When you become independent, you focus on building your career, family, and new routines, and the time you spend with your parents is greatly reduced. Today, you might share some holidays with them or visit them occasionally and help them with certain daily chores, but your quality moments together have become increasingly rare. It’s for this reason that we suggest you travel with your parents as an adult and enjoy all its benefits.

This excitement can be especially beneficial for older adults. That’s because certain events that take place at this stage (such as retirement or the loss of those close to them) can increase the risk of depression. So, the anticipation of traveling with their children can be a real boost to their mood. But it’s not only parents who benefit from these experiences. They can also be a great source of satisfaction for their children. Traveling with parents is a great opportunity to talk with them, do things of shared interest, and enjoy each other’s company. The whole experience can be extremely enjoyable, stimulating, and satisfying.

One of the hardest aspects of growing old is losing the feeling of belonging and purpose. Indeed, when children become independent, parents can experience a real shake-up in their identities that for so long have been closely built around fatherhood and motherhood. Gradually, they begin to feel more distant from their kids, less useful and necessary to them, and even almost invisible. For this reason, proposing a shared trip with your own parents is an excellent way of expressing how important they continue to be in your life.

As we mentioned earlier, the quality time you share with your parents in adulthood is usually increasingly scarce(不足的). The work, family, and personal obligations of both parties can make it difficult to find moments to be together. Therefore, traveling is an excellent way to achieve it. Traveling together is an experience in which there’ll be no schedules or pressures. What’s more, you’ll be able to talk together, feel closer, rediscover yourselves, and, ultimately, dedicate quality time to each other. 

1.What does the phrase “this reason” refer to?

A Adult kids don’t want to visit their parents occasionally.

B Adult kids become independent and don’t do chores.

C Adult kids pay more attention to building their career.

D Adult kids don’t spend quality time with their parents.

解析：选D。D词意指代题。根据划线部分前面的“but your quality moments together have become increasingly rare.”可知，当你长大成年独立后，你和父母在一起的时间大大减少了，尤其是高质量的陪伴时间。正是出于这个原因，作者建议成年后与父母一起去旅行。故选D。

2.Which of the following is not mentioned in the text about travelling?

A Older parents’ being happier.

B Losing their independence.

C Adult kids’ great pleasure.

D More personal interactions.

解析：选B。B细节理解题。第二段描述了成年人与父母一起去旅行的好处，包括：提升父母的情绪，让孩子获得满足感，孩子和父母之间更多交流和陪伴；并未提及失去他们的独立自主性。故选B。

3.What do many older parents think of themselves?

A They are tired of parenthood.

B They are too dependent on their kids.

C They are no longer needed.

D They are more important than ever.

解析：选C。 C推理判断题。根据第三段中的“parents can experience a real shake-up in their identities”父母的身份经历一次真正的剧变，以及“they begin to feel more distant from their kids, less useful and necessary to them, and even almost invisible”父母开始觉得自己与孩子的距离越来越远，对孩子的用处和必要性越来越小，甚至几乎被忽视了。由此推断，年龄大的父母觉得自己不再被孩子们需要了。故选C。

4.Which of the following is a suitable title for the text?

A How To Cope When Your Parents Grow Old

B How To Travel With Your Parents After Being Independent

C Why You Should Travel With Your Parents As An Adult

D Why Older Parents Feel More Distant From Their Kids

解析：选C。C主旨大意题。根据全文内容可知，作者描述了成年孩子与年老的父母一起去旅行的好处，即为什么成年孩子应该和父母一起去旅行。故选C。