泽熙美文Reading Comprehension
The first and most important agents of socialization are the people who care for infants. In the earliest months, messages from nurturers constitute the child’s basic understanding of the world around it. This is the infant’s first introduction to the language that shapes perception and elicits emotion.
Another powerful source of information and socialization is the friendship of peers. Peers are equals that one can deal with on the same level as oneself, whereas parents are superiors. The heavy emotional overlay of family relationships makes some kinds of learning difficult.
Much formal socialization is placed in the hands of professionals. Teachers from kindergarten on are specifically designated agents of socialization. Ideally, a teacher is one who has both knowledge and the skills to present it. During the course of teaching their subjects, classroom instructors provide role models and attempt to convey the excitement of learning itself.
In earlier times, parents, friends and teachers would comprise the list of primary childhood socializers. Children’s books, comics and magazines might also have been mentioned as sources of information on norms and role models. Today one must add three powerful indirect or non-personal socialization agents: radio, movies and television. Many people learn about politics, form a vision of well-being, and develop attitudes towards others from what they see on the screen and hear through the speakers.
1. In this passage, agents of socialization refer to ______.
A.the media
B.individuals
C.all channels
D.organizations
正确答案：C
[解析] 本题考查细节理解。根据文章第一段第一句“The first and most important agents of socialization are the people who care for infants.”和第二段第一句“Another powerful source of information and socialization is the friendship of peers.”可知，agents of socialization是source of information and socialization，即是信息和社会渠道。因此，正确答案是C。
2. The author’s chief agents include the following EXCEPT the ______.
A.family
B.group
C.school
D.Internet
正确答案：D
[解析] 本题考查细节理解。根据文章第一段第一句“The first and most important agents of socialization are the people who care for infants.”第二段第一句“Another powerful source of information and socialization is the friendship of peers.”和第三段第一二句“Much formal socialization is placed in the hands of professionals. Teachers from kindergarten on are specifically designated agents of socialization.”可知，A、B、C三项均正确。只有D项在文中没有提及。故答案是D。
3. The child’s basic understanding of the world around it is formed ______.
A.at kindergarten
B.in the earliest months
C.by classroom instructors
D.through interaction with parents
正确答案：B
[解析] 本题考查细节理解。根据文章第一段第二句“In the earliest months, messages from nurturers constitute the child’s basic understanding of the world around it.”可知，答案是B。
4. Which of the following statements is NOT true?
A.Language shapes an infant’s perception.
B.Language elicits an infant’s emotions.
C.Language forms an infant’s cultural awareness.
D.Language forms an infant’s basic understanding.
正确答案：C
[解析] 本题考查非题判断。根据第一段第二、三句“In the earliest months, messages from nurturers constitute the child’s basic understanding of the world around it. This is the infant’s first introduction to the language that shapes perception and elicits emotion.”可知，A、B、D三项均正确。只有C项在文中未提及。所以，答案是C。
5. According to this passage, ______ makes some kind of learning difficult.
A.long distance
B.formality
C.much indulgence
D.family influence
正确答案：D
[解析] 本题考查细节理解。根据文章第二段最后一句“The heavy emotional overlay of family relationships makes some kinds of learning difficult.”可知，令某种学习困难的是The heavy emotional overlay of family relationships，即D项family influence。所以，答案是D。
6. Peers are one of the ______ agents of socialization.
A.formal
B.indirect
C.primary
D.personal
正确答案：C
[解析] 本题考查细节理解。根据文章第四段第一句“In earlier times, parents, friends and teachers would comprise the list of primary childhood socializers.”可知，其中的friends即本题中所指的peers。所以，答案是C。
7. ______ are the first formal socialization agents.
A.Infant nurturers
B.Family members
C.Group peers
D.School teachers
正确答案：D
[解析] 本题考查细节理解。根据文章第三段前两句“Much formal socialization is placed in the hands of professionals. Teachers from kindergarten on are specifically designated agents of socialization.”可知，其中的professionals和后面的teachers from kindergarten on指的即是从幼儿园开始的教师教育。所以，答案是D。
8. Which of the following statements is NOT implied in the passage?
A.Teachers are sociable.
B.Teachers are role models.
C.Teachers are paid agents of socialization.
D.Teachers are knowledgeable and skillful.
正确答案：A
[解析] 本题考查推理判断。根据文章第三段第二、三、四句“Teachers from kindergarten on are specifically designated agents of socialization. Ideally, a teacher is one who has both knowledge and the skills to present it…classroom instructors provide role models and attempt to convey the excitement of learning itself.”可知，B和D两项正确。根据specifically designated…可推论出既然是委派，则应该带薪的，故C正确。因此，答案为A。
9. ______ are/is powerful indirect socialization agents.
A.Parents
B.Friends
C.Teachers
D.The media
正确答案：D
[解析] 本题考查细节理解。将解题点定位于文章第四段倒数第二句“Today one must add three powerful indirect or non-personal socialization agents: radio, movies and television.”其中广播、电影和电视均属于媒体。因此，答案是D。
10. Which of the following would be the best title for this passage?
A.Childhood Socializers
B.Norms & Role Models
C.Sources of Information
D.Agents of Socialization
正确答案：D
[解析] 本题考查主旨大意。通读全文可知，本文全从头至尾主要是列举一些重要的agents of socialization/source of information and socialization，因此，D项为文章最佳标题。而A、B、C三项均比较片面。所以，答案是D。
About fifty years ago, plant physiologists set out to grow roots by themselves in solutions in laboratory flasks. The scientists found that the nutrition of isolated roots was quite simple. They required sugar and the usual minerals and vitamins. However, they did
