2013年1月31日 星期四

Helicopter Parents  事必躬親的直升機父母‏



 




by Nadia Chung

Hovering parents end up with kids that are not independent.
直升機父母培養出一群無法獨立的草莓族。

  A woman labeled "America's Worst Mom" had to defend herself against the embarrassing nickname after she let her nine-year-old son ride on the New York City subway alone. _(1)_ Helicopter parents would certainly disagree. Coined in 1990, the term "helicopter parenting" is used to describe overprotective parents, who are mostly middle-class baby boomers. They hover over their children and are always worried about their academic and professional success. _(2)_ Some helicopter parents even write college essays, edit résumés, and show up at job interviews with them.
一位婦女因為讓 9 歲的兒子獨自搭乘紐約市的地鐵而被封為『全美最糟糕的母親』,她因此得為這個難堪的封號抗辯。她辯解說:『冒這點險是合理的。』但直升機父母一定不同意這種說法。『直升機式的子女教育』一詞創於 1990 年,被用來形容過度保護孩童的父母,這些父母大多是二次戰後嬰兒潮出生的中產階級。他們總離不開子女,一直擔心他們的課業和職場成就。對這些父母來說,替小孩做決定、介入小孩的紛爭和替小孩寫功課是家常便飯。有些直升機父母甚至幫子女寫大學論文、修改履歷,以及陪他們參加工作面試。
  No one really doubts the motives of these parents. _(3)_ The excessive investment these parents make in their children's upbringing and achievements may end up having an adverse effect. By doing nearly everything for their children, they limit them to safe situations. This means the kids are kept from learning basic survival skills and how to cope with failure on their own. A study shows that helicopter kids tend to be more self-conscious, more vulnerable, and less open to new ideas. _(4)_
沒有人會質疑這些父母的動機。問題是這些意圖多半源自於父母想提高自己的自尊心。這些父母對小孩的養育和成就過度投入,最後可能產生反效果。替小孩幾乎做好每件事會把他們限制在安全的環境裡。這意味這些孩子無法學習基本的求生技巧,以及靠自己處理失敗。一項研究顯示,直升機小孩較容易自卑,也較脆弱,而且比較無法接受新想法。對他們來說,要成為自立自強而獨立的成人是很不容易的事情,偏偏這是他們父母最終極的目標。
  Experts are now offering some advice to helicopter parents. First, act as a coach, not as a rescuer. Second, encourage children to make their own decisions and help them learn to solve problems rather than take care of everything for them. _(5)_ As "America's Worst Mom" argues, "The way kids learn to be resourceful is by having to use their resources." Children fly higher when they are not tied to the ground.
專家有些建議提供給直升機父母。首先,要扮演教練而不是救援者的角色。其次,鼓勵小孩自己做決定,並幫助他們學習如何解決問題,而不要事事幫他們處理好。最後,給他們一些空間和機會從錯誤中學習。就像『全美最糟糕的母親』辯解的:『小孩必須藉由運用自己的機智,才能學習如何應變。』小孩不被束縛,才能飛得更高。
(A) For them, it is hard to become self-sufficient and independent adults, which is their parents' ultimate goal.
(B) The problem is that such intentions often stem from a desire on the part of the parents to raise their own self-esteem.
(C) It's not uncommon for these parents to make decisions, intervene in conflicts, and do homework for their children.
(D) Finally, give them the space and chance to learn from their mistakes.
(E) "It was a reasonable risk," she argued.
原來如此 
1. 第一題空格應選 (E)
理由:
a. 空格前一句提到,一位婦女因為讓 9 歲的兒子獨自搭乘地鐵而被封為『全美最糟糕的母親』,她因此得為這個難堪的封號抗辯(defend)。
b. (E) 選項的句子提到,她辯解(argued)說:『冒這點險是合理的。』前後語意連貫,且 defend 和 argued 兩字互相呼應,故選之。
大補丸:
reasonable a. 合理的
例: At this shop, you can buy high quality watches at reasonable prices.
(在本店,你可以用合理的價格買到高品質的手錶。)
2. 第二題空格應選 (C)
理由:
a. 空格前一句提到,直升機父母總離不開小孩,一直擔心小孩的課業和職場成就。
b. (C) 選項的句子提到,對這些父母來說,替小孩做決定、介入小孩的紛爭和替小孩寫功課是家常便飯,說明直升機父母擔心子女的作法,上下語意連貫,故選之。
大補丸:
a. It is not uncommon for sb to V  對某人來說做……並非不尋常∕是常有的事
例: It is not uncommon for dogs to fight over food or territory.
(狗為了搶食物或地盤而打架是屢見不鮮的事。)
b. intervene vi. 干預,干涉
intervene in...  干預∕干涉……
例: It's not wise to intervene in an argument between a husband and his wife.
(插手干涉夫妻之間的爭論是不智之舉。)
c. conflict . 衝突
3. 第三題空格應選 (B)
理由:
a. 空格前面一句提到,沒有人會質疑這些父母的動機(motives)。
b. (B) 選項的句子提到,這些意圖(intentions)多半起因於父母想提高自己的自尊心,選項中的 intentions 和上一句中的 motives 形成關鍵字,且前後語意連貫,故選之。
大補丸:
a. intention n. 意圖
例:I have no intention of staying up late tonight.
(我今晚並沒有熬夜的打算。)
b. stem from...  起因於……,源自於……
例: That country's problems stem from its lack of natural resources.
(那個國家的問題來自於自然資源缺乏。)
c. on the part of sb  就某人而言
例: The strike expressed anger on the part of the bus drivers.
(這次罷工表達了公車司機的憤怒。)
d. self-esteem n. 自尊
4. 第四題空格應選 (A)
理由:
a. 空格前一句提到,直升機小孩(helicopter kids)較容易自卑、也較脆弱,而且比較無法接受新想法。
b. (A) 選項的句子提到,對他們(them)來說,要變成自立自強而獨立的成人是很不容易的事情,偏偏這是他們父母最終極的目標。這裡的 them 指的就是上一句的 helicopter kids,且兩句語意連貫,故選之。
大補丸:
a. self-sufficient a. 自給自足的
例: The Wang family run a self-sufficient farm, so they don't have to buy any food.
(王家經營自給自足的農場,所以他們不需要買任何食物。)
b. independent a. 獨立的,自主的
be independent of...  不依賴……
例: Edward has been independent of his parents since he was 18.
(艾德華從 18 歲起就不再依賴父母。)
c. ultimate a. 最後的,最終的
5. 第五題空格應選 (D)
理由:
a. 空格前 3 句提到,專家有些建議提供給直升機父母,並以 First 和 Second 開頭列舉了兩個建議。
b. (D) 選項的句子以 Finally(最後)開頭說,給他們一些空間和機會從錯誤中學習,承接前兩句的 First 和 Second,且語意連貫,故選之。
精解字詞片語 
1. defend vt. 為……辯護
例: Frank defended his friend because he thought she was being treated unjustly.
(法蘭克因為他朋友遭到不公平對待而仗義直言。)
2. hover vi.(鳥、直升機)盤旋
hover over...  在……上空盤旋
例: A vulture hovered over the open field, searching for prey.
(一隻禿鷹在空曠的野外盤旋,尋找獵物。)
3. investment n. 投資;(精力、時間等的)投入
make an investment in...  投資……
例: Sam lost a lot of money when he made an investment in that lousy company.
(山姆因為投資那家爛公司而虧了不少錢。)
4. adverse a. 相反的;不利的
have an adverse effect on...  對……有不利影響
例: The merger of the two companies had an adverse effect on the stock market.
(這兩家公司的合併對股市有不利的影響。)
5. cope with...  處理……(= deal with...)
例: The officials are trying to cope with the aging population.
(政府官員正試圖處理人口老化的問題。)
6. vulnerable a. 易受傷害的;脆弱的
be vulnerable to...  易受……的傷害
例: During the summer, older people are more vulnerable to heat stroke.
(炎炎夏日裡,老人家比較容易中暑。)
7. resourceful a. 善於應變的,有智謀的
resource n. 應變能力,機智;資源
例: A resourceful worker always finds a way to get the job done.
(有應變能力的員工總是找得到完成工作的方法。)
8. be tied to...  被拴在∕綁在∕繫在……上
例: Our dog is usually tied to the fence.
(我們家的狗通常都綁在籬笆上。)
單字小舖 
1. helicopter n. 直升機
2. label vt. 把……稱為 & n. 標籤
be labeled (as)...  被稱為……
3. subway n. 地鐵
4. coin vt. 創造,發明(新字詞)
5. parenting n. 父母對子女的養育
6. overprotective a. 過分保護的
7. baby boomer n. 第二次世界大戰後出生的嬰兒潮一員
8. academic a. 學術的
9. résumé n. 履歷表
10. motive n. 動機
11. excessive a. 過度的
12. upbringing n. 教養;養育
13. self-conscious a. 自卑的
片語小舖 
1. show up  出現
2. limit sb to + N/V-ing  將某人限制在……
答案: 1. (E) 2. (C) 3. (B) 4. (A) 5. (D)

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