英语听力精选进阶版 6339

When your mum tries to use slang do you blush? Do you cringe when she calls you by your childhood nickname in front of your friends? And how about searching for the nearest exit when your father engages in a dad dancing routine? Loving them dearly doesn't prevent you from feeling uncomfortable around them.

And parents have to accept that. Adam Gopnick, a writer for the New Yorker magazine, said in an article published by the BBC: ''The one thing that is written into the human genome is that exactly at the age of 13, your child… will discover that you are now the most embarrassing, ridiculous and annoying person on the planet.''

A survey by the site YoungPoll.com in 2010 suggested that one in three youngsters is so disconcerted by their parents they refuse to be seen with them in public; and seven in ten children are humiliated¹ by their mum and dad's behavior, like kissing them in front of friends and holding their hands.

Part of going through adolescence² is a sudden feeling that we are wise and self-sufficient and we are shown up when treated like vulnerable minors³. But we are bound to lose this chip on our shoulder when we reach our 20s.

Gopnick reminds us of writer and visionary William Blake's comment: ''When I was 14 my dad was so ignorant I wouldn't even walk down the street with him. By the time I was 21 I was amazed how much he'd learnt.''

In any case, resentful parents might find solace⁴ in the thought that their grandchildren are likely to end up enjoying their company. Then the uncool ones will be the grandchildren's parents!

Quiz 测验

1. According to the article, what name, when mentioned in front of friends, makes people feel bad?

Their childhood nickname when mentioned by their parents in front of friends.

2. When do people start feeling embarrassed about their parents?

Adam Gopnik says that it happens at the age of 13.

3. According to the survey mentioned, what sort of parental⁵ acts make children feel humiliated?

When they kiss their children or hold their hands in front of the minor's friends.

4. True, false or not given: William Blake's father went back to school and had learned a lot by the time the writer was 21?

Not given. All we know is that when Blake was 21 he recognised his father's wisdom more.

5. What expression is used in the article to describe someone who is easily offended?

Someone who has a chip on his or her shoulder.

Glossary 词汇表

to blush 脸红

to cringe 感到难堪

a dad dancing routine （比喻）爸爸蹦迪时的舞蹈动作，令孩子感到特别尴尬

uncomfortable 不舒服

ridiculous 荒谬

annoying 恼人的

disconcerted 受窘的

humiliated 感到羞耻

to be shown up 感到难为情

a chip on (our) shoulder （比喻） 受了委屈，心中不愤，怨天尤人

resentful 不满，抵触

uncool 落伍，不时髦

1 humiliated   

感到羞愧的

参考例句：

• Parents are humiliated if their children behave badly when guests are present. 子女在客人面前举止失当，父母也失体面。
• He was ashamed and bitterly humiliated. 他感到羞耻，丢尽了面子。

2 adolescence   

n.青春期，青少年

参考例句：

• Adolescence is the process of going from childhood to maturity.青春期是从少年到成年的过渡期。
• The film is about the trials and tribulations of adolescence.这部电影讲述了青春期的麻烦和苦恼。

3 minors   

n.未成年人( minor的名词复数 )；副修科目；小公司；[逻辑学]小前提v.[主美国英语]副修，选修，兼修( minor的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The law forbids shops to sell alcohol to minors. 法律禁止商店向未成年者出售含酒精的饮料。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He had three minors this semester. 这学期他有三门副修科目。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 solace   

n.安慰；v.使快乐；vt.安慰(物)，缓和

参考例句：

• They sought solace in religion from the harshness of their everyday lives.他们日常生活很艰难，就在宗教中寻求安慰。
• His acting career took a nosedive and he turned to drink for solace.演艺事业突然一落千丈，他便借酒浇愁。

5 parental   

adj.父母的；父的；母的

参考例句：

• He encourages parental involvement in the running of school.他鼓励学生家长参与学校的管理。
• Children always revolt against parental disciplines.孩子们总是反抗父母的管束。