The government of UK is launching a program aiming at helping more families balance their work and home lives. The right to ask

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问题     The government of UK is launching a program aiming at helping more families balance their work and home lives. The right to ask employers for flexible working hours was previously limited to parents of children up to the age of six or disabled children aged up to 18. But following a recommendation made by an independent review last year, the government decided to extend the age limit. 4.5 million parents of children aged 16 and under will be able to ask employers for flexible work arrangements in future. A total of 10 million parents will be entitled to request flexible working.
    Harriet Harman, minister for Women and Equality, said mothers often "tear their hair out" while bringing up children and trying to earn a living. A survey of 1,000 parents by the government’s Equalities Office suggested half believed their relationship with their child would improve if their work hours were more flexible. Two thirds said it would be helpful to work flexibly as their children became older, and half of parents whose children were aged between 11 and 16 said they would help with homework if they could find the time.
    Ms. Harman said: "Children don’t stop needing their parents’ time when they reach their sixteenth birthday. We have already built a strong foundation of support for families through the right for parents with children under six to request flexible work. But, as any parent knows, older children going through the teenage years need just as much support and guidance."
    Sarah Jackson, chief executive of campaign group Working Families, said: "The conflict that often seems to exist between family and work is so unnecessary and counterproductive. I would particularly encourage men to consider working flexibly as that has the potential to create stronger families and go some way to addressing the inequalities that still exist in the home."
    The move is backed by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), but the CBI has warned that firms may find it difficult to grant requests for flexible working during the recession. Trades Union Congress is another organization that favors the arrangement. Brendan Barber, the general secretary, said the extension would be "good news" for employers. He added, "Companies whose workers enjoy the benefits of flexible working are likely to feel less stressed and less anxious about balancing their lives at home and work, which means they are more committed and productive while at work."
From the survey by the Equalities Office we learn that______.

选项 A、all parents want more time to help children with their homework
B、few parents have good relationship with their teenage children
C、most parents favor the idea of having flexible working hours
D、parents do not need to spend much time with their older children

答案C

解析 根据题干中的Equalities Office将本题出处定位于第二段第二句。该句提到了该办公室发起的一项调查,结果显示多数家长认为弹性工作制对家庭关系和孩子的学习都有好处。[C]意为“多数家长赞同弹性工作制”,是对原文内容的;隹确概括,故为答案。[A]过于绝对,most(大多数)并不等于all(全部)。该段内容仅谈到,弹性工作制有助于改善家庭关系,并未指出家长与孩子的关系都不好,故排除[B]。第三段第一句提到,“孩子们过完16岁生日后不会不再需要父母的时间了”,言外之意就是16岁以上的孩子也是需要家长投入精力的,[D]与原文意思相反。
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