计划说明
考研人数逐年增加，竞争之激烈使得我们不得不加急复习的日程。众所周知，阅读理解占据了考研英语二100分试卷的一半分值，而考研英语阅读文章大多来自英美国家的主流报刊杂志，所以如果能在日常就多多阅读这些文章，对以后读懂文章做对题目来说会大有裨益。但是对大多数备考的同学来说，刚开始投入复习，就去读考试文章难度的新闻报刊，也是不现实、并且不符合循序渐进的学习规律的，所以我们会在每次推送中，给大家给出两篇短文，一篇是初阶水平（大致在初高中水平）；一篇是高阶水平（四六级到考研水平）；同学们可以根据自己当前的情况，选择其中一篇进行学习。
学习步骤如下：
1.不看汉语译文自己看一遍短文做理解
2.看汉语译文比对自己理解的意思与之出入
3.强化记忆重点单词（以记忆其汉语意思为主）
初阶文段
By most objective measures, modern parents are far more conscientious than previous generations. Since 1965 labor-saving devices such as washing machines and ready meals have freed eight hours a week for the average American couple, but slightly more than all of that time has been swallowed up by childcare. Dads are far more hands-on than their fathers were, and working mothers spend more time nurturing their children than the housewives of the 1960s did.
短文翻译
以大多数的客观标准衡量，现在的父母比前几代人细致入微多了。自1965年起，洗碗机和方便食品等节省人力的事物使普通美国夫妇每周多出了8小时的空余时间，但他们多于8小时的时间都被育儿占据了。现在的父亲比他们自己的父亲更加亲力亲为，现在的在职母亲花在育儿上的时间也比60年代的家庭主妇多。
重点单词
objective [əbˈdʒektɪv]
adj.客观的; 就事论事的;
conscientious [ˌkɒnʃiˈenʃəs]
adj.勤勉认真的; 一丝不苟的;
previous [ˈpriːviəs]
adj.先前的，以往的;
device [dɪˈvaɪs]
n.装置，设备;
swallow up
吞没
nurture [ˈnɜːtʃə(r)]
v.养育; 养护;
高级文段
There are two defects in this picture, connected to class. One is at the lower end. Even if poor parents spend more time with their children than they once did, they spend less than rich parents do—and they struggle to provide enough support, especially in the crucial early years.
The second problem, less easy to prove, occurs at the other end of the income scale, and may even apply to otherwise rational Economist readers: well-educated, rich parents try to do too much. Safety is part of it: they fear that if they are not constantly attentive their children may break their necks or eat a cupcake that has fallen on the floor.
短文翻译
这幅美好图景有两个瑕疵，都与教学相关。一个存在于社会底层。即使贫穷的父母和孩子相处的时间比以前多，还是比不过富裕的父母。他们无力为孩子提供足够的支持，特别是在孩子成长中最关键的早期。
第二个问题发生在收入较高的人群中，较难证实。其他各方面都很理性的《经济学人》读者们可能就是这种情况：受过良好教育、生活富裕、对孩子干涉过多。安全担忧是一方面：家长担心如果他们不时刻警觉，孩子可能摔断脖子或误食掉在地上的蛋糕。
重点单词
defect [ˈdiːfekt]
n.缺点; 缺陷
crucial [ˈkruːʃl]
adj.至关重要的; 关键性的;
rational [ˈræʃnəl]
adj.合理的; 理性的; 明智的;
well-educated [wel ˈedʒukeɪtɪd]
adj.受到良好教育的
attentive [əˈtentɪv]
adj.专心的，专注的
