Mother Knows Best?

　　Once while being prepped (准备) for a television interview， I was chatting with the host about stay-at-home fathers. I made the point that one reason we're seeing more stay-at-home dads may be that it's no longer a given (假定的事实) that a man makes more money than his wife. Many families now take earning power into account when deciding which parent will stay home.

　　At that point, one of the male crew members #mented, almost to himself but loud enough for my benefit, "It should be the better parent who stays home." A lot of guys say things like that. Usually it's a code for, "My wife, (read: any woman) is the better parent."

　　I was a stay-at-home father for eight years， so his declaration made me bristle (激动)。 It implied that our family's choice could only have been correct if I was a "better" parent than my wife.

　　I suppose an argument could have been made that when I began staying home my wife was the "better" parent: She I-Dad spent more time with Ry, could read him better and calm him more quickly. And given a choice, he'd have picked her over me. But as she was the more employable one, my wife went out to work and I looked after our son.

　　Because of the increased time I spent with him， I soon knew Ry well， understood what he needed and could look after him more or less as well as my wife could. Actually， the experience helped me unlock one of the world's great secrets： Women are good at looking after children because they do it. It's not because of any innate (先天的) female aptitude (天资) or a mother's instinct. It's because they put in the time and attention required to be#e good at the job.

　　Women obviously get a biological head start from giving birth and nursing, but over the long term experience is more important. When I got the experience myself, I was good, too. As good? I don't know. Who cares? Children are not made of glass. Other people are capable of looking after them besides Morn.

　　36 Which of the following does the first paragraph imply?

　　A Men like staying at home.

　　B The author works at a TV station.

　　C In more and more families the wife is earning more than the husband

　　D The husband is the better parent.

　　37 The author decided to stay at home to look after their son eight years ago because

　　A he thought he was the better parent.

　　B he was too lazy to work.

　　C their son Ry liked him better.

　　D he was less likely to find a job than his wife.

　　38 Which of the following is NOT mentioned or implied in the passage?

　　A Good parents should spend sufficient time with their children.

　　B Good parents should take their children to school.

　　C Good parents should read stories to their children.

　　D Good parents should be able to calm their children down.

　　39 Women are good at taking care of children because

　　A they devote much of their time and attention to them.

　　B they want to stay at home.

　　C they were born with this ability.

　　D they learned to do it at school.

　　40 What does the author conclude?

　　A He is better than his wife at taking care of children.

　　B A child prefers to stay with his/her father.

　　C A man can take good care of children if he gets the experience

　　D A child prefers to stay with his/her mother