Passage 1

Within a school curriculum，the study of home economics is sometimes described as life education. Because much of an individual’s life has traditionally centered upon the home and the family，home economics has been largely concerned with learning how to deal with the problems and challenges of homemaking. A basic knowledge of home economics helps a person make up a workable household budget，plan and prepare nutritious meals，choose a fabric(织物)for draperies(帐帘)，and care for a small child.In recent years the scope of home economics has broadened considerably. It now includes areas of national and international interest. Today’s home economist may，for example，be engaged in developing foods for space flights，providing answers to the nutritional problems of underdeveloped nations，or setting up national classifications for textiles.The study of home economics includes a wide variety of subjects，including foods and nutrition;clothing and textiles;housing，home equipment，and home management;family economics; child development;and family relations. Home economists are often required to have academic preparation in such related areas as chemistry，physics，sociology，psychology，and design.

The study of home economics is at times considered as life education for the reason that ______.