When my older kids, now in college and high school, were young, I brought in the rules of modern parenting. They are unspoken, but followed carefully. First, you must let your child have a variety of activities. After all, you never know where you'll find a genius (天才).  Second, if the child shows the slightest talent (才能), the activity must be pushed with lessons, special coaching (辅导) and practice of  several days a week. Every minute should be taken and every minute has a purpose. That was really too much for my children.

　　Now with the new plan, we told stories, We listened to music. And' the. kids played with bikes, balls, and whatever was handy. Nobody kept score. In fact, the boys played outside so much that the lawn was worn down to the soil in places. They've made friends with those who come from all over the neighborhood to play games.

　　We like those peaceful evenings. Ben and Nick have a good time this fall, May be that's because the time off has allowed us to enjoy each other's company;

　　【翻译】去年秋天是第一个“仁慈”的季节。我没有给我的孩子们安排任何的放学后的课程。没有游泳课，没有音乐课，没有玩耍的约定。什么限制也没有。

　　孩子们一旦完成了家庭作业，他们就可以自由地去做他们喜欢的事情，但是看电视只许一小时。起初，我的儿子，十一岁的本（Ben）和九岁的尼克，对于这种突然的，未曾筹划的自由感到焦虑疑惑。我不得不把他们推出门外，用球，自行车等等。去玩吧，我命令他们。

　　我了解到，这种新的计划需要时间，耐心，和对于理论的忠诚，这种理论是：拥有极好的分数并不重要。

　　当我的现已上大学或高中的孩子们还小的时候，我就把这种现代化的养育规则引用了。

　　他们没有说出口，但是小心地遵守了。首先，你必须让你的孩子拥有各种各样的活动。毕竟，你绝对不会知道，在哪里可以找到天才。其次，如果孩子表现出了，在某种活动上的小小的才能，那么这种活动必须加以强化，用课程，特殊辅导，以及一周几天的练习实践。每分钟都应该被抓住，每分钟都是有目的的。那对于我的孩子来说，真是太过分了。

　　现在执行了新的计划，我们讲故事，听音乐。孩子们玩自行车，球，以及手头可以拿到的任何东西。没有人总是盯着成绩。事实上，孩子们总是在户外玩，以至于草坪上，好几处都露出了土壤。他们和邻里的小孩儿作游戏，交上了朋友。

　　我们喜欢那些平静的夜晚。这个秋天，本和尼克玩的很开心。或许那是因为闲暇的时间让我们享受到了相互陪伴的天伦之乐。

　　40.What was new for the family last fall?

　　A. The children began to learn music when school was over.

　　B. The writer arranged no' extra lessons for the children.

　　C. The writer found no time to play with the sons.

　　D. The children had nothing to do alter school

　　【答案】B

　　【解析】去年秋天，对于这个家庭新鲜的事情是：作者没有给孩子们安排额外的课业。

　　41. At the beginning of that season the children

　　A. hated to spend more time on their homework

　　B. felt excited about making their own decisions

　　C. were pleased to have more freedom

　　D; were worried about the change

　　【答案】D

　　【解析】刚开始时，孩子们对于变化，还曾感到忧虑。因此选择D

　　42. According to ',modern parenting" discussed in Paragraph 4, parents should