练习一
For many people today, reading is very important. In applying for a job, the ability to read and comprehend quickly can mean the difference between success and failure. Yet the unfortunate fact is that most of us are poor readers. Most of us develop poor reading habits at an early age, and never get over them. The main deficiency lies in the actual stuff of language itself-words. Taken individually, words have little meaning until they are strung together into phrases, sentences and paragraphs. Unfortunately, however, the untrained reader does not read groups of words. He laboriously reads one word at a time, often regressing to reread words or passages. Regression, the tendency to look back over what you have just read, is a common bad habit in reading. Another habit which slows down the speed of reading is vocalization-sounding each word either orally or mentally as one reads.
To overcome these bad habits, some reading clinics use a device called an accelerator, which moves a bar ( or curtain ) down the page at a predetermined speed. The bar is set at a slightly faster rate than the reader finds comfortable. The accelerator forces the reader to read fast, making word-by-word reading, regression and vocalization, practically impossible. At first comprehension is sacrificed for speed. But when you learn to read ideas and concepts, you will not only read faster, but your comprehension will improve. Many people have found their reading skill drastically improved after some training.
练习二
The past 20 years have been enormous changes in the lives and structure of families in Britain.
The biggest change has been coused by divorce. As many as 1 out of 3 marriages now end in it, leading to a situation where many children live with one parent.
There has also been a huge rise in the number of women with children who work. The large rise in divorces has meant many women need to work to support themselves and their children. Even where there is no divorce, many families need both parents to work in order to survive. This has caused an increase in childcare facilities, though it is very expensive and can be difficult to find in many areas.
In addition, women are no longer happy to stay at home raising children, and many have careers earning as much or even more than men, the traditional breadwinner.
There has also been a sharp increase in the number of single mothers, particularly among teenagers. Some people have blamed this increase for the rise in crime. They feel the lack of a male role model has damaged these children in society.
However, these changes have not had a totally negative effect. For women, it is now much easier
