卫生类B级：阅读理解Valuing Childhood
The value of childhood is easily blurred(模糊) in to says world. Consider
some recent developments: the child-murders in the Jonesboro， ark. Schoolyard
shooting case were convicted and sentenced. Two boys， 7 and 8， were charged in
the murder of an 11-year-old girl in Chicago.
Children who commit horrible crimes appear to act of their own will. Yet，
as legal proceedings in Jonesboro showed， the one boy who was to address the
court couldnt begin to explain his acts， though he tried to apologize. There
may have been a motive - youthful jealousy and resentment. But a deeper question
remains: why did these boys and others in similar trouble apparently lack any
inner， moral restraint(束缚)?
That question echoes for the accused in Chicago， young as they are. They
wanted the girls bicycle， a selfish impulse(冲动) common enough among kids.
Redemption(拯救) is a practical necessity. How can value be restored to young
lives distorted(扭曲) by acts of violence? The boys in Jonesboro and in Chicago
will be confined in institutions for a relatively short time. Despite horror at
what was done children are not cannot be dealt with as adults， not if a people
wants to consider itself civilized. Thats why politicians cries for adult
treatment of youthful criminals ultimately miss the point.
But the moral void(真空) that invites violence has many sources. Family
instability(不稳定) contributes. So does economic stress. That void， however， can
be filled. The work starts with parents， who have to ask themselves whether
theyre doing enough to give their children a firm sense of right and wrong. Are
they really monitoring their activities and their developing processes of thought?
Schools， too， have a role in building character. So do youth organizations.
So do law enforcement agencies， which can do more to inform the young about laws， their meaning. And their observance(遵守)