A
Special family bonds are not created by big ship vacations or buying your child a new toy, bicycle or expensive clothes.Great families are formed by making time for each other, and by listening and caring.The good news is that it costs nothing to do these things.
Last weekend my kids and I were sitting outside the front steps of our house enjoying some sunshine after washing the car and playing with the neighbour’s kids.As we sat there I had an idea that I thought would be fun.“Anne, Liz, usually on Wednesday you come home from school for lunch.What about having a picnic in the park instead？” I asked.Both Anne and Liz lit up and smiled.“Yeah, Daddy! Then we’d even have more time to play in the school yard after！” they shouted.
So that’s our little plan today for a simple Wednesday.I hope it will become one more of a huge collection of special family moments, moments when we make time for each other and do something special together.
A picnic in the park is something that works for us.My kids go to school close to the house and I work for myself in my study.I’m not saying that you should do exactly the same thing.It might not fit into your family situation.But something will fit, and it’s up to you to find out what those things are and do them.Then keep doing them.Find special things that you can do with your kids.Make it a habit.You’ll love the results.When your kids are older, they won’t remember the iPad you bought them, or the 22nd stuffed animal for their collection.They will remember the time you spent with them.
语篇解读：本文是一篇说明文。作者建议父母多花些时间跟孩子们做些小但是特别的事情来增进感情。
1．What would the writer most probably ask parents to do?
A．Take big ship vacations with their kids.
B．Do small but special things with their kids.
C．Spend as little money as possible on their kids.
D．Give their kids new toys and expensive clothes.
解析：选B 推理判断题。根据文章首段以及后面所举的和女儿们野餐的例子可推断，作者建议父母花些时间跟孩子们做一些小但是特别的事情来增进感情。
2．When the writer suggested going on a picnic in the park, his daughters were______________.
A．disappointed B．worried
C．excited D．calm
解析：选C 推理判断题。根据第二段中的Both Anne and Liz lit up and smiled ...they shouted.可推断，作者的两个女儿听到关于野餐的提议后都很兴奋。
3．What do we know about the writer?
A．He works far from home.
B．He works for himself at home.
C．He often has lunch in a restaurant.
D．He hardly cooks for his daughters.
解析：选B 细节理解题。根据第四段中的My kids go to school close to the house and I work for myself in my study.可知，作者在家里工作。
4．What is the writer’s purpose in writing this passage?
A．To explain why listening and caring are important.
B．To advise that parents spend less money on their kids.
C．To prove that he gets on well with his daughters.
D．To tell parents how to form special bonds with their kids.
解析：选D 写作意图题。根据第一段中的Special family bonds are not created by big ship vacations or buying your child a new toy, bicycle or expensive clothes.Great families are formed by ...以及通读全文可知，作者主要是告诉父母如何跟孩子培养特别的情感。
