跟BBC学地道英语3

　　Stay-at-home fathers ＂全职奶爸＂ 不再是非主流
　　为人父母并不容易，有些家长选择把小孩送到托儿所或请保姆照看，而另一些则在家全职带孩子。＂全职奶爸＂ 或许曾被视为另类，但如今这一身份开始被更多人接受。
　　词汇：parenthood 为人父母
　　There aren’t many parents who would say that  raising  children is easy. For many people, having children can force parents to choose between career and family. Sometimes it comes down to finances – sending a child to  nursery  or hiring a  nanny  can be a huge financial  burden  that is unsustainable, while others may feel it’s better to be a  hands-on  parent. These days, more and more men are choosing to stay at home to  look after  their  offspring . So why are more  dads  opting to put their careers on hold, and what does the job entail?
　　With more women working outside the home than 70 years ago, if the need is there for one parent to stay at home, it could simply come down to who earns more – the biggest  breadwinner . And with attitudes changing towards a man’s role in the family, it seems to be easier for them to enter full-time  parenthood . Sadly, though, many men still face stigmas by choosing to raise their child. A 2013 study in the US by the Pews Research Center found that 51% of people thought children were better off if a mother is home and doesn’t have a job, while 8% say the same about a father. But what do parents have to do when they choose to stay with their kids?
　　In the early stages, a baby is totally dependent on a  carer . The changing of  nappies ,  burping  after milk and making sure they  feed  on time are just some of the vital 24-7 activities an  infant  relies on. During this period, many parents take  paternity  and  maternity   leave  from work. But as a child gets older, it can become less about necessity and more about choice. Rather than opt for a  creche , which can prove expensive, either parent may remain at home to educate, protect and play with their child to help them develop and grow.
　　It’s a difficult job, with a demanding boss, but it can also be incredibly rewarding for those willing to do it. And with attitudes changing towards who should stay at home, maybe more and more fathers will choose to become stay-at-home dads. 词汇表
　　raise 养育
　　nursery 托儿所
　　nanny 保姆
　　burden 负担
　　hands-on 事事参与，亲力亲为
　　look after 照顾，照料
　　offspring 子女
　　dad 爸爸
　　breadwinner 挣钱养家糊口的人
　　parenthood 为人父母
　　carer 护工，护理员
　　nappy 尿布
　　burp 拍嗝
　　feed 吃奶，吃东西
　　infant 婴儿
　　paternity leave （父亲）陪产假
　　maternity leave 产假
　　creche 日托中心 测验与练习
　　1. 阅读课文并回答问题。
　　1. What things are mentioned that may force parents to choose between career and family?
　　2. True or False?  There were fewer women working outside of the home 70 years ago than there are now.
　　3. According to a 2013 study in the US by the Pews Research Center, what percentage of people thought children were better at home with their mothers?
　　4. According to a 2013 study in the US by the Pews Research Center, what percentage of people thought children were better at home with their fathers?
　　5. What are some of the vital activities mentioned that an infant relies on?
　　2. 选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。
　　1. I decided to stay at home and look _______ my children full-time.
　　after for down before
　　2. He’s really a _______-on dad. He never stops!
　　feet head hands toe
　　3. He decided to take _______ leave to stay with the baby.
　　burden paternity burp feed
　　4. The cost of a _______ was too high, so I decided to stay at home.
　　nursery maternity burp breadwinner
　　5. I think our son has a dirty _______. It’s your turn to change it.
　　offspring infant nappy hands 答案
　　1. 阅读课文并回答问题。
　　1. What things are mentioned that may force parents to choose between career and family?
　　Sometimes it comes down to finances, while others may feel it’s better to be a hands-on parent.
　　2. True or False?  There were fewer women working outside of the home 70 years ago than there are now.
　　True. More women are working outside the home than 70 years ago.
　　3. According to a 2013 study in the US by the Pews Research Center, what percentage of
　　people thought children were better at home with their mothers?
　　51% of people surveyed thought children were better off if a mother is home and doesn’t have a job.
　　4. According to a 2013 study in the US by the Pews Research Center, what percentage of
　　people thought children were better at home with their fathers?
　　8% of people surveyed thought children were better off if a father is home and doesn’t have a job.
　　5. What are some of the vital activities mentioned that an infant relies on?
　　The changing of nappies, burping after milk and making sure they feed on time are just some of the vital 24-7 activities an infant relies on.
　　2. 选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。
　　1. I decided to stay at home and look  after  my children full-time.
　　2. He’s really a  hands -on dad. He never stops!
　　3. He decided to take  paternity  leave to stay with the baby.
　　4. The cost of a  nursery  was too high, so I decided to stay at home.
　　5. I think our son has a dirty  nappy . It’s your turn to change it.