定语从句是考试中涉及最多的一个语法点，阅读考试的特点是多个定语从句叠用，形成中英文的语序差异，不会定语从句的文字处理，阅读在时间上不能保证，阅读速度无从谈起。
句型1：The lady who was standing at the corner of the street was his girlfriend.
这种句子定语从句较短，修饰部分前置即可，阅读速度一般不受影响。
译：站在街角的女郎是他的女朋友。
句型2：The lady who ……, who……这种句子在四级阅读中出现最多，语序问题最明显，是阅读速度慢的主要原因。由于Who的作用主要在语*能上，在文字上没有必要都翻译出来，把who 隔过去，或者变成代词即可。
例：A person who is traveling, studying and working in a part of Nigeria where his own language is not widely spoken can still communicate with other people in English.
译：一个人在尼日利亚某地旅游，学*，工作，他的语言却不能广为使用，却能够用英语和其他人交流。
例：Now she was in Paris where there were no spies who would overhear her talks with others and where she could speak with any people in any language she would like to speak.
译：她终于到达了巴黎，在那里没有秘密警察偷听她的谈话，在那里他可以用任何她能说的语言和他人交谈。
例： Negro writers was the product of the same world-wide forces that have brought into being the great liberal and radical movements that are now seizing the reins of power in all the countries.
译：黑人作家已经成为同一种世界力量的产物，这种力量形成于伟大的种族**运动之中，(这种运动)正在所有的国家里夺取统治权。
总结：定语从句的英语考试方向不在语法，而在语序，当定语从句过长的时候，应把英语定语从句以中文复句形式做次序表达，如果眼睛看到的英语语序同时作到中文语序，并在头脑中反映出来，阅读定语从句就成功了。
另一类定语从句表达句子表达中常有如下结构：名词+(doing/done)+谓语动词。这种结构在阅读中出现频率较高。如何理解这种表达方式?
例：The band providing music started a melancholy tune.
译：伴奏的乐队演奏忧伤的.乐曲。
例：A person traveling, working or studying in a part of Nigeria can still communicate with other people in English.
译：一个在尼日利亚旅游，学*和工作的人可以用英语和其他人进行交流。
总结：现在分词做定语带来的问题和定语从句类似，由于分词表达法后置，语序就常和中文相反，经常出现阅读中因为找不到谓语动词，而对一个句子重复阅读，如果现在分词结构和定语从句混合使用，阅读速度就会下降。(对于阅读不熟练的考生这个问题尤其明显)
在语法题中，一般不会对考生构成威胁，但是这种语法表达的最大问题还是在语序上，由于真正的主语是不定式，而且后置，在中文的阅读顺序上是相反的。
例：It seems simple enough to separate forces acting on living organisms to those that are physical and internal and those that are environmental and external.
译：把作用在有机体上的力分为内在型和外在型，似乎很简单。
总结：在上句中，出现了语法表达混合使用的特点，其实真正的主语是to separate一直到句尾的全部文字，当这种表达需要在语序上重新整理的时候，阅读速度自然就不会太快了。
——公共英语写作高分句型3篇
(1)It is obvious that wearing the uniforms will make school life dull and monotonous.
(2)It is well known that there is a clear link between smoking and some serious diseases.
(3) It is said mothers know what is most suitable for their children
(4)It is true that com*rs can be of great help to human beings but they can never replace human brains or surpass human intelligence.
(5) It will do much good to students with a teacher being in the classroom.
(6) It is against the law to force students to study in an environment without the presence of the opposite sex.
(7)It seems to me that no one should be forced to change his lifestyle unless he has committed a crime.
(8) It is impossible for the universities to enroll the same number of female and male students in every subject.
(9) It is natural that great differences exist between the boys and girls.
(10) It is competition that encourages people to work harder to catch up with others, to be superior to the others
(1)With the development of science and technology, an increasing number of people come to realize that knowledge is power.
(2)With the growing popularity of Internet surfing in China, the quality of our lives is improving for the better.
(3)With the help of advanced technology, the advertisements are always made so pretty and attractive that it’s hard to resist the temptation to do shopping.
(4)With modern telecommunications, even people who live in very remote areas have easy access to television.
(5)With the improvement of living conditions, there are an increasing number of people who can afford to raise dogs than ever before.
(6)With a good sense of smell and hearing, the dogs can perform the work so well that we needn’t worry about our safety.
(7)Nowadays a growing number of young people like to play com*r games with the popularity of com*rs.
(8)With the amazing development of com*rs science, com*rs can translate all kinds of languages well so our children don’t need to learn more language.
(9)With the steady growth in the world’s economy as well as the people’s living standard, nowadays more and more people are able to afford to go to travel abroad.
(10)We have sound reasons to believe that we will enter an era of electronic life with the perfection of IT technology.
(1)We can not only hear the description but also obtain a clear picture of the products.
(2)Smoking does great harm not only to smokers but also to the people around them.
(3)TV advertisement bring us not only useful information but also entertainment as well.
(4)Quality education is of great benefit not only to the students themselves but also to the future of our society.
(5)Traffic problem becomes the biggest concern of many countries in the world, not only because of the environment pollution caused by the exhaust gas and irritating noises but also the menace it takes to the bicycle riders and pedestrians.
(6)I believe that not only should old people’s physical conditions be taken into consideration but also their psychological needs should be respected.
(7)Using tobacco will do harm not only to the individuals but also to the families and society.
(8)In my opinion, both practical and basic courses are useful not only to individuals but also to our society.
(9)Encourage students to express their ideas in the class bravely not only extend their knowledge but also make the class more active and interesting.
(10)Not only can books provide us knowledge but also happiness.
——公共英语阅读技巧3篇
细节性题目是阅读理解题中出现最多的一类问题，大约占40%左右。问题有两种基本形式：完全式和不完全式，其中不完全式的问题占绝大多数。它们的问题是这样的：
1.完全式
Why do women seem less likely to be promoted after marriage?
What did scientists learn about earthquakes at the area?
According to the passage，how did the drums differ from many other drums?
According to the passage，through which of the following does the energy released?
2.不完全式
According to the passage，the new machine proved to be .
In the author's opinion，visual and spatial abilities are good for __________.
According to the passage，women are usually good at __________.
The Sun's light travels slowly when ____________.
可见这类问题大多是根据文章中的具体信息，如事实、例证、原因、特点、过程、论述等进行提问。和推测文章大意、标题，作者态度这类归纳推理题相比较，这种问题要容易些，因为其答案可以直接在文章中找到的。所以，这类问题也称之为"直接解答性问题"。
解题的基本方法是：仔细阅读文章后的问题，根据问题中的关键词或词组，以此作为线索，返回文章查找问题的相关句，用这个相关句来对照选项，意思一致的就是答案。
如何在文章中又快又准地找到答案?要具备这两方面的知识：
文章细节结构知识
一篇阅读理解文章，或长或短，都有一个中心思想。而文章就是围绕着这个中心思想展开的。支持和发展中心思想的细节主要是由描写特点特征，给予解释定义，分析原因结果，比较事物异同，提供数据事实，论述观点理由等构成的。但根据主题的不同性质，可以有不同侧重，这样就形成了不同的细节结构。
如：描述性结构(这种结构主要介绍事物，问题或倾向的特点、特征。对人物的描述如传记包括人的身体特征，家庭背景，成长过程，个性爱好，成就贡献等。因此文章中时间，地点，数据是主要细节);
释义性结构(这种结构是解释某一理论，学科，事物。主要是用例子，比喻，类比进行阐述);
比较性结构(这种结构主要是对两个事物或人物在功能，特点，优缺点，贡献方面进行比较);
原因性结构(这种结构主要是分析事物的成因，客观的，主观的，直接的，间接的);
驳论性结构(这种结构主要是介绍一种观点，然后对其评论或驳斥，分析其优缺点，或危害性，最后阐明自己的观点)。
了解这些细节结构，我们就能知道某一特定的阅读理解文章问题会出哪方面的问题，从而在阅读中给有关细节较多的注意。如例9(P.43)的阅读理解文章。这篇章文章介绍的是美国一种蝗虫：描述了蝗虫飞群的形成，形成的原因，其特点*性，给农作物造成的损失，人们对付这种虫害的方法。显然这是描述性结构，绝大多数问题肯定与特点，时间，地点，程度有关。在阅读中对这些细节作圈划记号，解答时就非常容易。
是非题的四个选项有三种情况：
1.四个选项中的信息集中在一、二个句子里。这种是非题比较容易做。只要找到相关句，细细读一下就不难选定正确答案。
2.四个选项中的信息集中在一段里。这样查读的范围要大一些，但还是比较容易的。验证一个，排除一个，答案就出来了。
3.四个选项中的信息分散在全文。这种是非题就比较难做，因为要化较多的时间去找各个相关句，一一去查证。一般说来，应首先把四个选项都看一遍，根据第一遍读的印象和基本常识，尽可能先排除掉一、二个，以减少查的选项。实在排除不了，需要到文章中去一一查证的，次序也应从易到难，即从印象最深的，相关句最易找的，最容易证实的那个选项开始查。
由于时间关系，要到全文中去一一查证四个选项，效率太低。因此我们还可以首先对所有选项作一分析，根据常理，根据自己的知识结构，看看哪一选项最有可能是答案。如问哪一个true，就把四个中最可能正确的一项挑出来首先去查证;如问哪一个NOT true，就把四个中最可能是错误的一项挑出来首先去查证。用这一方法，最多查证两项，答案就会出来。
所谓释义性的题目，就是要求对文章中阐述的事物进行准确的解释。问题往往问该事物的特征、优点、功能、作用等，如
The main characteristics of the system is _________.
One of the advantages of living in the countryside is _________.
这类问题在阅读理解的题目中占较大的比例。因为，阅读理解的文章大多是说明文体裁。说明文就是对事物解释，定义。文章用较大的篇幅来解释，答案项要么是对这些解释的另一说法，要么是对这些解释的归纳。
这类问题虽属细节题，但不容易做。有两点要注意。
1.注意解释的准确性
干扰项往往在对文章事物的解释中，夹带"私货：，加进一些词，夸大了原文的意义，作了不合事实的引伸。
这就告诉我们，在辨别信息时，对一些对原文解释、归纳的选项，要注意其释义的准确性。特别要当心在解释时加进一些修饰词，如mainly，chiefly，whenever，Only等，使原文的意思发生细微的变化。因此有这些词的选项，多半是错误的。
2.注意归纳的准确性
问的是事物的主要特点、特征、功能，干扰项却把次要的、细节性的东西，具体事实混进选项。
这告诉我们，在做释义题，辨别选项时，要注意区分细节和结论，事实和观点。问归纳性的结论，观点时不要把具体的细节，事实套上去。
由于阅读理解的'文章绝大多数是属于说明文体裁，而说明文的主要功能是对事物、现象的解释和阐述。因此许多题目都涉及到分析和辨别事物的原因或成因。例如：
The main reason for the failure of the organization to achieve the success is that _____.
Mouthwashes are not effective cure for bad breath mainly BECause _________.
Which of the following is mentioned as one of the causes for the earthquake ______.
在做寻找事物原因的题目时，有几点要特别注意。
1.问的是主要原因或真正原因，而命题人员总把一些次要的，非直接的，非根本的原因放进选项。由于这些次要的原因也是文章中提到的，因此考生如不仔细，往往会把次要原因当作答案。
这就告诉我们，做这类题目，首先要注意问题中的the main/chief/real cause (reason，factor) 这些词，提醒自己，问题问的是主要原因。然后分析事物的诸多的原因，理出最主要的，直接的，根本的原因。
2.问的是事物的原因，但出现在选项里的还有事物的后果、影响。由子这些后果、影响和原因一样，都是指一件事，且都出现在同一相关段，或相关句中，稍不留心，就会搞错。
这就告诉我们，做寻找原因的题目时，对文章所说的事物的原因、结果、影响，应理清它们之间的逻辑关系。不要错把结果当原因。
如何做猜测例证用意的题目
阅读理解文章基本上是说明文，议论文。而这类体裁的文章少不了用例子，事实来说明观点。因此我们往往会碰到要求猜测文章举例的目的——这些例子要说明什么观点——的题目。如：
The example of … is given to show/illustrate that.
What can be inferred from the author's example of ?
The experiment/study suggests/shows that.
解答这类问题，要注意以下几点。
1.注意例证所在的段落主题句
如果例证所在段有概括段落思想的主题句，就首先读这个主题句，看它的意思和问题下四个选择项哪项意思一致。一致的那个就是答案，不要去读具体例证了。因为举例的目的是为了说明观点，而段落中的例子大多是说明段落主题思想的。
2.注意例证上下文的作者观点
如果例证所在段没有主题旬或例证本身就是一段，就要看例证上面一段、下面一段有否相关的归纳性的作者观点。如果这个作者观点和问题中的某一个选择项意思一致，那就是答案，也不要去读具体例证。
3.注意全文中心思想
有时例证所在段没有主题旬，上下文周围也没有明显的作者观点，那就要去读文章中心思想句，看它与例证有什么关系，和问题下面的选择项哪一个意思一致。一致的那个就是答案，也可省去读具体例证。因为文章中的例证不是直接就是间接地说明和支持全文中心思想的。
4.对例证本身进行推测
如果段落主题句看不出，全文中心思想句也看不出，周围也没有明显的作者观点说明，那只能细读具体例证，对例证本身进行推测。
——公共英语考试介绍3篇
PETS-1：一级是初始级，其考试要求略高于初中毕业生的英语水*(PETS-1B是全国英语等级考试的附属级)。
PETS-2：二级是中下级，相当于普通高中优秀毕业生的英语水*(此级别笔试合格成绩可替代自学考试专科阶段英语(一)、文凭考试基础英语考试成绩)。
PETS-3：三级是中间级，相当于我国学生高中毕业后在大专院校又学了两年公共英语或自学了同等程度英语课程的水*。(此级别笔试合格成绩可替代自学考试本科阶段英语(二)考试成绩。)
PETS-4：四级是中上级，相当于我国学生高中毕业后在大学至少又学**了3-4年的公共英语或自学了同等程度英语课程的'水*。
PETS-5：五级是最高级，相当于我国大学英语专业二年级结束时的水*。是专为申请公派出国留学的人员设立的英语水*考试。
全国英语等级考试(Public English Test System, 简称PETS)是教育部考试中心负责设计并实施的全国性英语水*考试体系。应试者不分年龄、学历、户籍等背景，只要具备一定的英语基础，均可选择适合自己的级别。PETS共有五个级别，各级别都十分重视对考生实际的语言交际能力的考查，均包括笔试和口试两个相对独立的部分。考生可以根据自己的需要分别报考笔试或口试。单项合格者可得到相应的单项合格证书;笔试和口试均合格者，方可获得教育部考试中心颁发的相应级别的合格证书。
在pets等级描述中给出了各级考试成绩的适用范围，仅供考生个人和考生成绩使用者参考。
教育部考试中心负责解释PETS各级考试的水*;考生成绩的使用权在录取部门或用人单位。
作为社会性考试，PETS不具有评价普通中学和大学校内英语教学水*的功能;拒绝向考生的教学或辅导单位提供考生成绩。任何人不得用此项考试的成绩评价、干扰校内正常的英语教学，不得用PETS考试成绩代替普通中学和大学的英语结业考试。
PETS各级考试成绩的有效期由录取部门或用人单位自行决定。
——公共英语考试经验分享3篇
比如二级，一开始就是选择题，然后是完形填空，有不少同学的时间都花在这完形填空上。而实际上，这一部分的分数比重很少，真正拉大广大考生的差距的，是阅读!与其花半小时在完形填空上面，还不如抽时间好好看一下，仔细复查一下阅读题目。
有些同学到最后会来不及做作文，那是因为*时训练不够的原因。建议大家在备考前，适当地可以备几篇考试常见类型的作文，如二级的书信类作文，三级的图表类作文。这样到真正考试的时候，便能胸有成竹。
因为考场是随机抽取的，有些考生容易迟到。PETS考试规定进场时间为8点45分，超过时间就不可以进场。任你苦苦哀求也没用，所以考生一定要注意，不可以迟到。建议提前一个小时出门，或者前几天前往考场探一下道路情况。
考生们对当天的着装也需要引起注意，特别是夏天。有些男同学穿的过于炎热，还没有开始考试就开始不停地流汗，无形中也会影响考试时的情绪。有些女同学穿着过于轻薄，对下午口试考试来说，也许会影响到考官对其整体印象分的评判。
比如二级，一开始就是选择题，然后是完形填空，有不少同学的时间都花在这完形填空上。而实际上，这一部分的分数比重很少，真正拉大广大考生的差距的，是阅读!与其花半小时在完形填空上面，还不如抽时间好好看一下，仔细复查一下阅读题目。
有些同学到最后会来不及做作文，那是因为*时训练不够的`原因。建议大家在备考前，适当地可以备几篇考试常见类型的作文，如二级的书信类作文，三级的图表类作文。这样到真正考试的时候，便能胸有成竹。
——公共英语一级写作6篇
你是小明。你的美国朋友Steven 给你寄来一张卡片。
任务：
请你用英语给他写一封50词左右的短信。内容包括：
·何时收到卡片的;
·你认为这张卡片怎样;
·你目前的情况;
·询问他何时来*。
短信写在答题卡2上该题的序号后。请用下面格式。
Dear Steven，
…
Xiao Ming
参考解析：
Dear Steven,
Thank you for sending me the birthday card. I got it yesterday. I like it very much. Now I am on my summer holiday. I spend most of the time studying English. When will you come to China? I expect to see you again.
Xiao Ming
Directions:
请按题目: Advantages of Five-Day week(5天工作日的优点)写出大约200个字的短文，并包括下列内容：
1. 对家庭的好处
2. 对社会的.好处
3. 对个人的好处
例文： Advantages of Five-Day week
A five-day week has been put into practice in China, which is welcomed by every-one. It is obvious that a five-day week has brought about many advantages to the society and people. First, families have benefited from it very much. They have more time to spend together or go for an outing during the weekend. Children are able to learn usefully skills, women have enough time to take care of the house, go shoppiing or relax.
Second, society has also benefited from it.
As people have two days off, they would like to go shopping or travelling, which can promote the commerce and tourism. Then the shops and travel agency will have more customers. Third, individuals have also enjoyed the benefit from the five-day week, because they have more time for whatever they are intersted in during the weekend. For example, one likes stamp collection, he will have enough time to enjoy it. What's more, individuals can make full use of a weekend for a good rest. Adequate rest will enable him to work more efficiently.
In a word, a five-day week is beneficial to the society, families and individuals.
Direction:
A. Write an essay that conveys the information in the following cartoon accoMPAnied by your comments.
B. Word Limit: about 200 words
C. Your eassy should be written clearly on ANSWER SHEET 2
营生
祖上以打猎为生
爷爷以卖上等木材为生
父亲以卖劈柴和柴墩为生
儿子以卖根雕原料为生
孙子以卖黄沙为生
……
例文： Preserving Natural Resources
Through the changes in the ways of making a living in a family over several generations, the cartoon aims at sounding a warning against man's wasteful use of natural resources and emphasizing the urgent need to preserve these resources.
Ever since man appeared on the earth, man's survival has been heavily relied on nature. Almost everything we use in our everyday life comes from nature, ranging from the food we eat, the water we drink, to the wood which is turned into furiture. With the development of technology and population growth, the amount and range of materials used has increased at an alarming rate. However, natural resources are not inexhaustible. Some reserves are already on the brink of exhaustion and there is no hope of replacing them. The widespread water shortage is an example in point. If man continued to squander natural resources with no thought for the future, the later generations would end up selling sand, as is the case in the cartoon, and the whole world would be in a mess.
Time is running out. It is up to us to take effective measures before the situation gets out of hand.
Directions:
A. Title:Globle Shortage of Fresh Water
B. Word Limit: about 200 words
C. Your composition should
be based on the Outline given in Chinese below:
1. 人们认为淡水是取之不尽的(提示：雨水，河水，井水)
2. 实际上淡水是短缺的(提示：人口增加，工业用水增加，污染严重)
3. 我们应当怎么办(提示：节约用水，开发新水源)
例文： Global Shortage of Fresh Water
People often think that water will never be used up. There is plenty of water, such as rain, water from the rivers and wells. It seems as if water is always available around us and we never have to worry about water shortage.
In fact water is rather limited on the earth. With the rapid increase of population and fast development of industries, water is more needed than before. At the same time, a large amount of water has been polluted and wasted every day. Some big cities in China are facing the problem of water shorage already. There, water sup* is controlled and industry has been restrained.
What should we do about the water shorage? I think, first, the people should be made aware of the real situation about the water. Everyone should consciously save on water and certain law should be made that no water will be polluted. We have to protect the existing water resources and develop new ones. In this way I believe that our cities will not be thirsty for water in the future.
情景：你是公司的经理，秘书小李刚出去吃午饭，突然接到上级部门电话，要你马上去一趟，要谈有关职员方面的问题。
任务：请你用英语给秘书写一张50左右的便条。告诉她：
1 你何时回公司;
2 让她通知公司人员下午何时何地开会;
3 你在会议上要谈什么 请用下面的格式：
Miss Li ,
……
Wang
范文：
Miss Li ,
I have to go out at once . And I think I will come back in about two hours . Please tell me all the people in our company that there is going to be a meeting in the hall at four o’clock . Everybody has to attend the meeting because I have something important to tell them .
情景：你刚上大学，想给高中班主任写一封信。
任务：请你用英语给高中班主任写一封50左右的信。告诉他：
1 你对大学生活的感觉如何;
2 大学与高中有什么区别;
3 简单谈谈自己的专业，课程情况。
请用下面格式：
Mr. Zhang ,
——公共英语二级阅读理解扩展文章 (菁华5篇)
Prices determine how resources are to be used. They are also the means by which products and services that are in limited sup* are rationed among buyers. The price system of the United States is a complex network composed of the prices of all the products bought and sold in the economy as well as those of a myriad of services, including labor, professional, transportation, and public-utility services. The interrelationships of all these prices make up the"system" of prices. The price of any particular product or service is linked to a broad, complicated system of prices in which everything seems to depend more or less upon everything else.
If one were to ask a group of randomly selected individuals to define "price", many would re* that price is an amount of money paid by the buyer to the seller of a product or service or, in other words, that price is the money value of a product or service as agreed upon in a market transaction. This definition is, of course, valid as far as it goes. For a complete understanding of a price in any particular transaction, much more than the amount of money involved must be known. Both the buyer and the seller should be familiar with not only the money amount, but with the amount and quality of the product or service to be exchanged, the time and place at which the exchange will take place and payment will be made, the form of money to be used, the credit terms and discounts that ap* to the transaction, guarantees on the product or service, delivery terms, return privileges, and other factors. In other words, both buyer and seller should be fully aware of all the factors that comprise the total "package" being exchanged for the asked-for amount of money in order that they may evaluate a given price.
价格决定资源的使用方式。价格也是有限的产品与服务在买方中的配给手段。美国的价格系统是复杂的网状系统，包括经济生活中一切产品买卖的价格，也包括名目繁多的各种服务，诸如劳动力、专职人员、交通运输、公共事业等服务的价格。所有这些价格的内在联系构成了价格系统。任何一种个别产品或服务的价格都与这个庞大而复杂的系统密切相关，而且或多或少地受到系统中其它成份的制约。
如果随机挑选一群人，问问他们如何定义"价格"，许多人会回答价格就是根据卖方提供的产品或服务，买方向其付出的钱数。换句话说，价格就是市场交易中大家认同的产品或服务的货币量。该定义就其本身来说自有其道理。但要获得对价格在任何一桩交易中的完整认识，就必须考虑到大量"非货币"因素的影响。买卖双方不但要清楚交易中的钱数，而且要非常熟悉交易物的质量和数量，交易的'时间、地点，采用哪种形式付款，有怎样的缓付和优惠，对交易物的质量保证、交货条款、退赔权利等等。也就是说，为了能估算索价，买卖双方必须通晓构成交易物价格的通盘细节。
Upon reaching an appropriate age (usually between 18 and 21 years), children are encouraged, but not forced, to “leave the nest” and begin an independent life. After children leave home they often find social relationship and financial support outside the family. Parents do not arrange marriages for their children, nor do children usually ask permission of their parents to get married, Romantic love is most often the basis for marriage in the United States; young *s meet their future spouses through other friends, at jobs, and in organizations and religious institutions, Although children choose their own spouses, they still hope their parents will approve of their choices.
In many families, parents feel that children should make major life decisions by themselves. A parent may try to influence a child to follow a particular profession but the child is free to choose another career. Sometimes children do precisely the opposite of what their parents wish in order to assert their independence. A son may deliberately decide not to go into his father’s business because of a fear that he will lose his autonomy in his father’s workplace. This independence from parents is not an indication that parents and children do not love each other. Strong love between parents and children is universal and this is no exception in the American family Coexisting with such love in the American family are cultural values of self – reliance and independence.
子女一旦到适当年龄(通常是18至21岁)，要鼓励而不是强迫他们“离开窝的，财政的巢”，开始独立生活。小孩离开家后，往往在外能够与人交往，并自谋出路。父母不为子女安排婚姻，子女结婚也通常无需获得父母同意。在美国，浪漫的爱情往往是婚姻的基础，通过朋友在学校、单位、组织以及宗教团体认识自己的，爱情的未来的伴侣。尽管子女自己择偶，他们仍然希望父母能认同他们的选择。
许多家庭的父母认为，应由子女自己来做他们生活中的重大决定。家长可能会设法影响子女去从事某一职业，但子女也有选择其它职业的自由。有时为了证实自己的独立性，子女从事的工作正好与父母希望的相反。儿子可能执意不去父亲的企业工作，因为担心在那里就不能独立自主。这种不依靠父母的独立性并不意味着父母与子女之间缺乏爱心。父母和子女之间普遍都有挚爱，美国家庭也毫不例外。只不过在美国家庭之中，还融合了自主、独立的文化价值观念。
A painter hangs his or her finished pictures on a wall, and everyone can see it. A composer writes a work, but no one can hear it until it is performed. Professional singers and players have great responsibilities, for the composer is utterly dependent on them. A student of music needs as long and as arduous a training to become a performer as a medical student needs to become a doctor. Most training is concerned with technique, for musicians have to have the muscular proficiency of an athlete or a ballet dancer. Singers practice breathing every day, as their vocal chords would be inadequate without controlled muscular support. String players practice moving the fingers of the left hand up and down, while drawing the bow to and fro with the right arm-two entirely different movements.
Singers and instruments have to be able to get every note perfectly in tune. Pianists are spared this particular anxiety, for the notes are already there, waiting for them, and it is the piano tuner’s responsibility to tune the instrument for them. But they have their own difficulties; the hammers that hit the string have to be coaxed not to sound like percussion, and each overlapping tone has to sound clear.
This problem of getting clear texture is one that confronts student conductors: they have to learn to know every note of the music and how it should sound, and they have to aim at controlling these sound with fanatical but selfless authority.
Technique is of no use unless it is combined with musical knowledge and understanding. Great artists are those who are so thoroughly at home in the language of music that they can enjoy performing works written in any century.
Every weekday morning I take the 8:30 bus to go to my job. I know by sight several people who also fide that bus. Some of the girls work as maids. They get off at each stop in ones, twos or threes.
But at one corner something wonderful happens. Before the bus stops, a little dog races out of the nearest house. He doesn't look at two of the maids who get off. But for the third he has a joyful "Hello!". From head to tail his little body wags his happiness. Everyone on the bus watches until the maid and the dog go into the house.
One day not long ago the maid wasn't on the bus. I wondered if the dog would be waiting for her. Sure enough, he was!
He stood at the back door of the bus for a minute. I could see his joyful welcome turning into fearful worry. Where was she?
The driver closed the back door. The dog raced to the front door. It, too, shut in his face.
Everyone on the bus felt sad. Poor little pup! He looked so unhappy, standing there!
The driver couldn't stand it. He opened the door and looked down at the dog. "She didn't come today," he said, in a loud, kind voice.
A man in a front seat leaned forward. "Maybe she will come tomorrow," he called.
The dog wagged his tail as if to say "thank you." He watched the bus as we pulled away. Then he turned to trot home ── alone.
The next day everyone on the bus was happy to see the maid back again. Yes, the dog was waiting for her.
The welcome he gave her was even warmer and more delighted than usual. We all smiled at one another. How bright and good the morning suddenly seemed to us!
There was a time in my life when beauty meant something special to me. I guess that would have been when I was about six or seven years old, just several weeks or maybe a month before the orphanage turned me into an old man.
I would get up every morning at the orphanage, make my bed just like the little soldier that I had become and then I would get into one of the two straight lines and march to breakfast with the other twenty or thirty boys who also lived in my dormitory.
After breakfast one Saturday morning I returned to the dormitory and saw the house parent chasing the beautiful monarch butterflies who lived by the hundreds in the azalea bushes strewn around the orphanage.
I carefully watched as he caught these beautiful creatures, one after the other, and then took them from the net and then stuck straight pins through their head and wings, pinning them onto a heavy cardboard sheet.
How cruel it was to kill something of such beauty. I had walked many times out into the bushes, all by myself, just so the butterflies could land on my head, face and hands so I could look at them up close.
When the telephone rang the house parent laid the large cardboard paper down on the back cement step and went inside to answer the phone. I walked up to the cardboard and looked at the one butterfly who he had just pinned to the large paper. It was still moving about so I reached down and touched it on the wing causing one of the pins to fall out. It started flying around and around trying to get away but it was still pinned by the one wing with the other straight pin. Finally it's wing broke off and the butterfly fell to the ground and just quivered.
I picked up the torn wing and the butterfly and I spat on it's wing and tried to get it to stick back on so it could fly away and be free before the house parent came back. But it would not stay on him.
The next thing I knew the house parent came walking back out of the back door by the garbage room and started yelling at me. I told him that I did not do anything but he did not believe me. He picked up the cardboard paper and started hitting me on the top of the head. There were all kinds of butterfly pieces going everywhere. He threw the cardboard down on the ground and told me to pick it up and put it in the garbage can inside the back room of the dormitory and then he left.
I sat there in the dirt, by that big old tree, for the longest time trying to fit all the butterfly pieces back together so I could bury them whole, but it was too hard to do. So I prayed for them and then I put them in an old torn up shoe box and I buried them in the bottom of the fort that I had built in the ground, out by the large bamboos, near the blackberry bushes.
Every year when the butterflies would return to the orphanage and try to land on me I would try and shoo them away because they did not know that the orphanage was a bad place to live and a very bad place to die.
