Question

Dear Editor,
I have just returned home after studying for a year in Germany. But it seems that my parents don’t understand me now. They expect me to be the same person I was before I went abroad, but I’m not! Why can’t they let me be myself?
Jimmy
Hi, Jimmy,
As far as I know, people who have lived abroad often find that the adjustment （调整） to returning home is more difficult than their adjustment to living in a foreign culture. Why? We expect to have some problems when we go to a new place, speak a different language and learn the rules of a different culture ... But home? ... we know that place!
Your parents expect that the same person who boarded the airplane one year ago will be returning. Especially if they have never been abroad themselves, your parents probably won’t understand the changes that living abroad can cause in a person. On the other hand, you may have maintained (保持) an ideal mental image of your loved ones while abroad, an image that is broken into pieces when you return.
Remember you have been living a different lifestyle in your host country, and you have probably become very independent while staying there alone. Now that you’re home, you will be expected to conform （顺应） again to the lifestyle of your family. As a result, you may be upset about your parents’ involvement in your life.
Communication is the key to overcoming this problem. Tell your parents how you are feeling. Share with them information about cultural re-entry（重归）, and ask them to be patient. This does not mean that you have to forget your experience and give up everything you’ve learned! Learn to find a balance between the old and new, just as you did when first adjusting to your host country’s culture.
【小题1】What is Jimmy’s main purpose in writing the letter?

A．To criticize his parents.

B．To ask for advice about his studies.

C．To complain about his parents.

D．To ask for help.

【小题2】What does the editor think of Jimmy’s problem?

A．It’s unusual.

B．It’s normal.

C．It’s serious.

D．It’s interesting.

【小题3】The editor thinks that both Jimmy and his parents ______.

A．have changed in the past year

B．have unrealistic expectations of each other

C．need to behave like they did before

D．need to find a balance between the good and bad

【小题4】The author suggests that ______ would help solve Jimmy’s problem.

A．patience and trust

B．patience and politeness

C．better communication between family members

D．a deeper understanding of the host country’s culture

Answer 1

【小题1】D
【小题2】B
【小题3】B
【小题4】C

解析试题分析：这是两封信，一封是Jimmy写给编辑的求助信，第二封是编辑的回信，帮助吉姆分析问题，建议多和家人交流。
【小题1】推理题：从第一段的句子：Why can’t they let me be myself?可知Jimmy写信的目的是请求帮助，并不是抱怨或父母，选D
【小题2】细节题：从第二封信第一段的句子：As far as I know, people who have lived abroad often find that the adjustment （调整） to returning home is more difficult than their adjustment to living in a foreign culture. 可知编辑认为吉姆的问题很正常。选B
【小题3】细节题：从第二封信第二段的句子：Your parents expect that the same person who boarded the airplane one year ago will be returning.和On the other hand, you may have maintained (保持) an ideal mental image of your loved ones while abroad, an image that is broken into pieces when you return.可知Jimmy和父母对彼此的希望都不太现实，选B
【小题4】细节题：从最后一段的句子：Communication is the key to overcoming this problem. 可知家人之间的交流是解决问题的最好的办法。选C
考点：考查日常生活类短文
点评：这是两封信，一封是Jimmy写给编辑的求助信，第二封是编辑的回信，帮助吉姆分析问题，建议多和家人交流。内容比较适中，对于考生的能力要求不高，只要认真细致阅读，不难发现答案。可以先看题目再读文章，这样可以提高阅读的速度。还要准确定位考点。特别是推理题，要结合上下文的暗示做题，掌握方法是关键。