阅读理解。
"A good parent" can be a confusing phrase. It is almost impossible for one person to be "a good
parent" at all stages of a child's life. Some parents are at their best before their children begin to speak.
Others are most successful before their children enter elementary school. Still others make their finest
contribution to older children or teenagers. Every parent can understand one stage of a child's
development better than another. It is hard for a person to possess superior capacities throughout the
entire period of a child's growth.
A mother might be "a good parent" from her baby's birth until it is three; that is the period when it
needs her protection and loving care. Then the start of her child's independence might upset and alarm
her, and she might then become less helpful for a few years. A father might be awkward and
uncomfortable with a younger child, but could turn into an excellent parent when the child is old enough
to be taught the skills of cycling, fishing and so on, or to be taken on trips. Some parents feel easier with
boys, and others with girls - and then only at certain ages or stages.
It is important for parents to understand and accept their own limitations in these matters, just as they
must accept the child's faults of personality and limitations of talent. Otherwise, fathers and mothers will
feel guilty and blame themselves for weaknesses that may not be their faults. Much of the guilt
experienced by modern parents comes from the mistaken feeling that they ought to be all things at all
times to the child, which is clearly mistaken. In past ages, grandparents and uncles and aunts lived with
the family, and provided different kinds of support; in our present "nuclear" family, too many roles are
demanded of the two parents, which they cannot possibly fulfill.
1. Confusion arises about what it means to be "a good parent" because __________.
A. it is normal to be a successful parent during most stages of a child's development
B. most parents are only good at helping older children or teenagers
C. parents are usually at their best before their children go to school
D. parents do not realize they cannot perform equally well through a child's growth
2. Parents would feel guilty if __________.
A. their children can't accept their own limitations of talent
B. they realize their weaknesses in raising children
C. their grandfathers and uncles and aunts don't live with them
D. they don't know their limitations in raising children
3. Parents of "nuclear" families sometimes feel at a loss because __________.
A. they believe that such a family prevents the healthy growth of a child's personality and talent
B. they dislike the support that other family members give to their children
C. they do not always have the help of other family members in child-raising
D. they no longer regard grandparents, uncles and aunts as good educators of their children
