12．Eating Together
After my mother passed away and my brother went to study in New Zealand，the first thing that really felt different was the dinner table．My father and I began eating separately．We went out to dinners with our friends or just ate sandwiches in front of our computers．Then，a few weeks before I was set to leave for university，my father walked downstairs．"You know，I think we should start
eating together even if it's just you and me，"he said．"Your mother would have wanted that．"
It wasn't perfect-the meals we made weren't amazing and we missed Mom and my brother．But there was something special about setting aside time to be with my father．It was a comfortable moment to get away from busy days：an excuse to talk，to think about the day，and recent events．Eating together was a small act，and it needed very little of us-and yet it was surely one of the happiest parts of my day．
Sadly，Americans hardly eat together anymore．In fact，most American families report eating a single meal together less than five days a week．It's a pity that so many Americans are missing out on the meaningful time with their loved ones，and it's even more than that．Not eating together also has negative （消极的）effects both physically and psychologically （心理上地）．
Children who do not eat dinner with their parents at least twice a week were 40% more likely to be overweight compared to those who do．And students who do not eat with their parents are more likely to be truant at school．Just the opposite，children who do eat dinner with their parents five or more days a week are less likely to run away from school without reason．They also report being closer with their parents than children who eat dinner with their parents less often，according to a study conducted by the National Center at Columbia University．
Then how do we eat better，not just from a nutritional perspective （营养角度），but from a psychological one as well？
Perhaps seeing eating together as an opportunity to get away with stress，a chance to catch up with those whom we love could help our children do better in school，get in better shape，and be less likely to have problems．Eating together also leads children to report better relationships with their parents and surely relationships between adults can similarly benefit．
So try eating together，and you'll find it's totally worth it．
53．According to the passage，which of the following is TRUE？D
A．Most Americans share meaningful time with their loved ones．
B．The writer likes going out to eat sandwiches with friends and parents．
C．Eating together with parents is a big event and needs lots of preparation．
D．Children who don't eat dinner with parents are more likely to be overweight．
54．The underlined part"be truant at school"probably means"A"．
A．be absent from school
B．be pleased at school
C．be present at school
D．be disappointed in school
55．The writer probably agrees thatB
A．eating together doesn't have good effects on adults
B．it's important for the young to eat together with parents
C．it's totally worth spending much money in eating together
D．people who eat together often are likely to have problems．
分析 本文讲的母亲去世后，哥哥外出求学，我和爸爸也不在一起吃饭，说到美国一周很少家人一起吃饭了，其实一起吃饭很重要，不仅是营养上还有心理上是都需要的．
解答 53．D 细节理解题．根据这句话Children who do not eat dinner with their parents at least twice a week were 40% more likely to be overweight compared to those who do．可知不和父母一起吃饭的孩子容易超重，故选D．
54．A词义猜测题．根据less likely to run away from school without reason可知和父母一起吃晚饭的很少逃学，那么划线的就是逃学的意思应该．故选A．
55．B 细节理解题．根据文章内容可知作者提倡孩子要和父母一起吃晚饭，年轻人也要和父母一起吃饭．故选B．
点评 做题时要在理解好文意的基础上，与题目有机的结合，从文章中找到相关细节性的句子与选项细细比对，进行选择或推理判断，选出符合文章内容的正确选项．做题注意灵活，有时可采用排除法或直选法确定出最终答案．
