3．One of the latest trend（趋势） in American Childcare is Chinese au pairs．Au Pair in Stamford，for example，has got increasing numbers of request for Chinese au pairs from aero to around 4，000since 2004．And that's true all across the country．
"I thought it would be useful for him to learn Chinese at an early age"Joseph Stocke，the managing director of s company，says of his 2-year old son．"I would at least like to give him the chance to use the language in the future，"After only six months of being cared by 25-year-old woman from China，the boy can already understand basic Chinese daily expressions，his dad says．
Li Drake，a Chinese native raising two children in Minnesota with an American husband，had another reason for looking for an au pair from China．She didn't want her children to miss out on their roots．"Because I am Chinese，my husband and I wanted the children to keep exposed to（接触） the language and culture．"she says．
"Staying with a native speaker is better for children than simply sitting in a classroom，"says Suzanne Flynn，a professor in language education of Children．"But parents must understand that just one year with au pair is unlikely to produce wonders．Complete mastery demands continued learning until the age of 10or 12．"
The popularity of au pairs from china has been strengthened by the increasing numbers of American parents who want their children to learn Chinese．It is expected that American demand for au pairs will continue to rise in the next few years．
29．What does that term"au pair"in the text mean？D
A．A mother raising her children on her own
B．A child learning a foreign language at home
C．A professor in language education of children
D．A young foreign woman taking care of children．
30．Li Drake has her children study Chinese because she wants themD．
A．to live in China some day
B．to speak the language at home
C．to catch up wit other children
D．to learn about the Chinese culture
31．What can we infer from the text？A
A．Learning Chinese is becoming popular In America，
B．Educated woman do better in looking after children
C．Chinese au pairs need to improve their English Skills．
D．Children can learn a foreign language well in six months．
分析 本文主要讲述了美国目前存在的一种新趋势，越来越多美国家庭希望孩子能够学习汉语，了解中文．而且他们希望孩子能够在家里和来自中国的学生（既能照顾孩子又能教孩子中文）学习汉语，他们认为这样在生活中通过交流来学习汉语要比在学校学习更有优势．
解答 29．D 猜测词义题．根据第一、三、四段中"Au Pair in Stamford，for example，has got increasing numbers of request for Chinese au pairs from aero to around 4，000和had another reason for looking for an au pair from China．以及"Staying with a native speaker is better for children than simply sitting in a classroom，"可知"au pair"是指来自中国的既能照顾孩子又能承担教育孩子中文的年轻女性．
30．D 细节理解题．根据文章第三段内容"Li Drake所说的"Because I am Chinese，my husband and I wanted the children to keep exposed to（接触） the language and culture．""可知，她让孩子学汉语的原因是想让孩子了解中国的文化，故选D．
31．A 细节理解题．作者在文章首段提到美国的趋势就是小孩子在家学习汉语，而且给出了具体的数字证明"got increasing numbers of request for Chinese au pairs from aero to around 4，000 since 2004"，再通过文章末段"It is expected that American demand for au pairs will continue to rise in the next few years"可知，美国对"au pairs"的需求将会继续增长，故选A．
点评 解答细节理解题时，一个常用的方法就是运用定位法，即根据题干和选项中的关键词从原文中找到相关的句子，与选项进行比较从而确定答案；推理判断题既要求学生透过文章表面文字信息推测文章隐含意思，又要求学生对作者的态度、意图及文章细节的发展作正确的推理判断，力求从作者的角度去考虑，不要固守自己的看法或观点．
