Now, I want to start with a question: When was the last time you were called childish? For kids like me, being called childish can be a frequent occurrence. Every time we make irrational(不理智的) demands, exhibit irresponsible behavior, or display any other signs of being normal American citizens, we are called childish. ___________A____________. After all, take a look at these events: imperialism（帝國主義）and colonization（殖民主義）, world wars, George W. Bush. Ask yourself: Who's responsible? Adults.
Now, what have kids done? ___________B____________. Well, Anne Frank touched millions with her powerful account of the Holocaust (大屠殺), Ruby Bridges helped end segregation(隔離) in the United States, and, most recently, Charlie Simpson helped to raise 120,000 pounds for Haiti on his little bike. So, as you can see evidenced by such examples, age has absolutely nothing to do with it. We are called childish so often by adults that we should abolish this age-discrimination when it comes to criticizing behavior associated with irresponsibility and irrational thinking.
Then again, who's to say that certain types of irrational thinking aren't exactly what the world needs? Maybe you've had grand plans before, but stopped yourself, thinking: That's impossible or that costs too much or that won't benefit me. For better or worse, we kids aren't hampered as much when it comes to thinking about reasons why not to do things. ___________C____________. Kids can be full of inspiring aspirations and hopeful thinking, like my wish that no one went hungry or that everything were free kind of utopia(烏托邦). How many of you still dream like that and believe in the possibilities? Sometimes a knowledge of history and the past failures of utopian ideals can be a burden. On the other hand, we kids still dream about perfection. ___________D____________. And that's a good thing because in order to make anything a reality, you have to dream about it first.
Now, our inborn wisdom doesn't have to be insiders' knowledge. Kids already do a lot of learning from adults, and we have a lot to share. I think that adults should start learning from kids. Now, I do most of my speaking in front of an education crowd, teachers and students, and I like this analogy. It shouldn't just be a teacher at the head of the classroom telling students to do this, do that. The students should teach their teachers. Learning between grown ups and kids should be reciprocal. The reality, unfortunately, is a little different, and it has a lot to do with trust, or a lack of it. Now, if you don't trust someone, you place restrictions on them, right. If I doubt my older sister's ability to pay back the 10 percent interest I established on her last loan, I'm going to withhold her ability to get more money from me until she pays it back.
True story, by the way. Now, adults seem to have a prevalently restrictive attitude towards kids from every "don't do that," "don't do this" in the school handbook, to restrictions on school internet use. Kids have no, or very little, say in making the rules, when really the attitude should be reciprocal(相互的), meaning that the adult population should learn and take into account the wishes of the younger population.
Adults, you need to listen and learn from kids. The world needs opportunities for new leaders and new ideas. Kids need opportunities to lead and succeed. Are you ready to make the match?
小題1:Where should the sentence “This really bothers me.” be put in the passage?
A. In blank A. B. In blank B.
C. In blank C. D. In blank D.
小題2:What does the speaker think is the root cause why adults call kids childish?
| A．That kids like being called that way. |
| B．That adults are more irresponsible than kids. |
| C．That kids often make irrational demands. |
| D．That adults are driven by age-discrimination against kids. |
小題3: Which of the following least explains kids’ advantage over adults based on the speaker?
| A．Younger age. | B．Irrational thinking. |
| C．Knowledge of history. | D．Excess restrictions. |
小題4:What is the best title of this passage?
| A．Don’t Be Childish again, Adults! |
| B．Time to Listen and Learn from Us! |
| C．Don’t Do That, Don’t Do This! |
| D．We Are Not Young Any More! |
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