Guys, if you want to get the girl, try bringing flowers — to her mother. Winning over mom may sound old-fashioned, but it’s still a smart strategy in today’s fast-changing world of dating. In a new research, 6 in 10 young women say when they’re thinking of getting serious with somebody, their mother’s approval is “extremely” or “very” important.

“She makes the call,” said Jessica Wilhelm, a 19-year-old college student. Wilhelm said she learned her lesson in high school when she tried going out with the guy her parents don’t want. “It’s not a good idea. It doesn’t go smoothly for anybody.”

Indeed, 4 in 10 young women say they would consider breaking up with someone their mom didn’t like. And 16 percent say they’ve actually given up a guy for that reason. In contrast, a mere 6 percent of the young women, ages 18 to 29, say their mother’s opinion of their dates matters “not at all.” Sons worry a little less about what mom thinks. Still, half of men under 30 say her approval is extremely or very important when a relationship might get serious.

Half of young women and nearly 40 percent of young men put high importance on dad’s opinion when a romance is getting serious. Kelsley Broomfield, 21, said her parents use different tactics when sizing up boyfriend. Her mother, always friendly and chatty, asks the what-do-you-want-to-do-with-your-life questions. Dad listens and doesn’t say much, but he’ll signal his opinion later with some influential comments.

While few parents say they want a lot of control over their grown children’s love lives, fewer than 6 in 10 parents believe they have, or will have, any influence at all. Some may be underestimating their lifetime influence, however.

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1.Why did Jessica Wilhelm think her mother makes the call?

A Because it happened in high school.

B Because her mother went smoothly

C Because her mother mattered her love.

D Because it was not a good idea to love.

解析：选C。C。推理判断题。根据第2段第3句和第4句的It’s not a good idea. It doesn’t go smoothly for anybody可以得知她认为母亲有决定权，是因为母亲对自己的爱情起作用。

2.Who thought most of their mothers’ decision?

A Girls aged 18 to 29.

B Men under 30.

C Young women.

D Young men.

解析：选A。A。细节理解题。根据第3段第2句的In contrast, a mere 6 percent of the young women, ages 18 to 29, say their mother’s opinion of their dates matters “not at all”.可知94%的18到29岁的女士都会考虑她们母亲的建议的，因此这个范围的女士考虑父母的意见的最多。

3.The writer used the example of Kelsley Broomfield to show _____.

A mother’s approval is very important

B fathers can give important decisions

C children only listen to their parents

D Dads don’t chatting much at all

解析：选B。B。写作意图题。根据第4段第1句的Half of young women and nearly 40 percent of young men put high importance on dad’s opinion when a romance is getting serious可知一说到严肃的问题(恋爱中的重要问题的时候)，父亲的决定也是很重要的。

4.According to the parents, some of them _____.

A never want to know the children’s feeling

B are not able to estimate children’s future

C can make their children more wealthy

D think they do not affect children’s feeling

解析：选D。D。推理判断题。根据文章最后一段最后一句的Some may be underestimating their lifetime influence, however可以得知有人低估了自己对孩子的影响，据此可以推知有些父母认为自己对孩子的影响小。

5.What is the best title of the passage?

A Mother knows best

B The old fashion returns

C Girls’ way of dating

D Guys need to be careful

解析：选A。A。标题概括题。从文章第一句的Guys, if you want to get the girl, try bringing flowers — to her mother可以得知该文主要讲述的是母亲在决定恋爱对象的成功与否。