at her and said, “You did your share, because it was your idea and you started all this. “ The little boy smiled and thanked us. We wished him the best and he left. I was left with a good feeling. I had seen the love and goodness of others all around me. The woman in front of me smiled and said, “It sure feels good to give, doesn’t it?” I smiled back and said, “Yes !”
【小题1】What is this passage mainly about?

I was in line waiting to pay. In line there were two people before me. A little boy was buying some rather strange clothes. He chatted with anyone who was interested in the clothes and soon we learnt that he was going to a kindergarten(幼儿园) party. He had done a great job of putting together interesting costumes.

I noticed that the little boy was paying mostly with change(零钱). It seemed that he had robbed his pig bank(猪形储蓄罐) to do this shopping. However, the cashier told him he was short after counting all the money. The boy thought for a moment and said, “Please keep the shirt and I will come back with more money. “

It was clear that he had already used all the money he had and he was $ 8.00 short. The lady in front of me said, “Well, I could pay half of that. “I told the boy that I could pay the other half. We dug into our handbags. However, both of us only had ten-dollar bills(纸币) and we needed the cashier to get the change for us. Other shoppers began digging into their pockets to find some change. It was amazing and touching(令人感动的) as all these strangers seemed to react(反应) with the same mind. All wanted to be of help. Within minutes the cashier said, “I have too much money.” The cashier didn’t need our ten-dollar bills. Then the lady in front of me, who had been the first to offer help, said, “Wait! I didn’t even get a chance to give anything!”

I smiled at her and said, “You did your share, because it was your idea and you started all this. “ The little boy smiled and thanked us. We wished him the best and he left. I was left with a good feeling. I had seen the love and goodness of others all around me. The woman in front of me smiled and said, “It sure feels good to give, doesn’t it?” I smiled back and said, “Yes !”

1.What is this passage mainly about?

A. Love and goodness.                       B. Culture and tradition.

C. Friendship and honesty.                  D. Communication and understanding.

2.Why did the writer and the woman both feel glad?

A. Because the boy had saved some money.     

B. Because they both didn’t need to give anything.

C. Because the cashier didn’t look down on the boy.

D. Because all the shoppers around were willing to help the boy. 

3.What’s the correct order of the following events?

a. The cashier got enough money for the boy’s shirt.

b. The cashier counted the boy’s money.

c. The shoppers looked for some change in their pockets.

d. The boy went to the line to pay.

A. b, a, c, d           B. b, c, a, d           C. d, b, c, a           D. d, c, a, b

Dear Dad,
I’m writing to you because it’s not easy to talk about it. I still   1  clearly how my uncle died two years ago. In fact, I seriously want to ask you to stop smoking. I’ve looked up a lot of information about smoking and I found out something   2 . You know that smoking is bad for your  3  and can cause cancer. I’ve learnt that it causes many other   4  too. Do you know that over ten thousand people die from smoking every year in Britain?
When mum asks you to smoke   5 , you think she’s angry. Well, it’s true that she doesn’t like the   6  of smoke in the house. When you smoke, it’s also   7  for mum and me. In other words, when we   8  in your smoke, it’s like we’re smoking ourselves.   9 , we can also get disease. Doctors are finding that more and more   10  are falling ill because of the others’ smoking.
I know that it’s very   11  to stop smoking, but you must give it up. Please see the doctor and ask him   12  help. We will do anything we can to help you. You must try to   13  your own life. We don’t want to  14  you because you are so important to us.  15  you, who can help me with my maths homework or mend my bike? Please don’t smoke!
Your daughter,
Meimei