My nine-year-old son Ben had been begging me to let him find his way home by subway, by himself. After all, we live in New York City, and getting around by public transportation(公共交通) is a basic part of life. It is also the first step toward feeling grown-up.
So on that sunny Sunday, I gave him a subway map, a transportation card, $20 for emergencies, and a couple of coins so that he could call me if necessary. I didn't give him a cell phone because nine-year-olds could lose things easily.
A few days later, I wrote about this experience for a newspaper. Little did I realize the idea that a kid could tour the city on his own, and that a mom would let him go, was big news.
It turned out that many TV shows called me and asked for an interview. Bloggers were going crazy. so I started a blog, too, and letters came pouring in. Finally, I found out why this was such a big story: we have become fearful for our children. Fear is hardly a new thing for parents. But the fear of letting our children out of sight for even a second-that's new. How did this happen? How did it become too scary to let kids be kids? I asked the question when the reporter Trevor Butterworth came.
" News reports! "he answered, “News reports scare the pants off you.” What is scarier than a kid being kidnapped(诱拐)? Because there are so many such stories. People start to feel as if kidnappings are happening all the time. That's why the kid-on-the subway story surprises the whole world.”
Ben probably did a good job. He simply proved(证明) that kids could leave home alone and return home safely! But he didn’t think it was a big deal. "It was fun. "He said, "But I missed some classes because of the interviews.”
Sometimes, it really pays to be brave.
【小题1】The author agreed to let her son take the subway alone because .| A．her son was old enough to depend on(依靠) himself |
| B．she felt traveling by subway in New York was a basic life skill |
| C．she thought it would be big news around the world |
| D．she never thought that her son would be kidnapped |
| A．her son would receive so many letters | B．some reporters would like to film her son’s story |
| C．a blog would be started in her name | D．many TV shows would come to interview her |
| A．News reports are always very scary. |
| B．Kidnappings are happening too often in today's world. |
| C．News reports about kidnappings influence(影响) people too much. |
| D．People always prefer scary stories to other stories. |
| A．Too many parents are worried about their kids' safety. |
| B．The author gave everything her son might need for the subway trip. |
| C．Ben was so proud that he succeeded in proving children's abilities. |
| D．Most reporters thought children nowadays should be more independent(独立的). |
| A．Fear Is Growing | B．The Kid-on-the-subway Story |
| C．An Important Step Forward | D．Be Brave to Let Kids Go |
