Halloween is round the corner. Kids everywhere are counting down the days. Dentists are refilling their printer inks for all those upcoming bills. And parents are left wondering, “Should I let my child enjoy the sweet things in life?”
As a parent and a pediatric (儿科的) dentist, Catherine Robinette has some educated opinions on the matter. According to Robinette, the concern is not the amount of candy, but the frequency. Many parents agree. Rebekah Morris of Cincinnati, Ohio says, “We used to do the ‘three pieces a day until it’s gone’, but I simply got sick of seeing it around the house. So I give the kids three days. And then whatever left will be thrown away.”
If you want it all to be over before the decorations are down, consider the following creative ways to make that candy disappear:
●Invite the Great Pumpkin to your house this Halloween night. Have the kids pile all the sweets they haven’t eaten onto the floor before they go to bed so that the Great Pumpkin can magically turn them into a new toy or set of art supplies.
●Set up a “November 1st Store” in your house. Let kids buy things like movie tickets in exchange for candy.
●Turn this into a charity opportunity for your whole family by taking some candy to your local recreation center or food bank.
●Get creative with glue, and use the candy to decorate the rest of the pumpkins on your doorstep. A sweet-toothed Jack-o-Lantern is bound to bring out some smiles.
●Crush up all the chocolate candy bars and use them to make ice cream sundaes. Or better yet, substitute the “chips” in some chocolate chip cookies, and bake some gifts for your neighbors!
When you’re thinking about what to put in your own bowl this Halloween, Robinette advises going for chocolate. “Candy like M & M’s really does melt in your mouth. That’s so much easier on teeth than sticky things that get stuck there all day.”
Denying your children the sweet treats of the season may prove to have the opposite effect, as forbidden pleasures usually become quite appealing. But finding a middle ground where both parents and kids are happy makes for a happy Halloween!
54. According to Catherine Robinette, _______.
A. kids should never eat candy
B. eating candy frequently is really harmful
C. eating a large amount of candy won’t do great harm
D. “three pieces a day until it’s gone” is the best choice
55. The creative ways to make the candy disappear mentioned in the text include the following EXCEPT_______.
A. to change the candy to toys after the kids go to bed
B. to exchange the candy for things like movie tickets, etc
C. to use the candy to decorate the pumpkins
D. to give away the candy to the neighbours
56. What does Catherine Robinette advise you to buy on Halloween?
A. Chocolate candy. B. Cookies. C. Cakes. D. Ice cream.
57. We can learn from the last paragraph that______ .
A. finding a middle ground is a wise choice
B. parents had better forbid their kids from eating candy
C. denying your children the sweet treats is completely wrong
D. kids know clearly that candy is harmful to them
58. Which of the following might be the best title of the text?
A. Three pieces a day until it’s gone.
B. Halloween candy: how to avoid a disaster.
C. Catherine Robinette, a great pediatric dentist.
D. Never let your child enjoy the sweet things in life.