2015届高考英语二轮专题训练：阅读理解（12）AAcross the globe, single-parent homes are on the rise. In the US, the 2000 census (人口普查 ) showed 24.8 million or nearly 24 percent of the nations 105.5 million households, were traditional two-parent homes. By comparison, 9.8 million households or 9.8 million of all US households were headed by an adult raising a child alone. The 1990 census showed 26 percent of homes were led by a married mother and father, and 8 percent of homes were led by a singe parent.Similar increases occurred in other countries. In the UK, lone-parent family homes increased from 3.3 percent in 1990 to 5.5 percent in 1999. Single parent households in Australia rose from 5.8 percent in 1990 to 7.6 percent in l999. Belgium saw the increase from 1. 8 percent to 2.7 during the same period of time. These countries tend to have greater acceptance of single parenting because there are fewer nearby family members to disapprove, Riche, a Census Bureau director, said.Just as in the US, those changes raised new questions about how involved government should be in helping single-parent families. Some research suggests children raised in two-parent families are better off than those who depend on one.The position of one-parent families in any country is very much a gender (性别) issuewomens opportunities, especially working-class women on low income, said Sue Chen, coordinator (协调员) of the Single Action Parents Network in England.41. Not considering the exact number of the single-parent families, which country saw the fastest rise rate in 1999, compared with 1990?A. UK. B. Australia. C. America. D. Belgium.42. What is the cause of the rise of single-parent families across the globe?A. The nearby family members have a favorable opinion.B. A lone parent is well off enough to support his/her children.C. A lot of problems have arisen in two-parent families.D. We cannot get enough proving information from the text.43. Which of the following is TRUE about the increase of single-parent families according to the passage?A. It will somewhat limit the growing population of younger generation.B. Governments should take actions about the social problems brought about by it.C. Single-parent families are not looked down upon in any country mentioned here.D. Generally speaking, the single parents neednt worry since they are highly paid.BWhy play games? Because they are fun, and a 1ot more besides. Following the rulesplanning your next move. . . acting as a team memberthese are all “game” ideas that you will come across throughout your life. Think about some of the games you played as a young child, such as rope-jumping and hide-and-seek. Such games are entertaining and fun. But perhaps more importantly, they translate life into exciting dramas that teach children some of the basic rules they will be expected to follow the rest of their lives, such as taking turns and cooperating (合作) . Many childrens games have a practical side Children around the world play games that prepare them for work they will do as grown-ups. For instance, some Saudi Arabian children play a game called bones. Which sharpens the hand-eye coordination（协调）needed in hunting. Many sports encourage national or local pride. The most famous games of all, the Olympic Games, bring athletes from around the world together to take part in friendly competition. People who watch the event wave flags, knowing that a gold medal is a win for an entire country, not just the athlete who earned it. For countries experiencing natural disasters or war, an Olympic win can mean so much. Sports are also an event that unites people. Soccer is the most popular sport in the world. People on all continents play itsome for fun and some for a living. Nicolette Iribarne, a Californian soccer player, has discovered a way to spread hope through soccer. He created a foundation to provide poor children with not only soccer balls but also a promising future. Next time you play your favorite game or sport, think about why you enjoy it, what skills are needed, and whether these skills will help you in other aspects of your life. 41. Through playing hide-and-seek, children are expected to learn to _. A. be a team leader B. obey the basic rulesC. act as a grown-up D. predict possible danger42. The underlined part in Paragraph 2 most probably means that games can_. A. describe life in an exciting wayB. turn real-life experiences into a playC. make learning life skills more interestingD. change peoples views of sporting events43. According to the passage, why is winning Olympic medals so encouraging?A. It inspires peoples deep love for the country. B. It proves the exceptional skills of the winners. C. It helps the country out of natural disasters. D. It earns the winners fame and fortune. 44. Iribarnes goal of forming the foundation is to _. A. bring fun to poor kidsB. provide