A Tiger among Us(b)|人中之虎

The real question many people are left with after reading Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother is whether or not Amy Chua is right about Western and Chinese parenting methods. Obviously she is making large general statements about cultural practices. Some families and parents fit her descriptions while others do not. Interestingly, in the West, many people agree that Western parenting methods could use improvement. Some even say that the laid-back Western methods can be just as damaging as the overly strict ones Chua connects with Chinese culture because more and more children are not learning how to face and overcome challenges head on. Experts call this having mastery experiences, where children are presented with a difficult task and work hard to complete it. Children who have mastery experiences throughout their lives tend to be more positive and have a strong can-do attitude. However, experts also say that being too strict with children can cause rebellion, low self-esteem, and poor parent-child relationships.

What everyone can agree on is that there is no perfect way to parent. Furthermore, a method that works with one child will not necessarily work with another. Parents are challenged with finding the best method that helps each child learn to be a responsible and confident person while also in keeping with the family's cultural traditions. The ideal parenting method would include many strategies for keeping communication open, problem solving, and goal setting. Though parenting can at times feel and sound like a large burden, it is an extraordinary opportunity to help someone you love reach his or her full potential. As Chua points out, it's also a humbling experience for all those who dare to become parents.

     1.    What is the main point of the article?

(A) A new study of different teaching methods.

(B) A book about parenting and a discussion about various parental methods.

(C) A review of Chua's latest movie, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother.

(D) Learning how Chua's parents influenced the way she raised her children.

    2.     What was Chua's goal when writing her book?

(A) To embarrass her children with stories from when they were young.

(B) To help foreign parents adjust to parenting in Western countries.

(C) To inform parents of the single best way to raise children.

(D) To share her thoughts on parenting and experiences as a mother.

    3.     What is an example of a mastery experience?

(A) Kids getting a plant and measuring its growth and changes for a year.

(B) Children getting a job at a young age.

(C) Taking a test again because the students didn't do well the first time.

(D) Learning a skill that will help a person get employment later on in life.

    4.     What is the author's opinion on the best parenting method?

(A) Relaxed parenting with a focus on children's self-esteem.

(B) Strict but full of compassion.

(C) A variety of methods work well for different children.

(D) The author does not give an opinion.

许多人在阅读完《虎妈的战歌》后所留下真正的问题是，蔡美儿对于中西式的育儿教养方式描述是否正确。她显然是针对文化习俗做出了一般性的陈述。一些家庭及家长符合了她的描述，然而其他的则未必。有趣的是，在西方社会里，许多人赞同西式的育儿教养方式须要改善。有些人更说西式松散的教养方式和蔡美儿与中华文化连结的育儿方式同样有危害之处，因为越来越多的孩子无法学习如何面对并克服迎面而来的挑战。专家们称之为『精熟经验』，也就是孩子们被赋予一项困难的任务，并且努力完成该任务的一种经验。生命中拥有『精熟经验』的孩童往往会更积极并有一种什么事都做得到的态度。然而，专家也指出对子女过于严格可能会导致子女叛逆、自尊低落、以及恶劣的亲子关系。

大家都可认同的是，世上并没有完美的育儿教养方式。此外，对某个孩子有效的教养方式并不一定适用于另一个孩子。父母的挑战是找出最好的方法，这些方法是要能帮助每个孩子学习成为负责任和充满自信的人，同时也保有家庭的文化传统。理想的养育方式包括许多策略，像是保持顺畅的亲子沟通、解决问题和设立目标。虽然儿女的教养有时会让人感觉起来或听起来像是一个沉重的负担，但这是一个难得的机会，帮助你所爱的子女充分发挥他们的潜力。如同蔡美儿指出，教养儿女也是给那些敢于为人父母的一次谦卑的经验。

答案：  1.  B   2.  D   3.  A   4.  C