One of the latest trend（趋势） in American Childcare is Chinese au pairs. Au Pair in Stamford, for example, has got increasing numbers of request for Chinese au pairs from aero to around 4,000 since 2004. And that’s true all across the country.
  “I thought it would be useful for him to learn Chinese at an early age” Joseph Stocke, the managing director of s company, says of his 2-year old son. “I would at least like to  give him the chance to use the language in the future,” After only six months of being cared by 25-year-old woman from China, the boy can already understand basic Chinese daily expressions, his dad says.
  Li Drake, a Chinese native raising two children in Minnesota with an American husband, had another reason for looking for an au pair from China. She didn’t want her children to miss out on their roots.” Because I am Chinese, my husband and I wanted the children to keep exposed to(接触) the language and culture.” she says.
  “Staying with a native speaker is better for children than simply sitting in a classroom,” says Suzanne Flynn, a professor in language education of Children.” But parents must understand that just one year with au pair is unlikely to produce wonders.  Complete mastery demands continued learning until the age of 10 or 12.”
  The popularity if au pairs from china has been strengthened by the increasing numbers of American parents who want their children who want their children to learn Chinese. It is expected that American demand for au pairs will continue to rise in the next few years.
9.What does that term” au pair” in the text mean?
  A. A mother raising her children on her own
  B. A child learning a foreign language at home
  C. A professor in language education of children
  D. A young foreign woman taking care of children.
10. Li Drake has her children study Chinese because she wants them ______.
  A. to live in China some day
  B. to speak the language at home
  C. to catch up wit other children
  D. to learn about the Chinese culture
11. What can we infer from the text?
  A. Learning Chinese is becoming popular In America,
  B. Educated woman do better in looking after children
  C. Chinese au pairs need to improve their English Skills.
  D. Children can learn a foreign language well in six months.
【考点】考察文化教育类阅读
【文章大意】本文告诉我们在美国现在有了一个新的趋势：为孩子找一个中国保姆。让孩子接触到中文，了解中国文化。说明在美国学习中文越来越流行了。
4. 【答案】D
【试题解析】推理题。根据1,3,4段Au Pair in Stamford, for example, has got increasing numbers of request for Chinese au pairs from aero to around 4,000和had another reason for looking for an au pair from China.以及“Staying with a native speaker is better for children than simply sitting in a classroom,”可知” au pair”是指来自中国的照顾孩子的年轻女性，她们承担这教育孩子中文的任务。故D项正确。
5. 【答案】D
【试题解析】细节题。根据第三段后3行She didn’t want her children to miss out on their roots.” Because I am Chinese, my husband and I wanted the children to keep exposed to(接触) the language and culture.” she says.
可知她是一个中国人，她和丈夫读希望自己的孩子那个接触到中文并了解中文的文化。故D正确。
6. 【答案】A
【试题解析】推理题。根据文章第一句One of the latest trend（趋势） in American Childcare is Chinese au pairs. 和最后一段The popularity if au pairs from china has been strengthened by the increasing numbers of American parents who want their children who want their children to learn Chinese. It is expected that American demand for au pairs will continue to rise in the next few years.可知美国人对于中文的学习的兴趣越来越大，为孩子寻找一个会讲中文保姆已经成为了一个趋势。这些都说明学习中文变得很流行了。故A正确。
【长难句解析】
1.Li Drake, a Chinese native raising two children in Minnesota with an American husband, had another reason for looking for an au pair from China.
【翻译】嫁给美国人的在明尼苏达抚养两个孩子的Li Drake，有另外一个理由来寻找一个中国保姆。
【分析】本节中的raising two children in Minnesota with an American husband是一个现在分词做定语来修饰前面的名词a Chinese native。因为两者之间构成主动关系，所以使用现在分词做定语。
2. It is expected that American demand for au pairs will continue to rise in the next few years.
【翻译】人们预料美国人对于中国保姆的的要求在接下来的几年里会继续增加。
【分析】本句中的it是形式主语，真正的主语是后面的that引导的主语从句that American demand for au pairs will continue to rise in the next few years.句中的动词expect表示“预料”。